My chances? (unique situation)

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of California - Los Angeles
1

<p>I want to declare an Economics major and I'd like to know my chances at UCLA. I honestly don't want to have to give up, I want to know how well they'll acknowledge my unique conditions and the fact I'm trying as hard as I can for as big of a workload as I can.</p>

<p>First off, here's my background, read this thread and you'll understand:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...d.php?t=286720%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/...d.php?t=286720&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Okay, so moving on to what I'm doing at the moment.</p>

<p>My course load is as follows, I'm a Junior:</p>

<p>AP U.S. History
Honors American Government
AP/IB Chemistry II
Pre-Calculus
AP English Language
Honors Economics</p>

<p>As of right now my GPA is at 3.87 with the end of my first 9 week period in an American high school, with a straight-A report card (this is weighed in with my grades that were factored in from Brazil).</p>

<p>I am self studying for:</p>

<p>AP Microeconomics
AP Macroeconomics
AP U.S. Government</p>

<p>I will be taking the SAT Reasoning, the SAT Subject tests in Literature, U.S. History, and Mathematics Level 2. I will also take the ACT this year.</p>

<p>My course load for next year, as I plan it, is as follows:</p>

<ul>
<li>AP Statistics</li>
<li>AP Calculus AB</li>
<li>AP English Literature</li>
<li>AP Psychology</li>
<li>AP U.S. History (1 semester, complement the fact I missed a semester this year)</li>
<li>AP English Language (1 semester, complement the fact I missed a semester this year)</li>
</ul>

<p>Now, supposing that I get 750+ on all my SAT Subject tests, that my GPA by the end of the year is 3.91 (perfectly feasible), and I get over 2200 on my SATs or/and 36 on my ACTs. Supposing also that all my AP grades this year are within the 4-5 range, mostly 5s with perhaps a couple of fours, and also factoring in the fact I'm going to be spending this summer at Stanford at the EPGY summer program, how are my chances at UCLA?</p>

<p>The facts are I was in a foreign country, I had great grades but I could do nothing about not having any extra-curricular or advanced courses available to me. I'm trying as hard as I can to compensate, my school does not offer any extraordinary extra-curricular programs either. But I'm doing the most I can.</p>

<p>Will the fact I had a lack of opportunity be factored in? Do I have a chance? As can well be seen, I'm doing the most I can in 10 months to have a feasible application. UCLA is not my first choice but it's definitely my second, I love Cali and overall UCLA seems like a great school =). Furthermore, what other colleges should I look towards having a decent shot at?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance =)</p>

2

<p>Your link is broken. :rolleyes:</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
Now, supposing that I get 750+ on all my SAT Subject tests, that my GPA by the end of the year is 3.91 (perfectly feasible), and I get over 2200 on my SATs or/and 36 on my ACTs. Supposing also that all my AP grades this year are within the 4-5 range, mostly 5s with perhaps a couple of fours, and also factoring in the fact I'm going to be spending this summer at Stanford at the EPGY summer program, how are my chances at UCLA?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Sounds good to me. Many "ifs" though.</p>

4

<p>After manually rebuilding your link,</p>

<p>victorm:</p>

<p>UCLA: Match</p>

5

<p>Oh wow sorry for that broken link, here is a good one:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=286720%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=286720&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Anyhow, thanks flopsy - I guess you're saying I'd have a pretty good chance? I have a friend studying in the UCs, he's currently at UCSD majoring in Aerospace Engineering. He had told me it seemed like I had a pretty nice shot at the UCs overall.</p>

<p>About the ifs, I know those are a lot of ifs but I will accomplish all of them I'm sure. I've always been a high achiever all my life, so I don't plan on not doing well now. I'm taking every kind of prep I can for the tests and I'm sure I can score what I mentioned even if it's gonna mean a book overload from now until June. Hey, my biggest ambition is a good college, I wouldn't let it fade too easily.</p>

<p>Anyhow, all opinions are welcome, from those at UCLA or not :D</p>

6

<p>daaaaaaaaaamn. i have never seen so many repeats of the letters "AP" in my life. :eek:</p>

7

<p>If you can pull off a 2200 on the SAT, 750+ on the SAT IIs, and a 4.5 UC GPA (The problems happened in Freshman year right?), I don't think there's any doubt that you'll get in OO;;</p>

<p>Good luck on Columbia too, although you better be sure your essays are good for them to explain your unique situation xP</p>

8

<p>
[quote]
About the ifs, I know those are a lot of ifs but I will accomplish all of them I'm sure. I've always been a high achiever all my life, so I don't plan on not doing well now. I'm taking every kind of prep I can for the tests and I'm sure I can score what I mentioned even if it's gonna mean a book overload from now until June. Hey, my biggest ambition is a good college, I wouldn't let it fade too easily.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Well, you sound like you have the right attitude...good luck!</p>

9

<p>VTE: Thanks bro, but what worries me is I've seen people with a lot more of the letters "AP" in their transcripts, unfortunately I didn't have the time. I missed freshman, sophomore, and half of my junior year. I'm doing good now credit-wise, but miss the high level courses. Anyhow, my writing seems fine - my english teacher (he's very highly considered, has 7 degrees and is the best paid teacher in the county) said that my essay for EPGY was at a "fairly high level with college level sentence structure complexity", so that made me feel a bit secure. Thanks on the good luck though :D</p>

<p>Peppers: Hopefully I can get that good essay in bro! Hopefully it's a nice theme I can expand on and explain my situation in. Really hoping for that and an interview!</p>

<p>Ekn: Thanks, I hope my attitude will get me there, I'm trying :].</p>

<p>Thanks guys, if anyone else has opinions/suggestions please keep 'em coming :D</p>

10

<p>The only suggestion I have is to take the practice SAT as many times as you can, because it takes a little bit to get used to the length and style of the test. By this point, there isn't much you can do to add to your application.</p>

11

<p>Definite match for UCLA, particularly if your essay knocks it out of the park. I would be concerning myself with getting the maximum amount of credit for those APs as I could, because some of them could end up being redundant for college credit, and you don't want to have to take too many GE's. Trust me--most of my APs ended up being completely useless for credit.</p>

12

<p>Saxs, I didn't quite get what you meant about the APs and having too many GEs, can you elaborate?</p>

<p>Also wow these are some great responses; guess I'm just too used to the "crapshoot" responses in the ivy forums. Now after a couple of "definite match for UCLA" replies, I'm curious, what makes me stand out as so much of a match for UCLA? Just wondering and thanks so much for all the wonderful opinions :).</p>

13

<p>Your UC GPA would be ~4.2 since it excludes freshman year, when I believe you stated your problems arose. Your potential SAT score of 2200 is 197 points above the average for UCLA. Your potential SAT II scores are about 70 points above the average as well. You might not have EC's, but comprehensive review makes it so that major life changing events, such as moving so often, yet still pursuing a rigorous course, will reflect positively on your application. </p>

<p>As a tip, though, from what the UCLA rep told us and what the other UC reps told us at our school, don't reiterate the point that you've moved a lot in your high school career in your essays. The UC admissions officer will be able to see that from your transcript. Focus more on how these changes have impacted you and how your characteristics (and very strong confidence) will be assets to the school. Also, it might help to read over the essay prompts to start preparing early. They're the same year after year.</p>

14

<p>Wow Peppers, amazing advice. I like the prospect of UCLA, and it has exactly the major I want. Looking into it I'm not sure why this wasn't a first choice for me in the first place, I guess it all boils down to my fascination for Columbia and NY city.
At any rate those suggestions were very good and I get exactly what you mean with the essay. Don't focus on lamentation and reiterating my moving but instead on how I was able to overcome and overachieve all the same. Gonna look up that UCLA prompt and start practicing pronto. Loving the opinions, help, and suggestions I'm getting. Can't wait for this time next year when my UCLA admission response will hopefully be nearly in :D</p>

15

<p>Well it might be too far in advance to think about, but you should check with the UCLA website to find out what APs will actually fulfill individual class requirements here at college. Many APs end up fulfilling the same requirements, and I really do wish I'd found out which ones were redundant before signing up.</p>

<p>But that's a minor issue--as long as you're comfortable and enjoy your class schedule, college credit won't be too big of a problem for you.</p>

<p>And like Peppers said, you have a great UC GPA, very solid (projected) SAT scores, rigorous HS class schedule, and your special circumstances should help negate the lack of a good extracurricular background...so I'd consider you a match.</p>

<p>But remember, we're just fellow students, not admissions officers. We can only tell you what we've learned from experience.</p>