UC Admission Chances?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi guys,

I’m an incoming senior in California and I’d like to know of acceptances/rejections in the UC’s with my stats. I intend on majoring in some type of biological science. My top 3 that I would like to go to are Davis, Irvine, and San Diego, but I’d like to know my chances for the rest of the UC’s as well.

[ *] SAT I (breakdown): n/a
[ *] ACT: 34
[ *] SAT II: 590 Biology
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.53, Weighted GPA: 3.8
[ *] Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): n/a
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): World History 3, Biology 3, Psychology 5
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis): n/a
[ ] Senior Year Course Load: AP Environmental Science, AP Comparative Government and Politics, Econ, Power Walking, English 12, Honors Anatomy and Physiology, Statistics
[ ] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NHD State Qualifier, CSF 8 semesters
[ /list][ b]Subjective:
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): NHD (vice president), hospital volunteer, job at JCPenney, CSF, 2 years of cross country, Red Cross
[ *] Job/Work Experience: associate at JCPenney
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: hospital volunteer (200 hours), CSF volunteer (50 hours)
[ *] Summer Activities: work, volunteer
[ *] Essays: I plan to write about a personal event with my family during my junior year. We ended up moving across the country and back in a few months which had drastic effects on my academics as well as my emotional health.
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: Don’t plan on reading them, I’m sure they will be good.
[ *] Counselor Rec: n/a yet
[ ] Additional Rec: n/a yet
[ ] Interview: n/a
[ /list][ b]Other
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): CA
[ *] Country (if international applicant): USA
[ *] School Type: public
[ *] Ethnicity: asian
[ *] Gender: F

I was wondering if my GPA would go up significantly if I get great grades my senior year. My junior year grades are the ones that brought my GPA down the most. Would it be better to wait for regular decision to apply for some schools so I can include my first semester senior grades as well or should I apply early decision/early action to some schools? I know that most of the UC’s I’d like to go to are now a reach for me but I’d still like to hear what you guys think. Do I have a chance at my top 3? Thanks!

2

I think if you get good grades in your senior year you have a good shot at UC irvine and UC davis!! You have a strong ACT score which can help a lot. However, UC San Diego is pretty competitive so it would be a reach.
Good Luck!

3

UC’s do not consider Senior grades for admission purposes only to keep your provisional admission once accepted. IF you are a borderline applicant, they may ask for Mid-year Senior grades but usually they are not considered.
What is your UC GPA? http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

If your UC GPA is around 3.9+ along with your ACT of 34, UCI would probably be a Match. UCD is a High Match and UCSD is a high match/low reach. Your SAT 2 Bio results are a concern especially if you plan to major in Biology along with the competitiveness of this major at the UC’s listed. I would add UCSC and UCR as solid match schools to your list along with SDSU and CSULB as possible safety schools. UCB/UCLA would be Reaches based on GPA and UCSB again would be a High Match.
Write some good essays and these could help your chances.

Letters of recommendation are not considered in UC admissions unless you are waitlisted or are asked for supplemental information.

Good Luck

4

Thanks @Gumbymom and @andrewskim7! I used the calculator and my UC GPA is a 3.5. I will most likely retake the SAT 2 Bio. Also, does anyone know of universities outside of California that would be a good match for me and have my major?

5

If your UC GPA is 3.5, your best chances would be UCR and UCSC since the UC’s are very GPA focused. What do you plan to do with your major? If in-state SDSU/CSULB and possibly Cal Poly SLO would be very good choices for a Biology major. You still have an outside chance with UCD/UCI and UCSB so there is no harm in applying. Strong EC’s and essays can make a difference.

Pretty much any school in the US will have Biology as a major, so I would focus on schools where your GPA and Test scores are at or above the average. None of the UC’s or Cal States with exception of SLO offer ED.
How much can you and your family afford? This will the most important factor when looking at schools OOS.

6

I plan to become a physician so definitely medical school after college. My family can afford 40k a year but that’s it, so most private schools are out. I’ve heard private schools give generous financial aid but it won’t be need based and my stats aren’t sparkling for merit scholarships. I would also rather save the money for medical school. Are there any generous scholarships out of state at decent schools for pre-med? Is it better if there’s a medical school with the college you attend? Does that increase opportunities for internships and research?

7

As an undergrad, you want to attend a university where you will succeed with a High GPA and have good opportunities for medically related EC’s. Going to school that has a medical school is not a necessity, but having a hospital within close proximity to the school would definitely beneficial. You are smart in wanting to keep your undergrad expenses low since Medical school can be very costly, that is why you really should look into staying in-state if possible and look at the Cal States Honors programs. There are some OOS schools such as the WUE (Western University Exchange) where you would receive reduced tuition. Here is a list of the schools that qualify: http://wue.wiche.edu/search_results.jsp?searchType=all

You have a very competitive ACT score so you may want to look at schools where that score would qualify you for some merit aid. You might want to look into the University of Alabama. http://scholarships.ua.edu/types/out-of-state.html

or Arizona State https://financialaid.arizona.edu/types-aid/scholarships/scholarships-0

I would continue to do some research on possible merit scholarships on this websites Financial aid/Scholarship threads. Good Luck

8

That’s a low bio score, must be a real bad teacher. Retake if possible.

9

Re: Post #1 - Considering how large and well-known the UC system is, it would be best to refrain from posting a comment like that when you are unfamiliar with its basic policies and requirements. I am all in favor of offering encouragement, when and where it’s appropriate, but your post was misleading in suggesting that the OP could alter her UC GPA as a senior. There are plenty of people on CC who have navigated the UC admissions system. I think it’s great for young students to engage in these threads, but sometimes a question is best answered by people who know something about the subject.

10

I got into UCI with a 3.8 UC GPA and 1870 sat. I didn’t OUTSTANDING extracurriculars or a great essay, so I’d say you’re fine. My major is engineering by the way.

11

No, I am not a t r o l l LOL

12

Your 34 ACT, a 3.6-3.8 GPA and an average essay will probably get you into UCSC, UCR and UCM. The others are UCs unlikely without a real knock out essay.

You have a shot at CalPoly SLO, and would almost certainly get into all the other CSUs.

Good luck.

13

Thanks for the advice everyone! It looks like most of the middle tier UC’s are a reach for me unless I have outstanding essays. Does anyone know stuff about the University of Alabama? I looked into their out of state scholarship and it looks like it would be guaranteed for me with my stats. Anyone know their ranking for biological sciences and how the school is overall?

Also, do you guys think it’s a better idea to do two years of CC and then transfer to a UC or going to a CSU for four years?

14
  1. Do not discount your chances at some of the UC’s. You have a solid chance at UCR and UCSC. UCR just opened a Medical School and you may have a chance at a merit scholarship with your competitive ACT score. My younger son was offerred a $5000 renewable scholarship with a 3.73 GPA and ACT of 31. UCR has been climbing up the ranks and is a very good option. I would still apply to UCI/UCD and UCSB and with strong essays you will still be in the running. You will neverr know unless you apply.
  2. CCC is an another option, but most Medical Schools would prefer you take your Bio/Chem/Physics major core classes at a 4 year university, which leaves mainly pre-req at the CCC.
  3. A high ranking CSU is an excellent choice, although many CC posters will tell you that you need to attend a UC for the best chances. Where you go for undergrad makes little difference in applying for Medical school. You want to get a High GPA, High MCAT score and good medically related EC’s. SDSU has a very good Pre-professional advising center for Pre-med/Pre-Dental etc… and it would a solid match. I would also include Cal Poly SLO and CSULB.
  4. For information regarding University of Alabama, I would PM the CC poster @mom2collegekids. She is the expert.

Good Luck to you.

15

hey guys! please chance me for the following universities::

  1. UCLA 2.UC DAVIS
  2. UCSD 4.UIUC 5.UT AUSTIN
  3. TEXAS A&M
  4. PURDUE 8.UofToronto
  5. UBC
  6. NYU
  7. Virginia tech 12.georgia tech

i want to pursue civil engineering

SCORES::

SAT ( CR+W+M) = 570+570+690= 1830 ( not good )
SUBJECT TESTS:: MATH LV2= 800
PHYSICS =750

INDIAN STUDENT( CBSE BOARD):: SCHOOL RANKED SECOND IN THE COUNTRY

CLASS 9- 8.8 CGPA
CLASS 10- 9.4 CGPA
CLASS 11- 54% ( SCHOOL HIGHEST WAS 69%)
CLASS 12- 94-95% (EXPECTING)

ECs:( most notable, have a ton more)

WORKED AT THE CENTRAL WATER COMMISION ( RUN BY THE INDIAN GOVT.) FOR DROUGHT MANAGEMENT FOR A YEAR

TAUGHT UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN FOR 4-5 HRS A WEEK WITH AN NGO FOR 3 YEARS

TAUGHT VILLAGE CHILDREN FOR 17-19 DAYS EVERY SUMMER FOR 3 YEARS . WAS FEATURED IN THE REGIONAL NEWSPAPER FOR THIS AND WAS ALSO INTERVIEWED BY LEADING REGIONAL MAGAZINE.

WORKED WITH AN NGO AGAINST FEMALE FOETICIDE.

PARTICIPATED IN A COUPLE OF MUNs. DIDNT WIN ANYTHING THOUGH.

MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL GAMING TEAM. WON A FEW COMPETITIONS.

CLASS PREFECT FOR 1 YEAR.

INTL MATHS OLYMPIAD 3 YEARS ( WITH 96+ PERCENTILE EVERY YEAR)

RUNNERS UP AT THE SCHOOLS PHYSICS FEST ( THIS WAS THE FIRST ONE EVER HELD)

SPORTS–

STATE LEVEL FOOTBALLER( HARYANA STATE)

PLAYED IN THE DELHI INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE RUN BY THE AMERICAN EMBASSY FOR 3 YEARS( WON THE LEAGUE ONCE AND THE GOLDEN BOOT ONCE)

SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM FOR 2 YEARS

SCHOOL ATHLETIC MEET - WON 4-5 MEDALS

PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT ARE MY CHANCES AND ALSO WHAT OTHER UNIVERSITIES CAN I APPLY TO FOR CIVIL ENGINEERING. THANKSS