Everyone Tells Me That I'll Get Into a UC.., But Will I?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I am a junior in high school and I plan on applying to UCLA, UCSD, UC Irvine, and UC Santa Barbara as my UC schools. I want to major in pharmaceutical sciences or biology.

I come from a disadvantaged high school in California where academics are not a huge focus for many students. We do not have honors class, only regulars and APs.

My statistics:
Total GPA - 3.8 weighted; 3.63 unweighted
Academic GPA- 3.77 weighted; 3.57 unwe.
10-12 GPA- 3.62 weighted; 3.31 unweighted
Class Rank - 29 of 526
Passed/Current APs - 4 (AP World [score of 3 ], APUSH, AP Eng. Lang, and AP Chem)
Senior APs - 3 (AP US Gov, AP Eng. Lang, and AP Chem) and an “AP weighted Biochemistry course”.

Volunteer hours- around 200 hrs with my longest service within a 10 week tutoring program during last summer.

Positions and EC- Founder of my school’s Speech and Debate Club, VP of AP Club, National Honors Society member, GEAR UP Ambassor for 5 years, a Girard Prep scholar for 2 years, a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for 3 years, an AVID student of 2 years, and a member of my school’s Gardening Club.

Years Breakdown:
Freshman year: 4.0 weighted and unweighted GPA.
Sophomore year: 3.7 weighted (3.3 unweighted) with a C in General Chemistry and a B in 1st semester APWH and a C in 2nd sem APWH.
Junior Year: I have a 4.0 weighted (3.5 unweighted) with all of my APs as B’s but the rest of my classes as A’s.
Senior year is coming up…

2016 SAT and ACT scores are in progress.
2016 PSAT score: 1210 (91st national percentile)
2016 PSAT Breakdown: 640 English; 570 Math
2016 PSAT Selection Index: 185

Thank you for all who took the time to answer my question and also many thanks for those who even hesitated to intervine.

2

Without any test scores its hard to gauge. But with a 3.57 academic uw gpa especially since UC’s only count sophomore-junior year i think you should look into uc santa cruz/ riverside.

3

I agree with the above comment. However, if you manage to nail the SAT or ACT you stand a much better chance for Irvine or Santa Barbara.

4

I agree with the two users above. We won’t be able to say anything without your SATs or ACTs. However, your total GPA is a little low for UCLA, I believe. Their average GPA is a 4.0. Some colleges may take your non-weighed GPA so you and other students are compared on an equal scale.

5

So if I earn all A’s by the end of the 2nd semester of junior year (4.5 GPA weighted), then how much better would my chances be?

6

So if I earn all A’s by the end of the 2nd semester of junior year (4.5 GPA weighted), then how much better would my chances be for all schools?

7

Here is the UC GPA calculator so you can plug in the A’s for your 2nd semester to see what your possible GPA will be. https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Until you have your UC GPA finalized (end of Junior year) and test scores, it is hard to gauge your chances. Coming from a poor performing HS can help along with excellent EC’s and essays. If you are ELC eligible (top 9% of your HS class) you are guaranteed admission to a UC (UC Merced if there is room) if you are not accepted into any UC’s of your choice. I would still include UCSC and UCR to your list since competition for spots at all the UC’s is getting harder each year. Always nice to have several backups. Repost with UC GPA and test scores when available.

8

Just apply to the schools you are interested in (or pressured unfortunately). You will never know what could happen. I have heard of some crazy stories. Good luck.

Yes, hard work will get you what you want but a significant part of it is from luck. But everyone deserves it, there may be just too much demand at a specific college, which the UCs are prime examples.

In the end of the day, it is what your job, salary, and personality that matters, not what schools you have attended.

9

Take a look at UCSC, UCR, and UCM. If you nail testing, give a shot at UCSB.

10

You would be eligible in the local context if you are in the top 9% of your school. That will get you into a UC but probably not the ones you listed.