UCs/CSU Chances/Recommendations

State Forums
1

Copy-pasted from another chance-me post on reddit, I need some advice on where I should apply to with my stats. Thank you very much!

Demographics: Asian Male Senior (Indonesian if that helps), SoCal, Public HS (National Blue Ribbon School)
Intended major(s): Computer Science/Computer Engineering/Electrical Engineering
ACT: November test- 34 Composite (32 E/33 M/33 R/36 S)
SAT: Highest - 2080 (680 CR/730 M/670 W)
SAT Subject Tests: Planning on taking Physics and Math 2 in November. (Suggestions for prep books?)
GPA: 3.65 UC GPA, 3.75 W, 3.54 UW (Low GPA due to failing first semester of AP Calc AB Junior year, got a C 2nd semester, and took a slightly harder Calc I class at a community college, ending up with an A)
Class rank: Currently 75/527. I was around 30-40 before my junior year bomb…
Coursework: 6-7 cumulative AP Courses by end of senior year, all 4’s or 5’s on AP tests thus far (Calc AB, Stats, Bio, US Hist, US Gov, Macroeconomics, and Euro)
Awards: Honor Roll
Extracurriculars: Frosh/JV Tennis, 3 years
Key Club member, 2 years
CSF member, 4 years
Interact, 2 years
Roots & Shoots, 2 years
Volunteer at church (helping out with VBS, Sunday school, etc.), 4+ years
Schools: UCs: UCLA, UCI, UCSD, UCR CSUs: Cal Poly (both SLO and Pomona), CSUF; researching other calstates atm Privates: researching atm, probably in California Backup: 2 years at a Mt. Sac (CC), hopefully doesn’t come down to this
Does anyone know how courses taken at a CC to “make up” a failed course is counted into GPA?
My high school does not offer any technology related classes, so I have little programming experience (no AP ComSci)
I know my extracurriculars are very lacking, and it’s already too late to beef them up senior year. I do plan on getting a job or internship though.
Also, suggestions for comp sci/engineering schools are very welcome!
Thanks for your time!

2

Competitive test scores but GPA is lacking.

UCLA/UCSD/SLO: Reach/Low Reach
UCI: High Match (although they love 4.0+ GPA’s)
CSUF/CPP/UCR: Match

Look at SJSU and SDSU for Match schools.

3

Thanks for responding! Would you happen to know how classes taken at a community college would be factored into my UC GPA? The one posted is direct from my high school. As mentioned in the thread, junior year I failed AP Calculus AB 1st semester with a D, which automatically was calculated as an F. But 2nd semester I was able to push up to a C. So, as an effort to prove that I wasn’t all bad at calc, I took Calc I, which was at a slightly higher level, at a CC and got an A. How would this boost my UC GPA?

4

Answer for the UC Website:

If a high school student takes a UC-transferable course at a college/university and lists it on their UC application, will the grade earned in the course be included in their GPA, even if it is not listed on their high school transcript?

Students must report all enrollment and academic coursework. If the course the student took is in an “a-g” subject area, the grade will be calculated in the GPA, and if the course is transferable, it will earn an extra grade point and college credit. Upon admission to UC, the student will be required to submit an official transcript from the college/university in addition to their high school transcript.