My chances of getting into a UC or CSU

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hello,
I just want to know what are my chances of getting into a good UC or CSU, and how I can improve them. I’ll leave some information down below:

-Junior (11th grade)
-African American
-From SoCal
Overall GPA: 3.5
Clubs/Organizations: I am apart of 2 engineering-related clubs
Extracurricular: Computer software & Robotics development (Hobbyist). I make youtube videos
Volunteering/Community service: 40 hrs (minimum)
AP Classes: None, but plan to take one next year that I am actually interested in.
SAT: Haven’t received scores yet, but I estimate around 1400/1600.
Work experience: None
Interests: Engineering
Extra:
-At the end of this year I would’ve taken 3 years of foreign language
-Top 15% in cass

2

All CSU’s (except SLO) rank applicants based on major and their Eligibility index (EI) and accept from the top down. Local in-service area residents are given priority.
EI= (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math + CR) or (CSU GPA x200) + (ACT comp x10).

For CSU/UC GPA calculate based on link: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Once you have SAT/ACT scores, you can calculate your EI.
For SDSU: you want around 4100 +SAT/1000+ACT
For CSULB/CSUF: 3900-4000 SAT/950+ ACT
For SJSU: use this link since they publish their EI thresholds for each major

http://info.sjsu.edu/web-dbgen/narr/static/admission/frosh-f2015impact.html

SLO uses an MCA point score to determine admission decisions. Here is a link on how to calculate:

http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo/1694769-confused-about-mca-score.html

Average UC GPA for 6 of the 9 UC campuses is 4.0+ and they are very GPA focused. Having competitive test scores will definitely help but you also you need excellent essays and EC’s to set you apart from the rest of the applicants.

Chancing for the UC’s is difficult due to the subjective nature of the essays and EC’s. You have no test scores so other than GPA, there is no way to compare your stats. I suggest once you have all the vital information, you check your stats against the averages for the 2016 UC Freshman profiles for each campus on the UC website.
For Engineering you want to have stats above the averages for the best chances.

Your URM status: AA will not help your chances at these schools. California public schools banned affirmative action so if you want to use your URM status to your advantage, look at some private schools instead.

Good luck.

3

As noted above, URM status won’t impact the CSUs or UCs. ‘First generation’ to attend college can be factored in - - don’t know if that describes you or not.

Without concrete SAT scores and a CSU/UC GPA, I am just guessing but, I’d say you are probably a strong applicant for UCM, UCR and perhaps UCSC. For competitive majors, you will need a very compelling personal statement.

You should also be a strong candidate for all the CSUs except CP SLO and SDSU.

I’d also encourage you to take a look at LMU and USD - thought their list price can be frightening, they often extend significant aid to students they want to attract.

Post again when you’ve calculated your UC GPA and have a firm SAT for further guidance.

Good luck

4

I got a 1020 / 1600 on the SAT. What are my chances? For colleges like UC Santa Cruz and CSU Chico.

5

What is your CSU/UC GPA?

6

3.4

7

Your EI is 3740 based on your CSU GPA of 3.4 and SAT score of 1020. For a solid chance at Chico State engineering, you need to be around 3750+ so you are just under the threshold. EI thresholds will fluctuate yearly depending upon the competitiveness of the in-coming Freshman class to you are at a Match/High Match.

For UCSC, both GPA and SAT score are below the average and due to the competitiveness of Engineering at all the UC’s, I think UCSC would be a Reach school. For the best chances at Engineering, you need to above the averages: UC GPA of 3.88 and SAT score around 1250+.

For UCSC, Essays and your EC’s will be taken into consideration which could bump up your chances.

Make sure you have some solid safeties and match schools on your list and Good Luck.

8

Alright thanks for your help.
What schools would be matches for me?

9

Good matches for Engineering would be Sac State, San Francisco State, Fresno State, Cal State Northridge, San Jose State (all but Computer Eng/CS). High Match schools would be Cal Poly Pomona/Fullerton and UC Merced.
I suggest you try to bump up your SAT scores into the 1200 range for a better chance at all these schools.

What is your local CSU? Local applicants will get priority so this could possibly be a good safety school depending upon if your major is impacted or not.

10

Ah alright. My local CSU is Dominguez Hills, but I’m not too interested in going there tbh. I like UC Santa Cruz & Chico because they have majors that no other CSU in my area has (Robotics Engineering / Mechatronic Engineering).

11

Hey @gumbymom I live in TN and was looking at schools in California… I have a 3.6-3.7 UC GPA, and a 36 ACT. Where would this place me?

12

@mkumar17 not alot of info to slot you into a school but, your stats suggest UCM, UCR and perhaps UCSC. All of the CSUs but CP SLO. Be sure you take all the required classes (a-g as they call them) and don’t expect any aid from a CA public school.

I’d also suggest you look at USD, LMU and perhaps Santa Clara as private options that are sometimes known to offer big aid packages.

13

I don’t really have a need for aid. So you’re saying UCB and UCLA are out of the running? @NCalRent

14

All I know about you is your UC GPA and overall ACT. Not enough to rule you in or out of a school like UCLA and Cal. I can tell you, your GPA is well below average for admitted students at both schools. They are both 4.1+. The admit rate at Cal for applicants with your GPA was about 4%.

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/files/freshman-profiles/freshman_profile_berkeley.pdf

I am not on their admissions board but, IMHO, getting into either campus with your stats is unlikely, unless your ECs are truly exceptional (Olympic medal would be a good one) and your personal statement really compelling.

That is OK, California has many schools that would be happy to have you.

15

What else can I do to raise my chances of being admitted to CSU Chico & UC Santa Cruz aside from raising my SAT and grades? (And what should scores/grades should I specifically aim for, to have a solid chance)

16

The only thing Chico looks at is whether you completed the a-g matrix and your Eligibility Index. With a 3740, you should have no problem getting in there.

UCSC is a more nuanced puzzle. You GPA is a little low but, your test scores are well above average. Assuming a competent essay and typical ECs, you are a pretty solid candidate. A GPA closer to their avg of 3.88 would make you a virtual lock (though for UCs, there is no such thing)

From their web site here is what they consider - in rank order.

1 Grade-point average (GPA)

2 Test scores

3 Courses completed/planned (a-g only)

4 Honors courses taken and performance

5 Eligibility in the Local Context (ELC)

6 Quality of senior-year program of study

7 Quality of your senior-year program as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned.

8 Educational opportunities in high schools

9 Quality of your academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available in your high school.

10 Performance in academic subject areas

11 Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas.

12 Achievements in special projects

13 Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study.

14 Improvement in academic performance

15 Special talents, achievements, and awards

16 Participation in educational preparation programs

17 Academic accomplishment within life experiences

18 Geographic location

All that gets stirred in and compared with other applicants. The items with the most impact on your admission are closer to the top of the list.

How much of a GPA or ACT deficit will an Olympic medal offset is hard to say.