My chances at UC schools

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - GENERAL
1

<p>I am currently a junior. What would you guess my chances are of getting into various UC schools with the following brief stats:</p>

<p>Academics:</p>

<p>SAT: 2020 (600 CR, 690 Math, 730 Writing) - hoping to retake and get at least 2100</p>

<p>UC GPA (10th-11th grade): 4.1 - 4.2 weighted (depending on this final semester)</p>

<p>Gold Honor Award: At least 3.75 GPA every semester of high school</p>

<p>ECs: not impressive</p>

<p>100 hours volunteer service
1 year Youth and Government
1 year JSA
2 semesters CSF</p>

<p>Personal Challenges: Financial Struggles through most of Sophomore/Junior Year</p>

<p>Very competitive public school, does not rank (cumulative 4.0 weighted gpa does not even put in top 10%)</p>

<p>UCB
UCLA
UCSD
UCI
UCD
UCSB</p>

<p>What are my chances of getting into those UCs? What if I get my SAT up to 2100 or higher? Also, this might be an obvious question, but if I am planning to do certain things senior year (i.e. apply for CSF, be in school play) how do I let colleges know that if it hasn’t happened yet or been guarenteed?</p>

2

<p>UCB/UCLA - Slight Reach/Match
UCSD - Match
UCI/UCD/UCSB - Safe Match/Safety</p>

3

<p>UCLA/UCB: Reach
UCSD: Slight Reach or Match
(learn more here <a href="http://admissions.ucsd.edu/dev3/info/comreview.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://admissions.ucsd.edu/dev3/info/comreview.html&lt;/a&gt;)
UCI/UCD/UCSB: Safe Match</p>

4

<p>just write an impressive essay and you will get into all those schools.</p>

5

<p>yeah I'm sure you'll get in for sure into all the UCs except Cal and La. Like blueprints said if you want to get in, you have to write a very impressive essay</p>

6

<p>the most important factor is your GPA. you have a good SAT score so in light of this, improving your score and even working the EC's are secondary.</p>

<p>ace this final semester!</p>

7

<p>UCSD's point system seems to not emphasize the essays. They do, however, in specific ways.</p>

8

<p>UCB/UCLA: Slight Reach/Reach
UCSD: Match
UCD/UCSB/UCI: Safe match</p>

<p>Do your essays well, do a little more EC.</p>

9

<p>Hmm...thanks for the answers. I guess I should try to maintain my shot at UCSD. so how do EC's go in terms of my application? Since I'm going to be a senior next year when I apply to schools, do I just tell them that I'm planning to be part of (insert clubs here) beforehand and they assume I will stick with it?</p>

10

<p>I don't think clubs and activities done during senior year after college applications are turned in makes a difference. Because you are still a junior, I would look at the UCSD point system rubric and really work on the sections aside from academics to ensure your chances. For example, having 300+ hours at more than one place for community service can give you the full 300 points. Be sure to take SAT2s beacuse they play a huge factor in admissions. They are 2/3 as important as the sat1. The formula for points on GPA and SATs are as follows:
GPAx1000
0.8(sat1+sat2+sat2)</p>

11

<p>i think u have a good shot at UCB/UCLA. your GPA is the biggest factor for UC admissions, no matter what other ppl say</p>

12

<p>I don't think you should set your sight on UCSD. Right off the bat, you have nearly enough points to get into UCSD (assuming that you finish the current semester well and at least try on your SAT 2's). So I would worry more about the contents of the essay. Of course, it wouldn't hurt to look over UCSD's comprehensive review guideline to get all the points you deserve.</p>

<p>I also think you have a good chance at Cal and UCLA. Your GPA is competitive, you have been through some difficult times, and all you need to do is discuss how you've overcome them or show your personality in your essay. With your stats, it really comes down to the essay.</p>