UC Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hello,
I am a Junior and am wondering if I have a chance at getting into UCB, UCSB, or UCD when I apply next year. My GPA is strong, but my SAT scores are a little weak, and I am scared that they will hurt me in the long run. Here is my profile:
Classes:
9th (All regular): English 9, Social Studies, Computer Skills (elective), Science 1, Algebra 1, Spanish 1, Phys. Ed. - Sem 1 GPA: 4.00 Sem. 2 GPA: 4.00
10th (All regular): English 10, World History, Oral Interpretation (college prep class on public speaking/speech & debate), Phys. Ed. (Sem. 1)/Free Period (Sem. 2), Geometry, Spanish 2, Biology. - Sem 1. GPA: 4.00 Sem. 2 GPA: 4.00
11th (this year): AP Language/Comp., AP US History, Honors Chemistry, Algebra 2, Spanish 3, Free Period, Student Leadership
Sem 1. GPA: 4.33
12 (next year's anticipated schedule): AP Government, Spanish 4 Honors, Trig/Pre-Calc, Free Period, debating btwn Reg. English and AP Literature, Student Leadership, reg. Physics.</p>

<p>Current Cumulative GPA: 4.11; Rank: Top 10% of class.</p>

<p><em>Note, there were AP/Honors classes open my sophomore year, but I opted not to take them because I didn't feel that I was ready just yet.</em></p>

<p>10th grade PSAT scores: 1160
11th grade PSAT scores: 1320
11th grade MOCK SAT scores (anticipating): 1320-1380).</p>

<p>EC's:
9th - 11th:
Helping my middle school/former teachers with computer problems/issues.
Work experience, including various tasks.
Calif. Scholarship Federation</p>

<p>9th:
Junior Statesmen of America</p>

<p>10th:
Organized a speech contest for English learners
Track
Relay For Life
Speech and Debate
School Newspaper</p>

<p>11th:
Speech and Debate
Co-Captain Relay for Life
School Newspaper
Leadership (I'm president of my class).</p>

<p>Any/all feedback will be appreciated! Thanks. Oh, and good luck to those of you who are finding out your UC admissions status!</p>

2

<p>Oh, and I am Asian as well. Please consider this and the above information when rating my chances for UC Berkeley, UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, and UC Santa Cruz.</p>

3

<p>Why are your PSAT scores so high...the top score is 240. You have to edit this...although colleges don't really care unless you're a NMF and is your anticipated SAT score out of the cum. 2400? If it is, try the ACT. Some ppl get an equiv. score that's much higher than their score on the SAT. You should also indicate what ethnicity you are. Colleges are required not to take race into account, but it's obvious they will and blame rejections on other factors.</p>

<p>I think you need to spice up your ECs a bit...are you leaving anything out? Try to think about awards you've won.</p>

4

<p>Hey, sorry about the PSAT scores:
10th grade: 116; 11th grade: 132.
I just got my mock SAT scores back w/ essay: 1400 altogether, and my essay score alone was 10.</p>

<p>I am also beginning to tutor kids, so I could add that to my EC's, and I am running for ASB Business Manager. Also, my friends and I are planning to start our own beach clean up program - something like that.</p>

<p>Awards - well, I have a degree of Honor in Speech and Debate, and have won a Math Achievement Award in the 9th grade, but last year, none of my teachers gave out awards at our awards ceremony. </p>

<p>How are my chances for Cal, UCSB, UCSC, and UCD, and what do I need to further spice up?</p>

5

<p>Don't worry about SAT scores. UCs pay very little importance to SAT scores. From what I've seen, it's mostly your GPA. Pay attention to the point system because they give point that overcompensate for your SAT and GPA. Volunteer hours are a must for UCSD.</p>

6

<p>ok.... i got rejected from ucla today...
and my UW GPA was 3.98, my W GPA was 4.56
and i had SAT CR+M of 1410.....</p>

7

<p>UCLA focuses on essays more than GPA and SAT scores. Berkeley's the one that adores high test scores. </p>

<p>You don't seem to have a passion for anything. That's the main concern. And since you're asian, you're automatically at a disadvantage (even though colleges say they don't take race into consideration).</p>

8

<p>Hey,
Well, I am going to try the ACT to see if I have better luck. I mean, hopefully I score high because my GPA does reflect my work habits, etc. </p>

<p>qkrdusdn, what other UCs did you get into?</p>

<p>I don't have a passion for anything...meaning that I don't stick to like one particular type of EC...? If you could elaborate on this, that would be great. Oh, and being Asian, how is that a disadvantage? A lot of people have said that colleges are more likely to admit minorities? </p>

<p>Oh, how about my chances at UCSC, UCSB, UCSC, UCLA? Does Cal seem like a stretch?</p>

9

<p>Haha! Do you live in California? North Cali is definitely minority but the area around UCLA is like mostly Hispanics and Asians. My school is probably 70% Asian and I'm 15 minutes drive from UCLA. And a lot of asians are definitely going to apply. The percentage does say the UCs have more asians, but when you think about the number of them who apply, a lot of them will get rejected. I think UCSC, UCSB, UCSC definitely. Keep your GPA up. Does your school qualify for ELC? It's for the people with the highest GPAs. Maybe around top 4% or 5%. Your chances would increase with that because the percentage of admittance is higher for ELCs. Cal might be a stretch...but apply anyways. You're supposed to apply to 5 or less "reach schools" just in case you underestimate yourself.</p>

<p>And yea you don't SEEM to be passionate about something...you can do a lot of things (which btw you don't compared to a lot of people I know who didn't get in to UCLA), but it might make you seem fickle. Maybe you like Speech and Debate...but from what you wrote it kinda seems like you're just in the club and you don't go to competitions.</p>

10

<p>are the sats out of 24 or 16</p>

11

<p>Hey,
Yeah, I live in North Cali. I am asian as in Indian-Asian, and my school doesn't have an extremely large Asian population, especially Indian-Asian - I think there is only one more, but I am the only Indian-Asian in my class. My school does qualify for ELC, and I know I am in the top 10%, I don't know about top 5%. I do have a passion for a lot of things I do. Like helping my teachers with computer stuff and my middle school with that, I do it pretty often - whenever they call me in. I work at my mom's business often, and I do a variety of tasks from pool maintenance, to electronic lock maintenance, to front desk stuff, etc. Oh, I have been to Speech and Debate competitions, but this year, with my heavy course load, it's kind of been a struggle. And this "passion" - do you mean that I do something and continue to do it? I mean, my list that I provided has quite a bit of stuff...I am still kind of confused (and I don't mean to sound hostile or anything; I am really thankful that you guys have brought this up.)</p>

<p>Oh, and being, Asian, I thought colleges liked that...I thought UC's carried the Affirmative Action plan on even though it was abolished...</p>

<p>Oh, my SAT scores out of 2400. :-&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks.</p>