UC San diego my applications backwards!

<p>3.0 GPA (wait dont leave :'(</p>

<p>33 ACT</p>

<p>SAT 2's Math II:800
Physics:790</p>

<p>600 hours of Community service done over summer.
Two jobs at a time ( one including managing my sick moms cafe)</p>

<p>Low income and single parent home :'(</p>

<p>Heres some of my essay so you know somehting about me:</p>

<p>“My name" - an average student by any definition, inconspicuous among the swarm of adolescents scrambling for scholarly achievement, devoid of any signs of exceptional motivation. Is this correct?” comments the austere interrogator. I ignore his blunt description of me, for how could he possibly understand who I really am? He knows not of the hardships my family has faced, the sacrifices that I have made, and the academic difficulties I encountered as a direct result of the aforementioned. No one can truly appreciate the contorted situation which I have been entangled in. No one but my mother.</p>

<p>My mother has raised me on her own for as long as I can remember. For over fifteen years, she has been a guardian angel to me: feeding me, clothing me, guiding me through the difficulties of life. As I entered Monta Vista High School, one of the most academically challenging institutions in California, I took on an additional burden - giving back to the mother who has supported me single-handedly for so long.</p>

<p>At the maturing age of 14, I began my first job at Amber, a local Indian cuisine operated by my mother - the manager. Almost immediately, I was blown away by the enormity of my responsibilities: I was expected to work four hours daily, weekends included. I felt myself losing grasp of the balance between my academic aspirations and my endeavor to support my mother. While waiting tables, schoolwork would distract me; while studying, the day’s queue of customers would occupy my mind. Oftentimes, I was forced to choose between these two aspects of my life; I kept my priorities straight with schooling on top. When confronted with this dilemma, I habitually gave up my work days to study, giving up large portions of my salary. Yet, there were sacrifices involved; while I still tried to keep my test grades excellent, I found it monumental challenge to keep pace with the homework and project load of my classes.</p>

<p>In my already disoriented state, news of my mother’s deteriorating health proved to be oil poured unto fire. My mother was suffering from numerous health problems, and would be subject to multiple surgeries throughout the next couple of years. I was sent reeling: the balance of school and work that I had previously sought was now hopelessly out of reach. At a moment’s notice, I would have to take the reins from my mother and run Amber on my very own. This precise situation presented itself in my junior year first semester, one of my most dire periods of high school. I spent an entire day prioritizing my multifaceted life, and concluded that my mother comes first - no matter what. I was now responsible for the outcome of my family, and knew that I had to sacrifice something very dear to me: my schooling. I could no longer handle the combined stress of academics as well as work, and in this situation work came first. I was forced to drop my science curriculum, my AP Environmental Science class.</p>

<p>Now, with my mother’s health restored, can support both my family and my academic interests.</p>

<p>Thus, I have mastered the art of balancing a job and academics. With much more time on my hands, I have become able to pursue my academic interests. And while it was too late to improve my GPA – what happened in the past – I have been exacting the utmost diligence in my areas of standardized testing. “Incorrect,” I reply, “What you see is a two dimensional slice out of a three dimensional character, nothing more. I neither lack motivation, nor am I unexceptional. I am "name", a maturing boy from a low income household who works diligently to support his single mother. That is the real me.”</p>

<p>please any comments or suggestions? 14 views please someone reply?</p>

<p>Honestly, I think you have a good chance @ UCSD :slight_smile:
My school sends a decent amount of students to UCSD and UCLA (I live in SoCal; not a super competitive school) and you definitely have really good test scores. Obviously, that GPA is not the best… but it depends! Did your grades show an upward trend? Did something happen during one year? Did you take a lot of APs?
UCSD is a highly academic school so I know that having few ECs won’t really hurt you; I know a guy who did simply track & XC for 4 years and got accepted to UCSD.
Your community service is also very impressive as well :slight_smile:
If it’s any consolation, your essay is certainly better than the other essays (belonging to people applying to UCSD, UCB, etc.) I have read.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

<p>stay out of the good ucs but UCSD is a safe bet have a safety chance me back <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1041167-chance-me-i-will-chance-you-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1041167-chance-me-i-will-chance-you-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>I liked this essay. You know what they’re now saying: work experience is the new community service. In otherwords, adcoms are sick of getting applications with x thousands of hours of community service (they know they created this racket . . .) and want to see real responsibility. Running a restaurant surely qualifies!</p>

<p>What kind of courses did you take? Or at the very least, did your GPA show an upward trend? If the courses or difficult, or it did have an upward trend, then I’d say you’re in, since you’re only weakness is your GPA</p>

<p>Go to “Custom Tables” on the link below and check the “Admit rates” at the various UC’s:</p>

<p>[University</a> of California: StatFinder](<a href=“http://statfinder.ucop.edu/]University”>http://statfinder.ucop.edu/)</p>