As of right know, I’m currently on summer break and about to start senior year in less than 3 months. I took my first SAT on March and scored 1000 out of 1600. I took my second SAT on May and I scored a 1010. Yes, I didn’t study at all for my SAT. Another factor that I feel like contributes to this disturbing score is that I’m an immigrant to the US who got here in less than 2 years, so I feel like my English is limited in some ways. I currently have a 3.6 GPA which also irritates me. Since I live in California, I’m thinking of applying to a bunch of UC’s. I would like to go to UC Davis since it’s close to home but last year average admission for Davis was a 4.1 GPA and 1300+ SAT score. I’m obviously taking a third SAT on October and I’m planning to study for it this time. What do you guys think about my likeliness to get into a UC? Any suggestion to improve my GPA (I took a bunch of AP classes last year and I’m also taking a college course this summer)? Any another suggestion besides GPA and SAT to better my chance in getting into a UC?
Your best chances for a UC would be UCR/UCM and UCSC. UC’s are very GPA focused so even if you can get your test scores up into the 1200+ range, your GPA may still be an issue. There is no harm in applying to UCD/UCI or UCSB, just understand with your current stats they are Reaches. Take a look at many of the Cal states or private schools in California where your stats would make them a Match/ Safety. (SJSU/Sonoma State/ St Mary’s/Univ of Pacific/SFSU etc…).
Other than the CCC class, your UC GPA is what it is. You might want consider the ACT. International students tend to do better on the ACT than SAT.
@7oni619 What is your weighted GPA? Is your 3.6 GPA weighted?
CSULB and Chico and CalPoly Pomona are also worth a look.
The UCs are very demanding schools. If you don’t have the GPA or the discipline to study for standardized tests then maybe they are not a good match. There are plenty of other schools in Northern California that you may have more success at. Remember, going to college is not all about prestige; it is about fit. That being said, I suggest you look into schools where you GPA and test scores are well above the average. I think Sonoma and SF state are both fine institutions and are also both VERY affordable.
UCs (and most CSUs) look at grades from 10th and 11th grade; not much you can do now except work on increasing your SAT scores.
@7oni619 Are you disadvantaged in any way (first generation college student, low income, minority, etc)?
@NCalRent I will give it a look 
@uclahopefull Thank you
@GoldenWest Yes, I’m planning to get atleast a 1200+ my next try
@emory323 No, I’m not a first generation college students. Both of my parents went to college. Yes, I’m a minority. For the income part, we’re not low income.
@7oni619 UC Davis is an excellent school. Personally, it was one of my top choice schools, 2nd after Emory :). It is really sad how crazy competitive it’s gotten for students. It seems that having a 4.0 GPA and 1350 SAT no longer guarantee an acceptance for this school (many angry students have written about this on CC). Based on your current stats, I’m afraid to say that you have little to no chance of being accepted to UC Davis. The good news is that you still have time to improve! If you bring your SAT up to a 1400, you will have good chances of being accepted. SAT is much easier to improve than GPA. Just do the best you can to bring that score up whether it’s studying by yourself, with friends, or with a private tutor. I wish you all the best!
I forgot to mention about safety schools. Definitely consider them! Here are some good safeties you should at least think about:
- University of California, Santa Cruz
- University of California, Merced
- University of California, Riverside
- Any of the 23 CSUs
- University of Arizona
- Arizona State University
- University of Oregon
- University of British Columbia
- University of the Pacific
- Loyola Marymount University
- Saint Mary’s College of California
- University of San Francisco
- University of San Diego
OP: Regarding safety schools and CSU’s/UC’s: Cal Poly SLO/SDSU/UCSC and possibly CSULB along with SJSU for CS would not be safety schools. Current stats are below the averages. You want to be above the averages and closer to the 75th percentile to consider a school a solid safety.