@annieareyouok i think UCs, unlike privates grade you first on your test scores and GPA. Because of the popularity of the UCs if you are below a certain margin, there are way too many people with the same scores to select impartially. Most of the time, people are just virtually selected at random.
Privates IVs on the other hand are more lenient with respect to test scores but are extremely picky with extracurriculars. Just like UCs, there are also way too many people applying that fit that particular category of extremely good extracurriculars(most of them also have great test scores) so people have also noted that they seem to pick at random.
So…I never received any request for LOR and I suspect I have 0 chance of getting into Berkeley.
I applied to 6 schools (UCSB, UCSD, UCLA, UCB, JHU, Georgia Tech)
So far rejected from UCSD, UCLA, GATech, JHU; Waitlisted at UCSB. It feels like I have 0 chance of getting an acceptance letter from schools that I applied to this year.
Major:Philosophy (LNS)
Stats: ACT 32 (R34, E29, S29, M36)
SAT 1450 (M780, E+R 670) Writing 8 7 8
UC GPA 4.1 (Unweighted 3.8)
Senior Course Load: AP Gov, AP Calc BC, AP Physics C; 2 College classes
Had two years of high school outside the US
TOEFL 104
EC’s were kind of messed up, but I suppose my essays were OK.
I don’t feel any hope right now…lol
Is it still possible for me to get into Cal…
Chance me?
UC GPA: 3.95
SAT NEW: 1190
Major: Engineering Undeclared
Lots of EC- soccer coach, cross country captain, math club, youth action club, environmental club, baseball,
8 AP’s- passed all of them AP Calculus AB/BC, APUSH, AP Spanish Language, AP English Language, AP English Lit and Spanish Lit, AP Government
Three jobs, volunteer work.
Accepted- CSU Fullerton, CSU Dominguez Hills, UCSD.
Denied- UCLA
Waitlist- UCI
Waiting- Cal, Cal poly pomona, and CSU Long Beach
Thanks
Hi, I’m really debating about what to do at this point.
Major: civil/structural engineering
Gpa: 4.31 (UC)
Sat: 1240/1600 (530 English, 710 math)
Sat math 2: 650/800
Ec: Olympic development, captain high school and club soccer, 500 + hours of community service
Accept: UCSD, UCI, SLO, SDSU
Reject: UCLA
Waiting on: Cal
I doubt I’m going to get into cal, I want to know if I should go somewhere and transfer or are transfers overrated? Basically should I go to a university for all four years or transfer. I was thinking about USC or Cal but I don’t know if it’s worth the money. It makes me sad that I didn’t get into UCLA but that’s life, students with lower stats got in compared to me because they applied for the college of Letters and Science. Anyways what would you guys recommend? I didn’t receive any LOR requests from Cal so I guess that isn’t a good sign. Anyways I’m open to any suggestions. Please and thank you!
Does anybody know the acceptance rate to each college? I applied to College of Environmental Design as an architecture major but has no ECs or essays relating to architecture (I’m glad they don’t review portfolio and that was one of the reasons I applied as architecture) But now I’m no so sure about my decision since I demonstrated no interests in architecture
Hey everyone, UC Berkeley Regents acceptance here. Good luck with everything and feel free to ask me any questions, as I also have a brother who goes to Berkeley
@USUG21 Jacobs School of Engineering is an actual school within UCSD! Muir college is more of a residential thing and changes what your general education requirements are. I’ve heard that Muir gen ed requirements are the best (so yes, Muir is excellent), but comparing Jacobs and Muir is like comparing apples and oranges–it just doesn’t work
^^What mintship said. S1 is in CS which is part of Jacobs school. The education has been top notch and he’s ended up with some impressive internships. Life does not end if you don’t go to UCLA or UCB - great as they are.
Oh alright thanks! Do you know if it will include the FA information also? How does your brother like Cal? Any insights he may have as a student there? Is it as competitive as they say?
@dball060 Go to Cal Poly! You will love it, and the graduates from their get great jobs right out of school because of the project based learning approach… You have some great choices…don’t get hung up on perceived prestige - really look at the programs you are accepted to and make the most of wherever you go!!!
@kajah0602 you really should have picked an actual safety school… but that said, I think their are still many universities taking applications. My son is still getting tons of mailers from ASU which has a decent engineering rating and lots of proven success with post grad employment, etc… Start googling and figure out what your options could be!
@annieareyouok , I honestly don’t think you’re doing anything wrong. (And your essay sounds very cool!) I just think the UC system oversells their “holistic” process. Yes, they consider the full range of factors and try to get a sense of you as a person. But the first filter is still very stats-driven, and overcoming a disadvantage on that front is still an uphill battle, much more so than at many private U’s (the fact that you’re still in the running at Harvard being a case in point). Having a weighted GPA below 4.0 is still a substantial liability for the top tier UC’s… and the “top tier” has more-or-less swallowed the erstwhile mid-tier.
You are in at some excellent schools, and the proverbial fat lady hasn’t sung yet. I just think California public U admissions have been getting tougher at a rate that it’s hard for “conventional wisdom” to keep up with, so students like you have gone in not quite realizing what they’re up against. GC’s at CA public schools do not make as strong a case as they should, IMO, for kids like you to apply at good-but-not-elite private U’s, where they will likely get a more genuinely holistic assessment and often get offered merit aid that will put those schools at cost-parity with the UC’s. Fortunately, in your case, you have some good offers on the table; but it’s still demoralizing when you don’t have all the options you thought you would. Just know that you’re in good company - a lot of great students with similar profiles are experiencing the same disappointment or worse. It’s tough out there.
The CC-to-UC path is actually a good option as well - lots of students end up feeling that they get more individual attention and higher quality of many lower-division classes, for a lot less money, at CC than in the first year or two at a UC. But I think you should also end up having the Merced option, if you don’t clear the SB waitlist, so you should be able to have the 4-year UC experience if you want it. Good luck - it’s been a very tough year for UC admissions!
@alumnimom really debating about either UCSD or SLO. I have never considered this before but I’m thinking about transferring after two years to USC. Plus I don’t understand this whole UC system, I know some people with great EC and nearly perfect test scores who didn’t get in compared to some people who literally cheated their way through hs and had horrible test scores. I truly do feel bad for those who didn’t get in and deserved it.
