From the state of California

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I am applying to UCBerkeley, UCLA, UCDavis, USC, and Cal Poly SLO as an undergraduate and am a resident of northern California.</p>

<p>My SAT scores are pretty low-1820
Critical Reading 580, Math 640, Writing 600</p>

<p>SAT subject tests
Math II 650, Biology 670</p>

<p>AP scores
Euro History 4, US History 4, Biology 5, Psychology 5</p>

<p>10-12 Academic GPA 4.12</p>

<p>etc.
Marching and Concert Band for 4 years, spent 50 hours volunteering at a nursing home, secretary of Needle Works club, a leader of the school's Ecogreen club, volunteer 2 hours a week at local hospital, and member of the future scientist and engineers club. </p>

<p>Planning on applying as either a microbiology major or undecided.</p>

<p>I was just wondering what my chances were for getting into these schools considering how low my SAT scores are. I know Berkeley is really out of my reach by now, but was still thinking my other scores and overall performance in school would compensate for the low scores.</p>

2

<p>Your GPA looks pretty good but your SAT scores do not help you. CSUs use only the total of the math and critical reading SAT scores and your 1220 is nearly 100 points below the average for accepted students at Cal Poly SLO. The UCs use all three scores. Your total SAT score is about 200 points lower than the average accepted student at UCLA. You are probably close to the average at Davis. I really don’t know much about USC.</p>

3

<p>ucla usc berkeley are all reaches but of course you knew that. you might not get into davis b/c of your sats but i think your dedication to band might make up for it. good chances you are in for cal poly.</p>

4

<p>I agree with Lemaitre on your chance for Cal Poly. It will a challenge. </p>

<p>For CP, although your GPA looks solid (vs. CP frosh avg. 3.97), your SAT will likely adversely impact your chance. </p>

<p>Cal Poly Science and Math admitted freshman SAT average is 1301. I would suggest raising it if possible.</p>

<p>Also, Cal Poly does care about your 9th grade’s grades.</p>

5

<p>ickglue, Not correct. Cal Poly does not care out the 9th grades. You do enter the 9th grades results, but their gpa calculation takes out 9th grade. They do care what you are taking in 12th grade. I just submitted my 2011 application yesterday. I think mytoria has a chance. My sources who are actually studying at cal poy told me the only two good
depts at Cal Poly are Engineering and School of business. The rest are so so.</p>

6

<p>Unless I am reading this incorrectly, I have to beg to differ. According to the school’s site, they do care about 9th grade results:</p>

<p>"CSU required coursework taken during 9th to 11th grades and in progress or planned during 12th grade</p>

<p>Electives can be taken in 9-12 grades, but must fall within the following subject areas (above): Visual and Performing Arts, History, Social Science, English, Advanced Mathematics, Science and languages other than English."</p>

<p>[Freshman</a> Selection Criteria - Orfalea College of Business and College of Science and Mathematics -Admissions- Cal Poly](<a href=“http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/regular_BusSciMath.html]Freshman”>http://www.ess.calpoly.edu/_admiss/undergrad/regular_BusSciMath.html)</p>

<p>OP can look at numerous CC postings here to see a number of students/parents commenting on the need for 9th grade results for consideration at Cal Poly. </p>

<p>My statement about the OP’s chance is not absolute, or to discourage, of course. If he improves on SAT to 1300s, I think he will be very competitive for CP. </p>

<p>But since Cal Poly admits by stats, having a below average SAT is problematic, given everything single major being impacted, especially the sciences and technical fields. </p>

<p>As for good departments, I would disagree as well. </p>

<p>Although this does not apply to OP, Cal Poly’s College of Architecture is number 3 in the US (behind Harvard). And Cal Poly’s College of Agriculture is one of best in the US, ranked close to Cornell I think (but don’t hold me to this). </p>

<p>Your source at CP just needs to walk by the Architecture building and Cal Poly’s huge ranch. </p>

<p>So there are actually 4 colleges, Engr, Biz, Arch, Agr that are top or highly ranked in the US. </p>

<p>I didn’t know about college of business being that good, but it is great to know.</p>

7

<p>ickglue, my mistake, you are absolutely right, I forgot to include architecture. As far as
9th grade gpa, may be Cal poly is different than other Cal State, they do request you to enter all 9-12th grade classes including in progress and pending, but 1000% sure they
don’t include 9th grade gpa because when I entered the on line app, they checked everything and make sure its correct before they allow you to move on to the next section. And after you enter all classes and grades, they instruct you to calculate your GPA solely base on 10-11th grade only( just like UC). And I repeat, I just turned in my on-line application two days ago to college of Engineering</p>

8

<p>I defer to your expertise on the 9th grade grades. Good to know that. Thanks.</p>

<p>Good luck with your admission process.</p>