Please Chance Me

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi
Applying to: UCLA, UCB, UCD, UCSB, UCSD, USC, Stanford (high reach ik), and Cal Poly SLO… but I really just want to know my chances for Berkeley, LA, and USC

*GPA-
Freshman: UW4.0 W4.14 (both semesters) 3/7 classes were honors (all As)
Soph: UW4.0 W4.29 (both semesters) 4/7 classes were honors/AP (all As)
Junior: 1st Sem- UW 3.5 W4.33 (4As, 1B, 1C+) 2nd Sem- UW 3.33 W4.17 (3As, 2Bs, 1C+) 5/6 classes were honors/AP
Overall 10-12: UW 3.83 W 4.28

*Test Scores-
ACT:33 (35E, 32M, 30R,36S) (and superscore composite is 34 but Im pretty sure that doesn’t apply to the colleges I’m considering)
AP: World(4) Lang(4) Human Geo(3)

*Senior Course Load-
AP Calc AB, AP Bio, AP Gov US, AP Spanish

*ECs-
High school choir all 4 hours, St.Louis Suburban Woman’s Festival Choir, Cheerleading years 9-10, Varsity Track and Field Grades 10-12, National Honors Society, National Spanish Honors Society, CSF, and a school club that involves science

*Volunteer-
Sang at nursing/senior living homes

*Work Experience-
Part-time job junior year

*Intended Major- Biology

*Female, African-American, Did first two years of HS in a midwestern state, now a California resident

Does the fact that I got 2 Cs Junior year completely disqualify me for top tier UCs? They were both in Honors classes (Physics and PreCalc) One C I improved to a B 2nd Sem (Physics) and the other was an A first Sem then dropped to C 2nd Sem. (PreCalc); just thought I would provide more information on those.

If anyone takes the time to read all that and reply THANK YOU, I really appreciate it (:

2

What is your UC GPA? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Please list unweighted, capped/weighted and fully weighted UC GPA.

What is your unweighted GPA 9-11th for USC?

Career plans as a Biology major?

3

9-11 UW: 3.83 UC Capped: 4.08 UC Uncapped: 4.28
Want to pursue a path in Biomedical Research

4

Good chances at all UCs. UCLA and UCB will be reaches; UCSD probably a high match. Your GPA and ACT is in range for UCSD, but the C may hurt you.

5

Agree with @wormholes that UCLA/UCB will be tough along with UCSD with a few C’s on your record. Although you have great test scores, UC’s are very GPA focused so the admit rate for a UC GPA of 3.8-4.19 capped/weighted was as follows for 2015:

UCB: 12%
UCLA: 14%
UCSD: 39%
UCSB: 49%
UCD: 52%
UCI: 57%
UCSC: 83%
UCR: 90%
UCM: 92%

UCD/UCSB/UCSC would be your target schools.

For USC, you are at the average for UW GPA and your test scores are above average. Being a Female African American will help your chances but make sure your 1st semester Senior grades are up to par (Mostly A’s and a few B’s) to ensure a better chance at an acceptance.

Good Luck.

6

@mixedchick99 I would think you are a very good match for USC. The usual advice applies. Be sure to get your application in before the “Merit Aid” deadline (It was Dec. 1 last year, haven’t checked this year.) USC seems to respond well to genuine interest. If you are genuinely interested, don’t be afraid to show it. The interview slots are limited and go quickly. Sign up asap (if they aren’t already gone.)

If you write good, US specific essays and keep up your grades, make sure you get good recs, I’d think you have a very good shot at SC.

Good luck.

7

As with all the posters have said, your ACT is good but the Cs greatly affect your GPA. UCs care more about GPA than test scores. Stanford is a definite reach. UCB and UCLA are tough admits but it doesn’t hurt to try (your ACT is above average/75% rank). You have a good chance at USC, UCSB, and UCSD, but I think your best bets are UCD and UCSC.

I would definitely still go for all schools; your academic profile is quite good, of course excluding the Cs. Don’t forget to write some strong personal insights as they’re very important to all the UCs.

Good luck.

8

I think you have a great chance at all these schools with some as reaches as you well know. The UC’s are GPA and test score driven but they do look at your essays and they look for diversity when the scores match. Female African-American science major will help. Be sure to weave this in your essay. Personal stories make an impact.