In-state student wondering about UCs- Low GPA, OK SAT- What's Realistic?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Alrighty, folks. Buckle in! Here’s what I’ve got.

I am a rising junior at a good, large (2700+ students) public high school that does not rank its students. I live in Northern California, and have dual Pakistani-American nationality/citizenship. I was born in Pakistan, and speak Urdu and Hindi with native fluency, and Mandarin with adept conversational skills.
I hope to major in something along the lines of Sociology. My goal is to work on a MSW afterwards and work in social services!

GPA/ Courses:

The hardest courses I could take in every subject besides math.

My UC GPA will probably be around a 3.5, 3.6. (eeeek. but I had a 3.2~ soph year, and will have around a 4.0 this year!)

Honors track for English/History, “varsity” academics, highest GPA in school’s Women’s basketball program.
APs:
Soph: Euro.
Junior: Env. Sci, Lang, USH.
Senior (predicted): Lit, Gov, Psych, Calc AB, Bio, Chinese, Macro/Micro

Standardized test scores
SAT: Just took last October, 720 CR, 730 M, 710 W (9 essay). Should I retake?

Extracurricular activities, my pride and joy!

Elected to national rights council with major organization.
Founder and president of a club at school relating to social justice in an international context. 140+ registered members.
Treasurer of school JSA, cabinet member, assembly representative, awarded best speaker gavel. I also write for the national paper of JSA.
Science Alliance mentor, the lovely kid I mentored last year took first in his category (proud mom feeling)
Work 45+ hours/week during summer with art/science camp kids, youngest to be hired by the company.
Polyglot! I study Arabic and Farsi at home with my parents, Inuktitut on my own, Chinese at school. The only non-native speaker in the program.

Hooks? I’m unsure. First in family to attend school in the states. Identical twin. I like puppies.

Chance me for any/all UCs, suggest any schools. Saying “any” for the 100th time, but anything helps!

2

I feel as though you would be a great candidate for schools such as uc Merced, uc Santa Barbara, uc riverside, and possibly uc Davis. I also think you’d be a great candidate for any cal state. Do you want to stay in Northern California? Or would you mind moving to Southern California?

3

No point retaking the SAT, your low GPA limits the number of schools that you’ll have a good chance at.

4

UC’s are very GPA focused so your current GPA will hurt your chances at several of the UC’s. An upward trend is good and your EC’s look competitive. Your SAT is also competitive and it would not hurt to take again. At the end of your Junior year calculate your UC GPA: http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

If your UC GPA is close to the predicted of 3.5/3.6, your best chances would be at UCR/UCM and UCSC. UCSB can be more forgiving with GPA if your Test scores are high (SAT 2200+).

UCR/UCM: Match
UCSC: High Match
UCI/UCSB/UCD: Low Reach
UCSD/UCB/UCLA: Reach

I agree with above poster @Camilouisee‌ and add 2 Cal States into the mix for safeties such as SDSU/CSULB/CSUF or SJSU. Also Cal Poly SLO might be a good choice, but I would never consider that school a safety, closer to a High Match.

5

I’m looking mostly out of state, and at the very least, a change in scenery from the valley would be nice. I like Santa Cruz but my GPA worries me.
I’m afraid of retaking the SAT because my score might drop :/!

6

UC’s will take highest score from one sitting and many other schools will superscore. You have almost a whole year to study, so I think it is worth your time to give it another try. Increase that score and you up your chances. Good luck