Hello, i’m currently a senior in High School. Some minor background information about me is that I am a Hispanic female that comes from a socioeconomically disadvantaged environment in California. I wanted to know what my chances are of being accepted into the UC Davis. I have a 3.7 G.P.A, taken 5 AP classes (counting the two i’m currently taking,) taken three college courses (A+ in all of them.) I have several volunteer hours as I volunteer at my school’s library. I am currently in 5 different clubs on campus. I have been a student mentor to 30 sophomores for two years and I have had a job since 11th grade. My SAT score (970) is pretty bad due to my horrendous test anxiety ( I spoke about my anxiety a bit on my Personal Insight Questions.) My PIQ’s that was revised by several people all said that they were very good. What are my chances of being admitted?
The UC’s cannot use ethnicity as a basis for admission; it’s illegal in the State of California.
I think that your chances of admission will be questionable because of that SAT score.
The problem with Davis is that you will be given tests; you can’t avoid taking tests at the universities.
If your score of 970 is the best that you received, it may indicate that you won’t be able to keep up with the coursework, as well as with your classmates.
(My daughter attended Davis; her freshman roommates had extreme difficulty keeping up with the classes. They realized that they were not prepared for the level of complexity of the courses). Don’t forget that Davis has the quarter system. You only have 10 weeks to prove yourself.
Admissions could interpret their campus as being too challenging for you. They want students who will be successful in their classes. I’m assuming you’ve taken tests for your current classes? You report getting A’s in both your high school and CC courses, so you had to have had some measure of assessment?
It may not be perceived well that you are able to take tests for classes and perform well, but you can’t perform well on an SAT. Or, the admissions committee may note your EC’s and think that your EC’s were a priority instead of your studies or SAT prep help.
If you already have test anxiety, you may to focus on other schools that are test optional.
I completely agree with @“aunt bea” assessment that UCD wants to accept students that will suceed and your SAT score is a huge red flag. For many college courses, your grade will be based on 3 tests throughout the quarter so if your test anxiety is that bad, 3 tests to prove yourself will be an issue. You are obviously a very capable and hardworking student beyond your SAT scores and hopefully if accepted you will make use of all the resources available to you.
Is your 3.7 GPA your capped weighted UC GPA? https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
If so, your GPA and test scores put you below the 25th percentile for admitted students at UCD and your SAT score is closer to the 10% percentile.
Here are some UC statistical information. Even with a 3.7 UC capped weighted GPA, your chances are low.
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79 (capped weighted and not major specific):
UCB: 1.8%
UCLA: 2.2%
UCSD: 7.2%
UCSB: 10.1%
UCI: 11.1%
UCD: 16.6%
UCSC: 43.8%
UCR: 63.3%
UCM: 88.7%
2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13
UCD: 4.11
UCSC: 3.96
UCR: 3.81
UCM: 3.71
2018 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:
UCB: 1360-1540
UCLA: 1340-1540
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1270-1500
UCD: 1220-1480
UCI: 1230-1490
UCSC: 1210-1450
UCR: 1130-1380
UCM: 1020-1280
Since you have already taken some CC classes, another option is doing TAG. You will continue at your local CC and follow the required courses needed for transfer to UCD along with maintaining the required GPA. You will then be guaranteed a spot as a Transfer.
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/index.html
http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/files/tag-matrix.pdf
Best of luck.
Requiring the SAT is an attempt to equalize all the applicants’ knowledge. Not all high schools are the same, meaning an A earned from one high school may not be the same as an A from a different high. A high teacher friend of mine (who graduated and also taught at a high performing high school) told me that he had to “water” the math and science tests at a low performing high school that he taught at so that the students can pass. He was forced or encouraged to do so that he does not flunk more thanhalf the class. He said it is a disservice to these students if they got into a competitive college. Many have flunked out of the UC’s or other competitive colleges because of this. However, there are many students who do very well, but they are just not good in taking standardized tests like the SAT. The college admissions try to make that determination if the student can or cannot succeed in the college they are applying to.
UCD is going to be a reach for you. UCR and UCM, may take you. Most of the CSUs would love to have you.
Chico, Sonoma, Fullerton, Northridge, Sac, and SF are worth an ap - there’s just one more day to apply to the CSUs.
Good luck
The application looks good except for your 970. If you could retake for at least 1200 then you may have a shot. Otherwise, I’m not so sure. I’ve had friends with 1400+ and 1500+ SATs waitlisted/denied. The 970 is a real red flag so unless you put in the additional comments section a note about your test anxiety then maybe, otherwise I would look into the Cal States
@“aunt bea” and @Gumbymom I know that the UCs are not allowed to look at ethnicity in admissions. Several UCs have the distinction of being Hispanic Serving Institutions.
In the following article it says, "UC Davis has worked hard over many years to reach eligibility status,”and “The annual Cesar Chavez Youth Leadership Conference reaches junior high, high school and community college students, as well as parents, who learn from professional role models to help plan for their future careers.” https://www.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davis-achieves-eligibility-be-designated-hispanic-serving-institution/
I’m not debating you but I am curious how they work towards achieving this without considering ethnicity. Do they market and recruit to the Hispanic communities hoping that it yields more applications and then see the results once the identities and ethnicities are revealed?
@lkg4answers: I am not an admissions officer so I really cannot specifically answer you question. Although the UC’s cannot use Race/Ethnicity as a basis for admission, admissions can infer information found the application such socioeconomic factors, HS location and low performing HS’s and areas so maybe that is how they are working to address on achieving their diversity goals.
I think one of the ways they are able to do this is via their local incentive programs. The university programs in California are familiar with their local geographical schools, especially those considered having “low socioeconomic” status so they share incentivized programs for admissions for those students.
The immediate communities around Davis have large hispanic populations-these are largely farming communities whereby the families work the local agrarian industry. Davis isn’t the only public university to have these programs.
If a high school student and his/her family agree to pursue a university incentivized program, the student then commits to following a strict program (tutoring/academic counseling/test preparation) and completing the A-G requirements. During application season, the university reviews those students and their completion of the program requirements at the high schools. If the student has completed requirements and met the goals, the admissions application is given equal consideration during application time.
Most of the publics do this in California, even at the impacted campuses. USC also has their version of the program with Los Angeles students.
@“aunt bea” very interesting. Thank you!