Need advice on appeal (UC's)

Applying to College
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<p>Okay here is a little background.</p>

<p>I applied to UC Davis, Santa Cruz, and Santa barbara. I got rejected from all three. The only one that I really don't know why I got rejected is Santa Cruz. Here are some of my background stats.</p>

<p>I got 1700 on SAT.
Sat II subject tests:
490 Math II, 580 History, 540 on Literature.
(Math II was supposed to be canceled due to a calculator malfunction, but because of a mix up with Collegeboard they had to report all of my scores. I found out what I got on all my subject tests, the day after UC applications were due. I had no idea about my scores, they were delayed on the website forever-- and it took me a few months to get it sorted out. I tried contacting all UC's and explain my circumstances but I do not believe I had confirmation from all of them about adding that to my app (my circumstances with subject tests)</p>

<p>GPA:
Sophomore and Junior year weighted is like a 3.8</p>

<p>Class schedule this year: (with a 4.2 1st semester)
Adv Bio
Physics
AP Stats
AP Gov't
AP English and Literature</p>

<p>My junior year i was taking: 1st semester- 3,83 2nd sem- 4.17
AP Rhetoric- 4 on AP test
AP US History- 4 on AP test
Algebra 2
Spanish 3
Ceramics
Chemistry</p>

<p>Another point is that I wrote one of my essays about how during freshman year I started to lose my way with smoking pot. The essay was meant to focus on my transformation from using pot, too being free of drugs and able to pursue my goals to the fullest. If anyone wants to read the essay please PM me.</p>

<p>The advice I need is:</p>

<p>1) Should I only appeal UCSC or appeal all three? Do they talk to each other and know that you only appealed to one, or all three? I have two english teachers writing me letters of rec, plus one from a kaiser employee who I work with on a teen committee.
2) What should my appeal, 350 word count, letter focus on? I haven't had any special circumstances necessarily, but I just feel i wasn't judged fairly based upon the other students applications who did get it. I REALLY want to go to UCSC.
3) should i talk about my essay about pot, and how I do not think that truly reflected me?</p>

<p>Any other advice, I still haven't written my letter because I do not know where to start with it. I feel lost, and I really want to go to UCSC. I know it is right for me, and I am super confident of my ability to take on the workload that comes with the UC system.</p>

<p>Any advice would be great. </p>

<p>MY EC's include:
Read to me program for 4th grades during junior year.
Jeremiah's garden memorial club
Kaiser teen advisory board (6-8 kids who work on bettering pediatrics at the hospital)
Work 20 hrs a week at a busy high stress restaurant, on school days as well.</p>

<p>Thanks</p>

<p>(OH I also called UCSC admissions, and they said my score was a 4980, and cutoff was a 5225 for admissions... SO close</p>

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<p>"Another point is that I wrote one of my essays about how during freshman year I started to lose my way with smoking pot. The essay was meant to focus on my transformation from using pot, too being free of drugs and able to pursue my goals to the fullest. If anyone wants to read the essay please PM me."</p>

<p>I am sure this did not win any points with admissions. But if you are going to appeal UCSC, might as well appeal all three.</p>

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<p>Do you think I should bring that up in my 350 word count appeal? What should i talk about?</p>

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<p>Also I got in too some state schools including </p>

<p>San Diego State
Longbeach
and Sonoma state</p>

<p>when is the deadline that I have to let them know where I want to go???? What should I do?</p>

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<p>You should choose one of the three which accepted you and move on. UC appeals have very little chance of succeeding, unless there has been some huge change in your circumstances. Particularly this year with budget cuts, etc. the UCs are tougher than ever.<br>
I'm sure you will be happy at one of the three which accepted you. Your other option is to go to a CC and then transfer.</p>

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<p>I am looking for advice on my appeals, not whether to appeal. I will appeal.</p>

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<p>You should appeal to all three because the UCs don't share information for appeals. I would also recommend two letters of recommendations from teachers/coaches/peer/etc. Make sure they highlight your transfermation, you as a person, and how capable you are as a student. The thing that UCs look for most is new and compelling information. Any big awards since November? New personal information? A need to stay close to that college?
Anything that can persuade them that you need to be there and around that area is good.</p>

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<p>Could anyone please read the rough letter I have written so far an tell me what y ou think????</p>

<p>I have no new compelling information, could saying that because my brother made it into many Uc's and I failed to get into any that they decided they wouldn't pay for my college education unless i went to a uc work?</p>

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<p>(Your 480 should not matter to them because UCs only take the top two SAT II scores)</p>

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<p>Umm.. I don't think working counts as extra-curricular or community service.. I could be wrong though..</p>

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<p>Apply to all of them or as many as you want. As I've heard from several close friends who work with admissions officers in UCB and UCLA, the UCs don't confide in each other about their applicants.</p>

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<p>OK I will appeal all three. For Davis it doesn't seem like they have a limit on letters of rec, so I guess ill send them 2 from teachers and 1 from my kaiser teen advisory lady. UCSC said 2 max, and so does SB i believe.</p>

<p>Anyone edit / fix my letter?</p>

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<p>I'll review it just pm me.</p>

<p>Also, it's not impossible to get into a UC on appeal; my niece last year sent out her appeal to both UCB and UCSD and miraculously got into both.</p>

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<p>I thought UC's didn't consider teacher recommendations?</p>

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<p>They do for appeals. it's really crucial actually.
Appeal to all 3 definitely.</p>

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<p>oh and maybe you can still apply to Merced and Riverside?</p>

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<p>I'm also in the same position as you except i'm only appealing to ucd. Many of my friends and I have gotten into UCSC, and are denying admission. I know that admissions this year has been very selective for ALL UCs excluding UCM and UCRiverside because 1990 had the biggest birth-rate so instead of 27k applying for a single college its 50k. I know a couple of friends last year who didn't get into UCSC and appeal and got accepted. For your states the last day to send in you SIR is May 1, and may 1st is also the day you'll be notified about your appeal. " How to start your appeal?" that's the same question I asked myself, but yeah you should write something new an compelling that wasn't in your application. I heard from a college counselor that if you repeat the slightest thing that was on your UC application, they deny at the spot. So be careful! but yeah good luck on the appeal! oh yeah and your question about appealing to different UCs , I also know someone who applied to UCSB UCD UCSD and UCB, and was accepted into 3 out 4 of those uc. good luck on your appeal, i hope this helps somewhat.</p>

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<p>is the word limit for all the UC appeals 350 words?</p>

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<p>Ahh! I'm scared because I asked one of my host mother's in Japan who was also an area rep to write me a recommendation x<em>x, and I already mentioned my exchange in Japan. I wrote about completely different things in my appeal letter. I hope they don't reject me on the spot ;</em>; My other letter of recommendation came from my counselor, which was also very good.</p>

<p>UCD was the only one who said in their instructions to limit your appeal to them to 350 words.</p>

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<p>I'm also appealing UCSD....if you don't mind, would you be able to tell me generally what reasons your niece had that granted her appeal?</p>

<p>THANKS!</p>