<p>So in reality, it shouldn't matter much if you are out of state? Since don't they just take everyone's scores and admit the highest ones?>>></p>
<p>SDSU has been getting more and more competitive each year. In terms of admissions priority, all students who live in SDSU's "service area" (which is south of a particular high way in San Diego) get first priority, then other California high school students, and transfers from California Community College. Out of state residents are low men on the totem pole in terms of admissions.</p>
<p>By the way, SDSU is one of the Cal States that DOES consider test scores for all applicants. So, it is incorrect to say they are not considered. </p>
<p>One very important thing to know about SDSU is that many majors are impacted, meaning that the admissions standards for those programs will be higher than for non-impacted programs. Additionally, due to SDSU's growth and recent budget cuts, there is no guarantee of graduating within four years or getting into the classes you want. It's a bargain for in-state residents, not so much for out of state students who pay much higher tuition.</p>
<p>Admissions at SDSU is strictly by the numbers --- GPA and test scores only. They will not use your school GPA, they will use what is called a UC/CSU GPA, which is based only on your grades in what are called A-G subjects taken in 10th and 11th grade. You can get up to 8 semesters of weighted credit. So, the actual GPA that will be used in admissions for you may be lower or higher than what your school GPA is.</p>
<p>All of the UC's use the same GPA determination. However, for out of state students, the GPA required to be eligible for admissions consideration is 3.4. Again, only 8 semesters of AP/honors credit can be weighted in the GPA. The UC's will use a combination of SAT score (from a single sitting) and, unlike the Cal States, also require TWO Subject Tests -- you don't mention your subject tests, so we can't really say if you are eligible. I would suggest you go to these two sites and read up on the requirements for out of state admissions:</p>
<p>UC</a> PATHWAYS</p>
<p>[url=<a href="http://www.csumentor.edu%5DCSUMentor%5B/url">http://www.csumentor.edu]CSUMentor[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Like the Cal States, the UC's give priority to California State residents. It is tougher for out of state students, and, in general, they will have higher test scores than the overall university requirements.</p>
<p>You didn't mention needing financial aid, but you should be aware that financial aid for out of state students is limited at both the UCs and the Cal States. Costs at both will be significantly higher than what residents pay --- in the case of the UC's, you'll be paying over $40,000 a year. A lot of out of state students think that after they've gone to school at a UC or Cal State for a year they can pay resident tuition, but it is almost impossible to be declared a resident once you have enrolled. For instance, you will have to prove that you have a source of income of your own to pay for your schooling --- parents or grandparents can't be giving you help, and your parents can not have claimed you as a dependent on their taxes for two years.</p>
<p>There are a number of excellent private colleges you also may to consider if you are committed to coming to California for college -- such as the University of San Diego (which, by the way, is great for pre-law students), Santa Clara U, the University of Redlands, Loyola Marymount, University of San Francisco, University of Southern California, Pepperdine, Occidental, and the Claremont Colleges.</p>