Starting to panic...chance me at these colleges please?

So I posted a similar thread a couple months ago, but after receiving my ACT score, (22 which is unbelievably low since I was consistently getting around 25-27 on practice tests) I don’t know if it will negatively affect me even more since I already have a low SAT score.

About Me:

  • Filipino
  • Living in California
  • Senior in Highschool

My Academic/Extracurricular “Activities”:

  • Weighted GPA: 3.8
  • Unweighted GPA: 3.6
  • 1550 SAT (Pretty average) 490 Writing - 500 Math - 560 Reading
  • 22 ACT (Horrible I know) Eng 23 - Math 25 - 18 Read - 22 Sci - 24 Writing
  • Ranked 135 (weighted GPA) & 140 (Unweighted GPA) out of 932

Memorable classes I’ve taken so far/will take:

  • Honors Pre-Calc
  • Honors World History
  • AP Us History
  • AP Stats (Senior Year)
  • AP Comp Sci. (Senior Year)

Extracurriculars:

  • Red Cross (3 years including Senior year)
  • Anti-Bullying Club (2 Years)
  • College Bound Club (1 Year)
  • Church classes/community service (2 years)
  • Library community service (Around 15 Hours)
  • STEM (Senior Year)
  • ROP for architecture drawing (Senior year)

Major: Computer Science

List of colleges I want to apply to:

  • University of Riverside
  • University of Irvine
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Cal State San Bernardino
  • Cal State Los Angeles
  • Cal Poly Pomona

So yea see my dilemma here? My SAT and ACT scores are practically the same which pretty much bummed me out. I was hoping to do better on the ACT because like I stated earlier, I was getting a 25-27 composite consistently; I even took the June 2015 ACT (I found it online) as a last minute practice test and scored a 26.

Anyways, what are my chances of getting into the colleges stated? And should I send both my test scores or just one (which one)?

Thank you guys

Just to clarify: when you mentioned getting a 26 on the June 2015 ACT, that was practice, correct?

@ghman98 Yea it was a practice, sorry for the confusion.

Irvine is probably something that you should consider taking off the list unfortunately. Riverside will be a reach in my opinion with that SAT score; the average SAT score is around 1800. I would consider going to a community college and transferring out if you don’t improve those test scores, or going to one of the Calstates.

I would definitely recommend retaking either the ACT or SAT, whichever you feel more strongly about. Your ACT and SAT scores currently are nearly exactly the same level, but if you think that you could get either of them up a few points (ACT-relative) that would probably increase your chances quite well.

@anxiousenior Yea, I was really surprised by my ACT score. I honestly might take it again in December because I really want to go to UCR.

@ghman98 What ACT score would you say is a good enough score for UCR and/or UCI?

I am confused? You have an ACT of 26 and 22 or just 22?

UCI: Reach
USUF/CPP/UCR: Low Reach/High Match
CSULA/CSUSB: Match

Since CS is impacted at most of the schools, your Math scores will be a huge problem since CS is very math heavy. CPP requires an SAT Math score of 550 or ACT of 23 for their program.

@Gumbymom Sorry, the 26 was from the 2015 June test and I used it as a last minute practice. My official ACT score was a 22.

I cleared it up in the thread

Well, first, Riverside and Irvine seem to be on opposite sides of the spectrum in terms of average scores and GPAs. Fortunately, you seem to be around the average GPA at Riverside (3.78), so that would help, but that ACT is four points under their average. I’d say it would be a much more reliable bet if you could take it up a couple of points at the least.

@ghman98 Alright thank you.

Alright this is for everyone:

I’ve decided to retake the ACT again in december. Should I retake it with writing or is my writing score also not good enough?

UC’s want all scores and they take the highest from 1 sitting meaning you need to take it with writing or the score will not be considered.

@Gumbymom Okay thank you.

Since cost is also an issue you could commute to a local community college the first two years, get a good gpa and transfer to a CSU or UC then.