This is my final thread before I finalize my list of schools with updated info.
Grade : 12th
UW : 3.3 GPA
10-11 A-G (W): 3.5909
SAT (1600 Scale) : 1210/1600 (may or may not decide to take the October sitting.)
ACT : Taking test in September.
AP Scores (Past/Current/Planned)
10th
AP World History : 4
AP Eng. Lang : 4
11th
APUSH : 4
AP Env. Sci : 2
AP Lit. Comp : 3
12th (Upcoming)
AP Comp Sci A
AP Government and Politics
AP Art History
CSU EI Index : 4082 (from my calculations)
Extracurricular Activities
Key Club (Member) - 2 years (Jr./Sr.)
Political Club (Member) - 2 Years (Jr./Sr)
Programming Club (Club President) - 1 year (Sr.)
Investors Club (Member) - 1 year
General Community Service- (i.e- volunteering at community events, cleanups, etc.)
Sales Job (Part-time)
Location : Southern California
Ethnicity : Asian
Grad Year : 2017
Target Schools :
CSU
Sacremento State - Computer Science or Geology
San Jose State - Software Engineering/ Geographic Information Systems or Electrical Engineering/ CS Minor (Impacted Major taken into account.)
San Fransisco State - Computer Science or Geographic Information Science
CSU San Marcos - Computer Science
San Diego State- Computer Science or Electrical Engineering/CS Minor
CSU Fullerton - Computer Science
Cal Poly Pomona - Computer Science or Geology
CSU Chico - Computer Science
CSU East Bay - Computer Science
UCs
UC Merced - Computer Science
UC Riverside - Information Systems/CS/Geophysics
UC Davis ( This one is my most blatant reach) - CS or Geological Sciences
@Gumbymom Thank you. If I may ask, What does High Match/Low Reach mean specifically in regard to chancing
and how are they different from just simply Match/Reach themselves ?
@Gumbymom I remember in a previous thread I had made you had recommended for a school like SDSU and afformentioned “High Match Schools” that I should aim for a SAT score of 1200 plus. I have decided to take the october sitting in an attempt to push the score near 1300 from the 1210 I already have now. From an earlier thread in June, I was able to visit East Bay, Sac State, UC Davis, SJSU, and San Fransisco State. I know that in regard to the UC schools, admissions are heavily gpa based so that hurts me at most campuses. In terms of UCs, I plan to apply to UCR,UCSC,UCM, and UCD ( Reach School) I also acknoweldge that CS as a major is heavily competitive so with these UCs plus the 50/50 and lower schools listed (SJSU,CSUF,CPP,SDSU) what SAT/ACT scores will I need to improve my chances, even just if by a bit ? (I have some topics planned for my Personal Statements as well if those play any major role.)
With the CSU’s (except Cal Poly SLO), they use the eligibility index to rank applicants by major.
So with your current stats, your EI is 4082. For SDSU, 4100+ has been the threshold for competitive majors, so you are on the cusp. SDSU could be a High Match/Low Reach depending upon the # of applicants for CS/EE this year and their stats since the EI thresholds can fluctuate. For SJSU, an EI of 4300 was required for CS last year, in 2014 it was 4550 and in 2013 ago it was 4100 so again it will fluctuate depending upon the applicant pool.
For the CSU’s, raising your SAT score will definitely help and put you in a better position for an acceptance.
For the UC’s, since they are very GPA focused, it will help but your GPA is the issue.
UCM/UCR/UCSC are good options and UCD will definitely be a reach. Personal statement/essays are considered but do not make up for the GPA.
All you can do is present the best application, apply widely and hope for the best.
Match schools on my scale are around 55-70% acceptance chances.
@Gumbymom Thanks once again. To finish though, I’d then assume that UCSC would be near UCR in terms of chances of admission then or would it be a low reach like you listed with San Diego State ?
@ucbalumnus Thank You. I will take a look at those, they seem rather useful to assess the admissions at the UCs/CSUs.
@NCalRent I agree, I am aiming to get my SAT score up to around 1300 from the October 1st Sitting and hopefully that should do wonders. I’m sorry to bother, but what schools in particular that you assess as me “certainly making it into/ on the bubble schools” were you refering to from my list ?
How much of an exact impact would improving my score to about 1300 have on some of the chances listed above as high match or low reach ? I understand that would be hypothetical, but I feel that a score near or above 1300 is definitely in reach. How would you chance the remaining "bubble" schools with a score of "1300" ?
I have targeted these schools on my list based on the percieved efficency of these schools Computer Science Programs. Cost should not be an issue, but I have also chosen schools based on how close they are to family members, as a have family in the Bay Area, and San Diego/Los Angeles area respectively. In particular, I was wondering the cost to attend a college such as CSU East Bay, which also happens to be very close to familiy and solid for CS (I recall in a previous thread you mentioning CSUEB's sucess for graduates in the job market)
In terms of UCs, I see UCM mentioned in other threads a bit regarding their computer science program as rather solid, but I also read about UCM being slandered and disregarded as a second rate school, and that it would be better to just go to a CC or something. What gives ? Is UCM really as bad as people say it is ?
For the CSU's, raising your SAT score would of course raise your EI, so a positive impact and increase your chances. For the UC's, having a higher SAT score could help, but they are very GPA focused, so not as much of an impact but definitely with your time and effort to retake.
You can check each school's website for Cost of Attendance (COA). Of course commuting would be the least expensive option, but depending upon the CSU campus if you include tuition/fees/room/board, you are looking at around $20K/year and for UC's around $30K/year. So it will really depend upon what your family's EFC is according to FASFA and if you qualify for California aid such as Cal Grants/Blue and Gold Scholarship etc....
Each school has a net price calculator on their website so plug in your information and see what kind of numbers you get.
UC Merced has the unfortunate reputation as being 1) the newest UC campus 2) default UC campus for ELC eligible applicants 3) undesirable location (not for all). UC Merced is located in the Central Valley, fairly isolated and not near any large cities. I highly recommend visiting if you are considering this school. My older son would have been happy attending due to proximity of Yosemite and many outdoor activities plus the small town feel. My younger son would have been miserable. Just remember this is still a UC, so you will get a quality education but fit is important. Give it 10 years and UC Merced will be a highly desirable school.
For a point of reference and just an FYI since you cannot compare the quality of applicants:
My younger son is a current CS major at SDSU, so I will give post his application/admission history to give you an idea of how he fared 2 years ago.
UC/CSU GPA: 3.73
ACT: 31 (1430 conversion for New SAT)
10 AP and 2 Honors classes (Top 15% of his HS)
He target CSU’s since he knew his GPA is below average for the majority of the UC’s and wanted to stay in
California. Ultimately he picked the best fit for him and is doing well at SDSU.