<p>I'm from AZ, currently a senior, and I've always wanted to go out of state of course Stanford and the UCs or USC are a dream but due to my low SAT retake I feel like these are sadly out of the option.
I retook my SAT for the second time in Oct and I got a 1640 (580-reading 510-math 550-writing) I think I'm going to take it again one last time, is it worth it?
I got a 23 on my ACT
Also, I am involved in a good amount of ECs: I did sports sophomore and junior year (had to quit because I got injured) I'm involved with theatre, spanish club, dance club, I'm a tutor, save the animals club, spanish national honor society, math club
I have taken honors and ap classes all four years
Got a 2 on my Ap world test sophomore year
All 3's on my AP Bio, AP language and composition, and AP us history tests
My GPA is around 3.8
I'm taking 4 ap classes this year (spanish, government, literature, and calculus)</p>
<p>I want to major in Biology and then go on to medical school
So far I have applied to university of Arizona as a safety, and have started my UC App for Berkeley, ucla, Santa barbara, UCSD, and davis
Are there any other California schools that I could possibly have a chance at? I'm open to a lot of states in the west coast I don't want to be too far from home.
I feel like I've worked extremely hard throughout my high school career but its disheartening to see people with better stats get rejected before me
I'm very conflicted as to what schools I should apply to that I actually have a chance at and if I should retake the SAT one more time.
Thanks for reading </p>
<p>Have you calculated your UC-weighted GPA? Your test scores do not seem competitive for most UCs, other than Merced, Riverside,and possibly Santa Cruz. I do not see you getting into Berkeley, UCLA, or UCSD under any scenario, and I think that Davis and UCSB are probably big reaches for you. How about Whittier, Redlands, Loyola-Marymount, Puget Sound, Willamette, and Chapman?</p>
<p>Do some research regarding each UC school.
It’s not worth applying to UCLA,UCB,UCI, and UCSD. You will be rejected due to bad ACT/SAT,AP and GPA, and thinly spread out ECs </p>
<p>Test Scores will definitely need to be higher for all UCs. Average across the board in UC for SATs is probably just under 1900 and definitely higher for the upper tier ones.</p>
<p>You’re GPA is great if it’s unweighted, and still pretty good if it’s weighted. As you can probably tell, your SAT score is the issue especially since you’re out of state. Here is an easy way for you to compare them:</p>
<p>Also, is financial aid an issue? From what I’ve been hearing you won’t be getting much at the UC/CSU systems.</p>
<p>UCs:
For UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD your SAT score puts you below the 25% percentile. At UC Davis and UCSB you are around the 25% percentile or slightly below. </p>
<p>You’re closer to average at UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Cruz, and not as far below for UC Irvine. It’ll still be a reach (out of state and low math scores in particular) but you definitely have a better chance there than at UCB / UCLA / UCSD.</p>
<p>CSUs:
You definitely have a chance with these, but their reputation varies widely. You’ll have very little chance at San Luis Obispo (mid 500s to mid 600s) but are way above 75% at CSU LA (high 300s to high 400s). The best of the CSUs that you’re around average for SAT</p>
<p>Cal Poly Pomona (you’re a bit low in math)
Channel Island (again due to math, CR is high)
Chico
Fullerton
Humboldt State
Long Beach
SFSU
SJSU
San Marcos
Sonoma State</p>
<p>Many of the rest you’re around 75% or even quite a bit above.</p>
<p>If you can raise your SAT score you have a great chance at almost all CSUs and many of the lower UCs, but seeing as you’ve taken it twice and the ACT once it seems a bit tough. Good luck!</p>
<p>Santa Cruz, Riverside, and Merced might be worth a shot. You’re within range for admits, although out of state applicants are expected to have higher stats than in state.</p>
<p>For UC/CSU GPA calculation as an OOS student, you can only use 4 of your AP classes (8 semesters) for the extra honors points. If your UC/CSU GPA is less than 3.9 and SAT less than 1900, then your chances at UCI/UCSD/UCD/UCSB/UCLA/UCB are low. UCR/UCM/UCSC are possible.
<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;
The above posters have given you many good options and just remember you will receive no financial or merit aid from The CSU’s or UC’s. </p>
<p>The estimated cost of attendance for the year for an out of state student living on campus is $57,234. That’s more than twice what it would cost you to attend University of Arizona which is a well regarded school.</p>
<p>@shirleyyyy: I don’t see why they would care–I think you only report one? but someone else probably has a better answer. If you do retake it, spend a lot of time preparing. You could take practice tests, old released tests, the question-a-day on collegeboard’s website, and whatever else works for you. </p>
<p>Don’t try to spot questions, but to really understand what you’re doing. Focus on your math, since it’s the lowest and since you’re going into science. If you can hit around 600 per section, 1800 total, you’ll have much higher chance, but from reading other threads it seems like SAT scores don’t change that much with retakes (unless you took it when you were much younger). </p>
<p>Good luck though, whatever you decide to do!</p>