UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, and others?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello, I'm a senior and will be applying to UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC, UCSB, UCSD, and maybe Cal Poly. I was wondering what my chances are for these schools with my stats?</p>

<p>Intended Majors: Probably Physics or other physical sciences for Cal, USC, UCLA (less competitive); Mechanical Engineering for everywhere else
Latino male, born in San Diego
Really competitive public school in-state
Will be first in my family to attend a four-year university</p>

<p>Academics:
UW GPA: 3.85
W GPA: 4.35
UC GPA: 4.25
Class Rank: Top 10% (hopefully I'm in the top 9% for ELC to UCs)
SAT:1840 (bad, but I will take the ACT and will aim for a 30-31)
SAT IIs: Math - 650 (I'm definitely not sending this in...)
AP, Honors and College Courses: 8 throughout high school
10th Grade: Honors Chemistry
11th Grade: AP Psychology, APUSH, Honors American Literature, Honors Precalculus
12th Grade: AP Gov, AP Physics B, Community College Calculus</p>

<p>12th Grade Schedule:
AP Physics B
Community College Calculus
Expository Reading/Writing
AP Gov
Ceramics
PE (because of sports)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Football - 3 years (2 years JV, 1 year Varsity)
Track - 2 years (1 year JV, 1 year Varsity); team is CIF San Diego Section Champs
35 hours of volunteering (few, I know)
Guitar - 6 years
1 year Media Club
1 year CSF</p>

<p>Awards:
Top Scholar - 11th Grade
Top Citizen - 11th Grade
Athletic Achievement - 11th and 12th Grade
JV Letter - 11th Grade
Varsity Letter - 12th Grade
Recognized by Caltrans for participation in the 2011 Trig-Star Competition
Panel member for Senior Exhibitions (I basically graded several senior projects while I was a junior)</p>

<p>I think the only think that's holding me back from my top choices is my test score. If I achieve my ACT goal, could you predict my chances with that score? Regarding my major, I prefer Mechanical Engineering as my major because I am really interested in making cars, but that will really lower my chances at Cal, USC, and UCLA because it has another level of competition, and that's why I'm choosing L&S for them. I REALLY want to go to a Pac-12 school because they are so well-rounded, academic and athletic wise. Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>bump…</p>

3

<p>Coursework and extra-curriculars are good.
Your GPA looks fine, but its not quite up to CAL and UCLA standards
You need to work on SATs more if you want to get into those, and I’m talking somewhere near 2100 possibly or even higher, and SAT IIs need to be closer to the 700 to 800 range.
With the major that is your first choice, Mechanical Engineering, it is going to be hard to get into the schools you listed. Engineering is very hard and colleges look for very very smart kids when admitted to that major.
i graduated high school last year and I had a friend who had very similar stats as you and was a first generation to college (this is going to be a big hook for a lot of schools you apply to). His first choice major was Mechanical Engineering and most of the schools he applied to denied him for that and the ones that accepted him let him in on his second choice which was an Economics major.
My recommendation: reconsider your major by going to physics, or look more into other schools that you can potentially get into if you want to be in Mechanical Engineering. And definitely research a lot more and you’ll get more and better answers.</p>

4

<p>Your race, as wierd as it sounds, will definitely help you out. For your race, you are one of the best, even with a low standarized test score.</p>