I don’t think anyone is saying not to apply to the schools you want. If more than 95% are going to be rejected, that doesn’t mean that all those people were foolish to try. All we are saying is to make sure you have safeties and matches that you would be happy with first. After that you are free to apply where you want.
@Huangmaster, the ELC means you get Merced. That’s the only UC with room right now.
Students get the ELC confused. If you are the top 9% of your classmates, not California overall, and you don’t get into your UC, then you have the option to attend Merced. It doesn’t allow you to pick and choose a UC YOU want to attend. You go to the one that has room. Right now, that’s Merced.
You are hoping that these last couple of months will make a real difference in getting admitted when competing with students who have put in hundreds to thousands of hours in “social activism” (Eagle Scouts, Sierra Club, Varsity Sports, clinical and food bank organizers). My former students who did these kinds of activities, were given the edge.
My son got into the schools you aspire to enter. Nat’l Merit winner, Eagle scout, varsity sports, tutor, Food Bank drives, etc. He did this over the years of his high school career.
How do you think you will look on paper to schools like UCLA and Berkeley that care and hugely value community involvement?
Saw your other post: aint happening.
@lookingforward is spot on-
You don’t have the competitive grades to get into those schools that you arrogantly think you deserve.
Your GC can’t list any real social deeds, over your high school career, that you have done to be admitted for schools like UCLA or Berkeley.
Community college could be a safety for you.
@Huangmaster This year of the golden dragon baby thing was no joke. UC admissions were brutal. UCI admit rate for this class was 28% with average UNWEIGHTED UC gpa 3.92. This was before any waitlist admissions. You might make it in undeclared. I would still take it since you’re talented enough to make the grades you need in required prereqs to declare the major. Really rooting for you to have a successful admissions season. Keep us posted next spring!
Note that any “extra dragon year” kids are not all in the fall 2018 college frosh cohort, since the kindergarten entry dates split the dragon year kids across two kindergarten start years.
@ucbalumnus We know of several people who “redshirted” their kindergarteners and didn’t start them until age 6 so they would have a bonus year on their peers. Next years admissions may be just as ugly, but I hope not.
I would apply to top 100 private universities. They will look at your application holistically, and the rigor and test scores are good. It is hard to say what different schools will do.
You are a competitive applicant. Your stats are good and your ECs, if you follow through with them, will be decent. Write great essays and you could get accepted to any of these schools
Essays do not replace a record of actions. They are not a trump card.
It is still a good record 3.83 UW in almost all AP classes. The 4s on AP exams are decent, and the rest of the test scores are really good. It isn’t Ivy-level, but it is way above the average accepted at UCSD and similar level private schools.
I would definitely not mention the F on the English paper, because whatever it is, it sounds like the teacher thought you were cheating.
Thanks guys. I knew that my GPA wasn’t great, but I didn’t realize that it would be that much of a setback. Yes all A’s would be ideal, but with an extremely rigorous schedule, it’s almost impossible. I’ve gotten 1 or 2 B’s every semester of high school.
Again, I don’t think it is that huge. Not everyone in all AP classes gets all As and 5s on the exams. I tutored someone who got into UCSD OOS (but went to a similar level school) who had about a 3.4 UW in all AP classes. I went to Johns Hopkins, and OPs record isn’t what they are looking for, but he might make the wait list there. So it might be OK for somewhere a little down from that.
However, getting direct admission to UCSD CS is more difficult than getting general undeclared admission to UCSD. Getting into CS after enrolling undeclared at UCSD is difficult.
Due to the rapid rise in popularity of CS at many colleges, those who want to major in CS need to aim lower for the most part.
I would apply to top 100 private schools since you have the money. Some of them may not care so much about the major. Some of them also might like the test scores. You can decide whether to go to a cheaper mid level UC, but I would give it a shot, as parts of the application are strong.
@sattut what specifically about my record would be a red flag for jhu?
OP, ^ everything we’ve been saying over two threads. You understand the competitive weaknesses, right?
The ECs, AP scores, and GPA, plus ORM. There wouldn’t be a red flag. I just don’t think it is quite the level for a top 30 school.
I understand the ec’s and gpa, but I’m still not convinced that the 4’s on AP’s are a negative. NEVER outside of this website has anyone said a 4 is bad, even for top tier schools. Of course I’m not expecting any credit, but I didn’t think that this would hurt me
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I believe the OP has received some solid advice. The thread now appears to be going in circles, so it’s time to close.