Minority, low-income, OOS and 1960 SAT score - do I even have a shot at top UC's?

Applying to College
1

<p>I didn't do so well my first two years of HS due to a medical condition, although I think I have a 3.4 cutoff for UC schools based on my 10th and 11th a-g grades (but my cumulative for all 3 years is an is an 85). If my GPA throws anyone off, I live in NY. I have strong EC's - I went to Berkeley CA for a research thing - and a "strong" essay. But do I even have a chance of getting into a Cal or UCLA? My parents are African immigrants, if that helps.</p>

<p>EDIT: SAT scores are a V700/W690/M570
SAT II scores: Lit. 690; USH: 700</p>

<p>What about Stanford, Pitzer, Pomona, and USC?</p>

<p>Also, when I say my Frosh grades sucked, I mean it A LOT. I failed Freshman Bio with a 55, although I retook it the same year and got an 85. I really struggled prior to my surgery grade-wise, but will other factors still help?</p>

2

<p>I think of Stanford, Pomona, and Berkeley, especially OOS, as among the biggest reaches in California, although I am in no position to describe "chances". What draws you to those? They are each different.</p>

3

<p>minority status doesnt mean anything at UCs so upper UCs are out.</p>

<p>At stanford your low gpa and low SAT also take you out of the running, its got too many better choices.</p>

<p>USC is a possibility with low income factor but its still a high reach.</p>

<p>I think you're looking at too high of a tier and overestimating minority status.</p>

4

<p>A low-income, URM isn't an auto-admit, but it does give an applicant an advantage. Top schools are receiving a lot of criticism for being havens for the priviledged. They want socioeconomic diversity. You are socioeconomic diversity. You're racial and geographic diversity too. That said, your SAT scores and GPA are a bit low.</p>

<p>You have a decent shot at Pitzer, the top UCs aren't possibilities (no point in going to a UC out of state anyway).</p>

5

<p>ya top ucs are out cuz they don't give a s*** about minority status or income and they care alot about gpa and test scores. i'm a oos urm with a 2150 and i don't think i have a decent shot at cal at all. but i'm trying anyway. maybe if you write really good essays and talk about the illness that caused your grades to be so low... but still, even with urm status that sat and gpa will be a killer at stanford. i dun know about pitzer or pomona. but hey. i'm just a kid. i could be wrong.</p>

6

<p>Those sorts of things give you advantage, but it's not what makes you a shoo-in. Usually, the people that get admitted have scores that are slightly lower and those factors are what give the push. Your GPA however is too low for Stanford. You could get away with the SAT score, but not the GPA.</p>

7

<p>Occidental College in L.A. might work well for you as well.</p>