<p>Based on my stats:</p>
<p>-overall A-G gpa: 3.1
-SAT: havent gotten scores from Oct SAT yet, but I got 1800 on PSAT.
-havent taken the SAT subject tests yet, but planning to take math level 2 and US history).
-16 hours of community service.
-2 months work experience.</p>
<p>Which UC’s would be my safe schools, and which would be long shots?</p>
<p>Safety: UCM</p>
<p>and Riverside.</p>
<p>I have seen your posts on several threads referring to your 3.1 GPA. Is that weighted or unweighted? If it's already weighted, then I agree with previous posters that UCR and UCM are matches. If not, please calculate it so that we can answer your questions more accurately.</p>
<p>Here is the thing: I have only taken AP classes in my senior year (AP Biology and AP Calculus). Since I can't really report those grades yet, I still have a 3.1 GPA. I don't really want to apply to UCR or UCM because I could just go to a cal state for my bachelors, then transfer to a decent UC for my masters. I only want to go to a UC now if I can get into UCSC and higher.</p>
<p>I would apply to UCM, UCR as matches, and UCSC is probably a match too (although I'm not quite sure... I don't know very many people who goto those three schools) but slightly more of a reach than the other two? I don't know if I would bother trying for UCSB/UCD/UCI... but you never know? I'm thinking your UC GPA is simply too low for those schools.</p>
<p>I know that both UCSC, UCR and UCM accept around 75% of applicants whose gpa is between 3.0 and 3.25. My counsellor did say that those schools would be almost a sure thing for me, since I come from a distinguished high school and all that. As for UCI and UCD, UCD accepts around 30% of applicants whose gpa is between 3.0 and 3.25; for UCI, its 12%. I know that I don't really have a good shot at all the other UC's, but I don't really want to go to UCR or UCM, since they both have a bad reputation when compared to the rest of the UC's.</p>
<p>If you are only worried about the name of the UC that you're going to, then you might as well go to a community college and transfer to a 'better' UC in two years. That aside, it's not as bad as you might think. A good essay can do you wonders in your UC admissions. My friend got into UCD with 3.0, 1820 SAT because he wrote wonderful essays.</p>
<p>It's not just the name; I know that the quality of the instructors at UCR is lower than most.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California%2C_Riverside#Rankings%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California%2C_Riverside#Rankings</a></p>
<p>I also know that UCSC is geared more towards undergraduates than all the other UC campuses; this is to my liking. </p>
<p>If I do go to a UC, I dont want to transfer to anywhere else. Therefore, I want to end up in a decent enough UC so that I wouldn't mind staying there for 5 years.</p>
<p>If this is not what happens, I have also applied to several CSU campuses. This way, I can follow your advice, and transfer later (after bachelor's degree).</p>
<p>P.S., the air pollution around Riverside is staggering.
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California%2C_Riverside#Air_Pollution_Research_Center%5B/url%5D">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_California%2C_Riverside#Air_Pollution_Research_Center</a></p>
<p>UC only looks at your grade in 10th and 11th grade. So don't include your grades in 9th grade in your GPA calculation. </p>
<p>Also, are you URM such as coming from low-income family, first generation to attend college? Does your high school fall into the 4th and 5th quintile schools? Do you come from single parent household? If you are in any of those listed above, UC adds A LOT of points to your admission factor.</p>
<p>Well, I am a first generation college student, and my high school is a top 3 school in California and a top thirty School in the US, but I've been told that the school that I come from won't make much difference.</p>
<p>It helps if you come from a high school that's at the bottom. Take a look at this website. It's for UCSD for 2004. You can put in your numbers and see if you meet the cut off. The cut off is a little higher each year. </p>
<p>UCD has similar way to calculate but I don't know what's the cut off:</p>
<p>Here is the thing about my high school (from what the teachers tell us): We are a very high-performing school, but a large percentage of the students are considered economically disadvantaged.</p>
<p>I think the 4th and 5th quintile points are referring to the underperformance of high schools, not to the economic disadvantages? But that's just my speculation. But regardless, it's not a particularly big issue unless you're really, really at the border of being admitted or not and you could really use the extra boost of being from a high school from the bottom. By the way, what high school is this?</p>
<p>but you sir, are YOU economically disadvantaged? if so, how have you overcome it? what kind of goals do you set for yourself because of it? what kind of difference can YOU make?</p>
<p>personally i don't think the high school you come from matters too much. besides grades and scores, it's on the individual level and how you can express it through your essays that will help you get into UC. good luck.</p>
<p>I myself am not economically disadvantages; In fact, far from it. I attend Clark Magnet High School in La Cresenta.</p>