I want to apply to Sac State but I’m not positive on what to major in. My fist choice for a major would be business, but I’m afraid I won’t be accepted because it’s a rather popular major. I’m probably going to choose undeclared. Is it easier, harder, or about the same to get accepted as undeclared. Sacramento is my first choice but my stats aren’t the best (GPA: 2.7, SAT: 980/1600).
Also, would I have a decent shot at getting into these other CSUs: San Jose, Monterey, Chico, San Francisco, Sonoma. It would be really helpful if you gave me an estimate or percentage of my chances at getting into each one .
I know my stats are horrible so if worst comes to worst I’ll just go to a CC but I want to at least apply to some CSUs, so please don’t tell me not to apply.
CSU’s admit by Eligibility index and major. Your eligibility index is calculated as follows:
(CSU GPA x 800) + (SAT Math + CR). Your EI calculates out to 3140.
Your EI is above the required threshold of 2900 to apply, but your chances for acceptance will be limited to probably the non-impacted campuses such as Bakersfield, Stanislaus, Humboldt, Dominguez Hills and Channel Islands or not your choice of major.
SJSU is the only campus that posts their EI threshold by major each year. Here is the link which shows for Business (depending upon emphasis), the EI threshold for an acceptance at SJSU was 3200 to 4450.
For Undeclared, if you are local the EI was 3300. Non-local was 4500.
I would leave SJSU on the list if you can find a major of interest with your EI. SFSU/Sonoma and Chico State look like Reaches, if you can afford the application fees leave at least one on your list. I would apply to Monterey and a couple of the other non-impacted campuses I listed. You always have a CC as your backup but definitely cast a wide net.
San Jose, East Bay, and San Fran are my local cal states. I think I’ll leave San Jose on my list as a reach and still apply to Sac State as well as some of the easier CSUs. Do you think I have a good shot at getting into Sacramento?
@norcalgal17: You can only have 1 local in-service area CSU where you would be considered “local” and have priority. You need to check the link I gave for the in-service area boundaries.
Are you applying to the Business Administration major at Sac State? This major is impacted, so I think it will be a Reach based on your profile but it did have a 60% acceptance rate last year so it is possible. I would apply to some campuses where Business is not impacted, see the link below:
Sac State average GPA was 3.30. 24% of enrolled students had GPA’s of 2.5-2.99. Average SAT Math: 480 Average SAT CR: 468
Sac and Monterrey recently declared their campus impacted so,stats from a few years ago might not be relevant.
Due to campus and major impaction, Business at Sac is a reach. Undeclared or something non-impacted like Econ will give you a better shot at the campus. On campus major change is doable, you need a floor GPA and some required courses. Find at least one non-impacted campus for your list. East Bay is a good candidate.
Some local in service areas include more than one CSU (plus the 5 non-impacted CSU’s that have “state wide” service area).
SF State local areas: All high schools in Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties.
San Jose state – graduates from high school in Santa Clara County.
CSU EB (and 5 other CSU’s) are not impacted, so their “local in service area” is the entire state.
So those in Marin county have a local area of SF State and Sonoma State (and CSU EB & the 5 other CSU’s that aren’t impacted)). Santa Clara high school graduates have local areas of Santa Clara and San Francisco (and CSU EB & the other 5 non-impacted CSU’s) .
@almaa_card123: You can apply to as many CSU’s (local and non-local) as you want but in the Southern California area there are defined boundaries for your local CSU where you get priority and need a lower EI threshold to get an acceptance . There however are exceptions as @MLM pointed out. Non-impacted campus do not have these restrictions and several Northern Cal CSU’s have overlapping boundaries, so you can be local to more than 1 CSU. There is no guarantee if you apply to your local CSU that you will get an acceptance especially if it is impacted (like Nursing) but it will help.