UC Chances with Good GPA but Crap ECs

<p>I'm your typic Indian guy. I go to a competitive Bay Area high school and have a pretty good GPA(4.3) and SAT score(2150), and have completed three APs so far. I'm going to be a senior in the fall, and I'd be pretty confident about college admissions if I had more ECs. As it stands, I've done about 120 hours of community service, am involved in 2 to 3 clubs, and I'm also holding a job this summer. It's pretty generic stuff and I'm worried how it'll impact me, because it seems as though everyone plays sports, has leadership, etc. I'll be trying for most of the middle and top tier UCs, except Berkeley because I don't think I really have a shot. With this in mind, can someone tell me my chances for UCI, UCD, UCD, UCLA, and UCSD?</p>

<p>i don't see how you think it is any easier to get into UCLA than Cal.. or is it?</p>

<p>It's what I've heard from my Asian friends. They make it seem as though UCLA is for people who can't get into Cal, but of course they're no admissions officers.</p>

<p>i dunno, but i still think they are both as hard.. you should ask someone else on CC that knows more than me. (aka flopsy, norcaldad, etc.)</p>

<p>that's not true....Cal looks at everything</p>

<p>what high school do you go to?</p>

<p>I go to Lynbrook. Why?</p>

<p>You are pretty much guaranteed admission to all the UCs except LA and Berkeley based just on grades and test scores. At LA and Berkeley you still have a very strong chance, and I would be surprised if either rejected you. Your ECs don't sound as bad as you make them out to be, and UCs are much more numbers oriented anyway since they have so many applicants.</p>

<p>A 4.3 with only 3 APs completed sounds fishy. </p>

<p>Are you sure all your honors courses are UC approved? (Like Honors Science courses are crap for UCs)</p>

<p>There are other courses UC considers honors, like H. pre-calculus, 4th year of a language, and (at the high school I attended at least) Jr year H. English.</p>

<p>You should apply to UC Berkeley, you have a great chance. Publics schools tend to care less about extracurricular activities, and are more numbers focused.</p>

<p>gnrfan:</p>

<p>UCLA: Match
UCSD: Safe Match
UCI/UCD: Safety</p>

<p>Unless you're doing engineering at Berkeley, you'll have a shot.</p>

<p>But is that 4.3 GPA a UC GPA (capped at 8 semesters of honors/APs)?</p>

<p>Apply to Berkeley.</p>

<p>I had ZERO ECs, with a 3.96 UC GPA, albeit a 2300 SAT/35 ACT/2-800 SAT IIs, but I know worse students statwise then yourself get into Berkeley, i.e. my friends.</p>

<p>My UC GPA is more like a 4.2, and my SAT 2 scores are 790 and 750.</p>

<p>Any more replies?</p>

<p>NOBODY is safe to get into Cal, because theyhave more top candidates than spaces. But you're in the "pool". UCLA is easier... </p>

<p>If you're the studious type definitely check out UCSD -- they have an honors program -- but be sure to make a careful choice about your "college" because that's the most important part of the whole education there</p>