My Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - Santa Cruz
1

<p>I posted basically the same for UCI forum, but UCSC has become my #1 college choice as of right now.</p>

<p>UC GPA:3.44
GPA (weighted):3.44
GPA (un-weighted):3.0
Class Rank:Almost top 20% but within top 25% (Class Size:901)
I took alot of AP and Honors classes.
SAT:1980
SAT II:720/620 (US/Biology)</p>

<p>Failed Pre-calculus this year. (D- 1st/F 2nd)
Virtually no volunteer hours
No work experience</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
-I've been a 3 year member of Key Club International(will continue)
-Secretary of the Junior Statesmen of America Chapter of our local area
*Joining my senior year,but I was elected for position of secretary
-Choir (joining senior year)
-Peer to Peer Support Program (2 years)</p>

<p>Others:
-2 year History Day Participant
-2xHighlander Educational Foundation Award for Academic Excellence in AP European History and Keyboarding
-CA resident (Southern California
-Chinese Male
-Low income family
-Went through alot of hardships
-High school is very competitive,great API score</p>

<p>Senior Schedule:
-AP Government US/Comparative
-AP Economics
-AP Environmental Science
-English IV (emphasis on Shakespeare literature)
-Pre-calculus (retake)
-Choir
-Teacher Assistant</p>

<p>I really want a chance to explain why I did so poorly in math,do I include this in my essay,or in a separate letter?I've gotten many answers but I'll just ask it again:Should I retake Precalculus?Take AP Statistics&Probabilities instead?Take regular level Statistics&Probabilities?I need a 4th year of math.</p>

2

<p>retaking calculus would really help in your situation.
they'll also see you were willing to raise up your bad grade.
other than that i think your good.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply k00kid,when I was going through the Acceptance and Rejection for Fall 2008 Thread, I noticed that a couple of people where not able to get into UCSC with virtually the same stats (i.e. similar GPA and SAT score in the 1900's) as me but better extracurriculars.I'm going to retake the SAT see if I can get into the 90th percentile.Has anyone failed a major course and still got into the school?I don't know I'm just very very nervous that college applications are right around the corner =[</p>

4

<p>Well, i have a friend who got into UCSC with a 1160 in her SAT, 500s in her SAT IIs and about a 3.3 GPA.
she took a couple of APs, but no big deal.
i also had a friend who got in with a 2.9, but she had a billion extracurriculars..
but i really think youre good. :).</p>

5

<p>Hopefully.</p>

<p>I've heard of many exceptions on both sides of the academic spectrum.I guess it really might come down to just how well you persuade them in your personal essay. </p>

<p>Does anyone know if SC goes by a point system like San Diego does?</p>

6

<p>I think you'll do fine.
As long as you don't screw up in any of your senior classes, you should be a shoo-in.</p>