<p>I've stayed optimistic the whole process about UCLA and Cal. I actually never really paid much attention to Cal until this month ( March ). I've been a UCLA fanatic most of my life, I'm a UCLA fan when it comes to College Football and Basketball. It has always been my dream to attend UCLA. Recently though, I can't stop thinking about Cal. At this point, if I had a chance, I would attend Cal. The problem is, I can't help but look to past stats to predict my own future. The acceptance rate for History majors are already low ( around 25% ). 90%+ of those admitted are over a 3.6 GPA. With only 14 admits out of 190 for GPAs ranging from 2.4-3.59 ( This seems to be the general trend also over the last 3 years ). </p>
<p>I just feel like I'm setting myself up for disappointment putting so much hope into Cal. My family has been supportive during the whole admissions process. They are proud of the fact that I've been accepted to UCSD/UCI. I just have high standards for myself and won't be satisfied until I at least hear from UCLA ( I do have a great deal of respect for UCSD and UCI though. ). My stats are posted on a few CC threads ( As a refresher: 3.5, History Major, IGETC/Pre-reqs done as of Fall 08, UCLA TAP certified, had jobs throughout attending CC, Upward GPA trend 1.8 GPA culm. to a 3.5 GPA culm., and decent essays ). Comments from current Cal students and fellow applicants are appreciated.</p>
<p>i guarantee you will get into ucla. cal is sort of a reach. congrats on ucsd/i</p>
<p>Umm. . . </p>
<p>Where can I find the info you cited?</p>
<p>Links would be helpful. Boy, that 90% admit rate for those w/ over a 3.6 seems odd, I’ve never seen that before. Its infuriating considering how close candidates like us are to that threshold.</p>
<p>Yep, I’m in the same boat as you with a 3.54 after fall '08. And the heart breaker is I’ll have straight A’s this semester (spring 09), which will put me @ 3.6+. My GPA also improved one whole point, although I didn’t discuss that in the essay. </p>
<p>I have a feeling my essays are probably superior compared to other applicants, even though I had no assistance. I went back and read them after not looking at them for about two months, and felt really well about what I wrote. It wasn’t a sob story or anything about how difficult my life was, but just about how I found myself excelling in my chosen major, and some positive academic experiences I had in school. I think it made a sensible, clear, and concise message that set itself apart from what I have seen. </p>
<p>Uhhhhhh. . .</p>
<p>:(</p>
<p>Makes me wish I could just spend a whole year in tech school, learn a trade or something, and then apply again.</p>
<p>UCR, here I come!</p>
<p>At least housing and what not will be uber cheap there.</p>
<p>comrade, the admit rate isn’t 90% for people with >3.6. rather, of those admitted, 90% had >3.6. </p>
<p>i’m sure this will all end well for you guys…
nijikon, i have nearly the same upward trend as you… i think my original GPA was even less than that… eh… from what i hear from counselors / officials, etc, the upward trend thing ‘weighs in more heavily than you might realize’.</p>
<h2>good luck. </h2>
<p>“(i) felt really well about what I wrote.”
<p>I’m with you. I’m really freaking out. My parents are being awesome with getting my letters (especially UCSD because they want me to go there) but I REALLY want to get into Cal. I applied as a Psychology major, and…well you know. In the end, I think you should be really proud of yourself because look at where it has gotten you! UCSD and UCI! Not everyone can pull that off. Just think positively, and when it comes time…well you’ll just know. My motto: everything happens for a reason! Keep that head up high! </p>
<p>[:</p>
<p>Don’t psych yourself out. If UCLA is really want you wanted then go there. A last minute hastily decision is never good, BUT if you are psyching yourself out because you don’t think you’ll get in or are too scared wait a couple weeks until decision are out.</p>
<p>I honestly didn’t think I would get in. I am the opposite of you. Cal was my dream school, I liked the people the campus and it was ranked #1 for my program. When decisions started to come out everyone was saying don’t get too excited about CAL so I was ready to go to UCLA. Basically no one thought I would get in. When I finally got in it was kind of a let down because I had psyched my self out. I was like “ok cool, let me eat some lunch…”.</p>
<p>Thanks for all the advice and positive comments Pinker, sakurax, and Hockee. I don’t know where the sudden passion for Cal came from, but I really have my heart set on Cal like sakurax. </p>
<p>Pinker: Calbear2009 had a 3.3 culm when he transferred to Cal, his strong personal essays and 3.9 upward trend really played a big role according to him. I’m hoping this plays a big role in our decisions too.</p>
<p>sakurax: I was really positive about my chances to Cal and keeping my head up until I recently looked closely at stats for History majors. I am generally optimistic but it’s so hard to avoid the logic of concrete statistics :[. I’ll continue to focus on my coursework this semester and hope for the best. Hockee is right though, I shouldn’t psych myself out so much on these results. Most of us already have a great UC to attend this fall.</p>
<p>Cal pays a lot of attention to your GPA, and essays, not so much to extra curriculars. Of course, if you have the extra curriculars, that looks great!</p>