Do I have a chance of getting into UCR

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Riverside
1

My UC GPA is 3.1 and my sat score is 1020 which I am going to retake and I am going to major in Neuroscience I am a first generation, I have around 228 hours of volunteering. Sophmore year I was on the tennis team and Senior year I am planning to be in at least two teams. Do I have a chance to get into UCR?

2

I forgot to add that I am also signing up for EOP

3

I would say that UCR will be a tough admit. If you can write some compelling essays and have some interesting EC’s, they could tip the scale in your favor.

You will need to apply widely and I would target the Cal States over the UC’s.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.39 (capped weighted and not major specific):

UCB: 1.1%
UCLA: 0.9%
UCSD: 0.9%
UCSB: 1.4%
UCI: 3.1%
UCD: 4.1%
UCSC: 14.3%
UCR: 22.9%
UCM: 56.7%

25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:
UCB: 1280-1490

UCLA: 1280-1500
UCSD: 1250-1470
UCSB: 1210- 1450
UCD: 1190-1430
UCI: 1190-1420
UCSC: 1170-1380
UCR: 1090-1310
UCM: 1020-1230

4

What would some good EC be for example for instance the Red Cross club etc. And by the essays do you mean the Insight questions?

5

Good EC’s are ones that you show a passion for and that you have continued for many years. Leadership in the EC’s is always helpful. The essays are the personal insight questions and make sure you convey your personality and what is important to you. Beyond the academics, this is the only area that admissions can gauge if you are a good “fit” for their campus.

6

Like let’s say I was in the red cross club for 4 years will that be a good EC or I have been for instance a language school, for example, Spanish since the 3rd grade?

7

4 years with a Red Cross is a good EC since it shows consistency and interest. Language school is academic so not considered an EC. EC’s are subjective, so what you and I think are good EC’s may be not what admissions considers good EC’s. All you can do is your list your EC’s on the UC application and hopefully they are well received. Your personal insight questions are more important than your EC’s.

Here is what UCR considers important in their application review:

  • Riverside
    *
  •   Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores

  •   Considered: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, State residency, Talent/ability, Volunteer work, Work experience

  •   Note: A fixed weight point system comprehensive review model that culminates in an Academic Index Score to determine admission for incoming freshmen.