<p>Hello. I'm a female US high school senior, looking more for advice about which of the schools I'm considering are safeties/reaches/matches than for my chances of getting in.</p>
<p>Unweighted GPA: 3.85 Weighted: 4.3</p>
<p>SAT (2nd attempt): 800 reading, 720 math, 780 writing
AP tests: Calculus AB (5), Language and Composition (5), Statistics (5)</p>
<p>Main ECs:
4 years of yearbook (three years leadership positions, EIC this year)
4 years of Peer Listening (we did about a year and a half of training and help counsel/listen to students who are struggling)
2 years (if I can continue this year) work with Reading Partners (literacy tutoring)</p>
<p>Other:
National Merit Semifinalist (decided at the end that the award wasn't worth a commitment to citizenship so no finalist)
I'm quite a strong writer, so my personal statement should be a boost + I'm very passionate about all the activities I do (more quality > quantity).
Interview if any should, I hope, also be a boost.</p>
<p>Looking to apply to:
Reed College
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
University of Washington
+ some other safeties and a "true safety"</p>
<p>Which of these do you think are safeties/matches/reaches? (I have some idea but not totally sure.) Also any advice is welcome. Thanks!</p>
<p>Sorry that its not an answer to your question, but how did you study for the SAT?
It would be great, if you could give some tips.</p>
<p>Um, to be quite honest I didn’t study all that much. I took three practices before my first attempt (2160) and between my first and second really just learned more in school and used that? AP Lang helps with the essay portion.</p>
<p>Sorry, I know that isn’t all that helpful :c The thing most my high scoring friends have found though is just practice test over and over while, of course, noting weak areas to focus on.</p>
<p>Actually, my main advice, although this is usually too late, is just be very well read and to read challenging material from a younger age. That will help immensely with CR/W because you get a good feel for the language, learn to identify words in context, learn to quickly parse meaning, build vocabulary, AND read faster. It’s the cheapest, least stressful SAT prep available, imo.</p>
<p>Thanks for the response, though.</p>
<p>Bump. Anyone have any advice?</p>
<p>What’s your homestate? That could be important. I’d say your a high match/low reach for Berkeley. Your GPA is TAD bit low for it, but your SAT makes me think you shouldn’t worry too much about it.</p>
<p>I’m a California resident.</p>
<p>And yeah, the GPA’s what makes me uncertain… there are some personal circumstances around that, but I doubt anything that could be explained in an application.</p>