Do I have a chance to get in to engineering at Santa Cruz?

Hello! I am relatively new to this forum, so please let me know if there’s any important information I am leaving out.

Biracial (latina/Hawaiian/white) female who wants to get in to engineering at UC Santa Cruz.

GPA: 3.36 is my uc gpa as of now. This is both weighted and unweighted as I haven’t taken any weighted classes until now. I struggles with chemistry my sophomore year because I didn’t know I was colorblind, I plan to explain that in my essay.

I am on a strong upward trend junior-senior year, I just got my quarter grade report and so far I have a 4.3 this year.

Senior course rigor:
This is the first year I am taking any weighted classes. My schedule is as follows:

-Symphony orchestra(A)
-CSU Expository Reading and Writing Curriculum(A)
-Honors physics(A)
-Economics(A) (second semester will be government)
-Calculus(A)
-AP Japanese (B+) (it was an 89 D:)
-AP Computer Scirnce (A)

Test scores:
1400 SAT (700/700)
17 Essay (6/5/6)

Extra curriculars:
4 years of varsity swim (my high schools swim team is very competitive)
9 years of competitive swim in an outside league
2 years in color guard (Junior/Senior fall)
2 years in winter guard (Junior/Senior winter/spring)
Senior year as color guard captain

Work experience:
3 summers at the local pool. 1st and 3rd year as swim instructor, 2nd and 3rd year as a lifeguard. So 3rd year was as both a lifeguard and a swim instructor.

Other:
Last summer I worked really hard to buy and build most of the components for a new pc setup.

Thoughts? Any feedback would help a lot. Thank you in advanced!

Are you a Junior or Senior?

Does your school limit when you take AP/UC approved Honors courses to only Junior and Senior year?
Which Engineering discipline?

I am a senior, I was thinking mechanical engineering, and no. My school doesn’t offer many weighted classes that relate to my major.

Your UC GPA is way below the 25th percentile for UCSC and Senior grades are not considered in admission decisions, only 9-11th for the a-g courses and 10-11th for the capped weighted GPA calculation. Some UC’s may ask for a supplemental review where you could submit Senior grades which could help your chances if you are showing an upward grade trend but this is by invitation only.

Engineering majors are the most competitive majors, so you need to be at or above the averages.

Your SAT is well within the UCSC SAT range which shows you are a capable and qualified applicant but UC’s tend to be more GPA focused.

Some statistical date to help gauge your chances:

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.99 (capped weighted) and not major specific: UCSC: 14.3%

25th-75th percentile Capped weighted GPA: 3.76 - 4.16 Average GPA: 3.96

25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:

UCSC: 1210-1450

For Engineering, I would say UCSC would be a Reach school. Definitely apply since other than your UC GPA, you can be a competitive applicant just be realistic about your chances.

Make sure you have some solid Match and Safety schools on your list.

How UCSC review Freshman applicants:

  • SANTA CRUZ

  • Very important: Academic GPA, Application essay, Rigor of secondary school record, Standardized test scores, State residency
  • Important: Character/personal qualities, Extracurricular activities, First generation college student, Geographical residence, Talent/ability
  • Considered: Volunteer work, Work experience
  • Note: Test scores, GPA in required subjects most important. Personal statement very important.
  • Admission Selection: Important Note for Prospective Engineering Students: Choice of major does not influence the selection of first-year students, except for those applicants interested in a major offered by the Jack Baskin School of Engineering (BSOE). Freshmen who are interested in a BSOE program should be sure to indicate a BSOE proposed major. Students who do not indicate a BSOE program or who apply as undeclared might not be able to pursue a BSOE program. 

Thank you. Is there anything I can do right now to help my chances? Will good essays sway them a lot or not really?

Good personal insight essays can help since they are considered very important in the application review. All you can do is present the best application possible, have a balanced college list and hope for the best. You have chosen to apply to a highly competitive major (Engineering) at a selective school. Also ME is not an Engineering option at UCSC.

https://www.soe.ucsc.edu/degree-programs

Best of luck.