<p>As an incoming freshman, I have to say that things have definitely changed a lot since you grew up. a 3.0 is nowhere near competitive, and at my high school, which is not even close to prestigious, saying that you’re going to UC with a 3.0 would get you scoffed at.</p>
<p>I have a 3.9 gpa, six AP classes, 2070 SAT, varsity captain of two sport teams, and I got rejected from every UC campus I applied to. My case is not unique, and many others at my high school who were more than qualified for UC were rejected. The person who was one rank off ELC, with a GPA of 4.2, got rejected from every UC as well, and has to go to community even though he is more than prepared for any of the UCs. I know several more people with 4.0+ gpas who do sports, volunteer, tutor, the whole works, who are going to community because no one accepted them. </p>
<p>I am going to Calpoly in the fall, even though (I’m about to sound very elitist here) I know that I am smart enough to survive at any UC, and that I deserve more than a state college, even if it is Calpoly. I will be the first person in my family to go to a state college, even though my academics were stronger than my family members. When my cousins went to high school not even ten years ago, they matriculated to UC Berkeley with less credentials than me.
In this day and age, anything that is below a 3.5 is automatic state or community college, I know maybe one person who got into a UC or private without a 3.5, and he is beyond charismatic, which probably won over the adcoms more than his academics.</p>