The UC’s look at all 3 UC GPA’s but the data available regarding admit rates in general is for the Capped weighted UC GPA. The UC’s like the level the playing field so to speak since some HS’s do not offer many AP, IB, DE or UC approved Honors classes.
UCLA posts their Fully weighted GPA and Unweighted GPA for admits specifically for CA residents. Again only 2018 data is available.
2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 10%
UCLA: 9%
UCSD: 34%
UCSB: 38%
UCD: 41%
UCI: 38%
UCSC: 70%
UCR: 84%
UCM: 95%
Your HS course rigor will be taken into consideration along with your competitive HS. Consider UCLA and UCB Reach schools regardless of your qualifications.
WashU is another school that likes high test scores. Very good for the History major. Engineering is OK, but not what it’s known for, although it is devoting more resources to it. Could be a school to consider.
@deneuralyzer, you can search common data set and look at Section C, where they rank the relative importance of different application elements.
Additionally, some schools have reputations that people who have been in the college admissions process for a while start to notice (I’m not in admissions, but collegekids have been looking at / in the admissions process since 2010- this should be our last season of it…). Vandy has a well-established rep for liking high test scores, for many years giving out nice merit money for high scores (they still give $$, but not as lavishly as 8-10 years ago).
@collegemom3717 You’re right! The CDS is a goldmine. I’ve actually relegated quite a few of my choices to the back bench now because they put more emphasis on GPA (mine is bad) than test scores (good). Thank you for this.
Yes, this relates more to inference than to anything the colleges post directly. As one sign, a school may report a higher standardized scoring profile than one might expect from its general ranking. For example, in the below analysis of a few years ago, a (now) 37th-ranked National University, Boston College, registered the same scoring profile as a 7th-ranked NLAC, Middlebury. From this information, you might infer that, relative to other colleges, BC values top-end ACT and SAT scores.
The CDS is not your reliable source. For top holistics, it all matters. It is not a strict ranking and your scores could be defeated by some flaw in another area of the app- or LoRs or an interview. Or simply by the assets of the competing applicants. Or geo diversity.
“realize that this “well-roundedness” is a disadvantage.” No. The fact you’re exploring is good, but it’s critcal to check your assumptions. The writing club is, in fact, a nice spin. Top colleges want depth and breadth, some ECs related to your major (but not all) and variety in their rigor/your impact.
Please don’t make decisions on how to focus your list before understanding more.
Yes, the Bs can be an issue. Depends on what courses. The competition is that tough.
Thanks @lookingforward . I will try to explore more areas in my ECs. As for the Bs, they’re not going away – AP English especially at my school is near-impossible to get an A in (class average is a C, and I’m lucky to even have a B-B+), and APUSH takes the silver medal for second-hardest. STEM grades are borderline, but hopefully will be A-es or As. My cumulative unweighted GPA, essentially, is going to stay around a 3.7, while my cumulative weighted GPA will be 4.3-4.5 due to my extremely difficult course rigor. Am I screwed?
I think Common Data Sets are valuable to your research (as well as confidence). A few selective colleges, you’ll note, take students from outside the top half of their high school classes. Though these acceptances can legitimately be considered to be outliers, the information also suggests that you will not be automatically denied at certain schools with an application that will place you far from these margins.
Then maybe your GC explains the difficulty of those classes. That would be ok. There are some hs where these uber tough teachers are legend. (This is different than the more usual CC complaint blaming the teacher.)
I meant, good you’re “exploring” colleges. But no, we don’t know much about the rest of your ECs. For the reachiest on your list, honor socieities are no tip, nor really is teaching coding. (If it’s little kids, no. And it’s more “vol” than real community service that benefits needy in your community.)
My advice is to start digging deep into your targets- not just the CDS, ranking, etc, but what they actually say and show (in the sorts of students they tout or the programs they offer.) Learn enough to try to self match to what they look for. Then fill in those blanks.
It would be a good idea to check Naviance or whatever system your school uses to see how your numbers stack up against students accepted from previous years.