<p>There's a formula for UCSD on the admissions forum, and I'm thinking it's probably for all the UCs. So I have a question, when it says GPA * 1000. Do they take account the difficulty of the school? Like..I'm in a pretty prestigious one..so would that give me some extra points?</p>
<p>No, I don't think the UCs take the school difficulty into account in their gpa points the way smaller colleges might. Where this might help you is in test scores, as harder high schools usually produce students with higher test scores.</p>
<p>incorrect - the UCSD formula is only for UCSD. The other schools are not so forumlaic, at least publicly. If you search UCDavis, you can find something similar. Remember, Berkeley and UCLA reject hundreds of top scoring kids from prestigous high schools every year.</p>
<p>Unless you go to a school like Stuy, or Andover, Exeter, Choate, no reader on the west coast is likely to have any knowledge of your 'prestigious' school. Also, the UC's are public; for the most part, they give equal weight to kids from different high schools. But, they do give more weight to kids from poor performing high schools in the admissions process.</p>
<p>"Berkeley and UCLA reject hundreds of top scoring kids from prestigous high schools every year"
ha ha. thats funny... well for our school at least. Our schools is like the worst in our district, but we feed kids into berk, something like 25 last year. I'm pretty sure its all numbers.</p>
<p>mrun:</p>
<p>that is exactly my point. Your school, "worst" in the district, receives bonus points in the admissions process. No such thing happens with so-called prestigious schools. For example, a top HS in Socal sent only 15 kids to UCLA two years ago, and not many more to Berkeley....and this school is well-known, even prestigious, if you will, at least for a public.</p>
<p>I don't know, people. I think readers are more familiar with schools more than you're making it seem.</p>
<p>Unless you go to a school like Stuy, or Andover, Exeter, Choate, no reader on the west coast is likely to have any knowledge of your 'prestigious' school. Also, the UC's are public; for the most part, they give equal weight to kids from different high schools. But, they do give more weight to kids from poor performing high schools in the admissions process.</p>
<p>yea..I go to Stuy...so no bonus pts for me, eh? :</p>
<p>bluebayou, was that school Oxford Academy, Troy, or Whitney?</p>
<p>none of the above, but close; all of which are in the state's top 15 (based on API scores). But, of course, Oxford stands leads the pack given it's magnetic ability. (sorry, bad joke)</p>
<p>munkegirl - You're right, in selective High schools it's difficult to get good grades because many people are exceptional. </p>
<p>UC's do not adjust your gpa to account for the difficult high school.</p>
<p>The only thing I noticed is that UCB, UCLA and UCSD accept a higher percentage of students from those competitive high schools.</p>
<p>Oh. I get it now.</p>
<p>THe school I go to got an API score of 922 in 2004. Will UC's know my school? And if so, will they take school's difficulty into consideration?</p>
<p>dood.
[quote]
And if so, will they take school's difficulty into consideration?
[/quote]
that was the my entire post lol. The answer is no.</p>
<p>Ambrosia... 922? Holy crap. My high school is like a 650.</p>
<p>Anyways, I think what some people are missing is that the UC system is a PUBLIC school system. So, naturally, like other public university systems in other states, they are committed to trying to make college more accessible to people from all walks of life.</p>
<p>I'd only assume that students from a disadvantaged background or high school would be given an edge in getting accepted. Along with that, the UC system is looking for students that have really taken the initiative to further their education by making the most of every opportunity presented to them. (as most private universities also do)</p>
<p>Honestly, if you come from a top-performing high school like Stuyvesant, don't even bother trying to tell the admissions staff how great your school is. For that matter, who cares if the adcoms know of your school? Focusing on the school is like saying you are an amazing cook simply because you have an expensive set of pots and pans. If instead you focus on how you took that opportunity and made the most of it, (and yes, it is an incredible opportunity to be able to attend a school like that where you can take an obscene number of AP classes or get the full IB Diploma. The majority of students in this country and abroad don't even come close) then I would bet you would have a tremendous advantage to getting in.</p>
<p>Just my two cents. Getting wrapped up in the school you go to is insanity.</p>
<p>-Jared</p>
<p>I didn't know my high schools API, and I got in :)</p>
<p>Listen to Jared . . .</p>