UC's, University of Michigan-Ann Arbour, University of Washington-Seattle

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hi, I would really appreciate any feedback that isn’t from my very “supportive” mother. I am planning to apply to UC’s(LA, Berkeley, Davis, Santa Barbara, Irvine, San Diego), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Washington-Seattle, and a couple of Cal States(Monterey Bay, Sonoma, not really sure)

Academics:
Unweighted HS GPA: 4.0
Weighted HS GPA: 4.2
UCW(capped): 4.364
UCW: 4.545
Class Rank: 10/456
SAT Scores:
CR:520, M:610, W:590 = 1720
ACT: E:23, M:26, R:26, S:25, EW:25 = 25

Freshman Year:
H English 9 A/A
Mandarin 1 A/A
H Geometry A/A
Geography A/A
Intro to Theatre A/A

  • PE requirement A/A

Sophomore Year:
H English 10 A/A
Mandarin 2 A/A
H Algebra 2 A/A
H Biology A/A
AP World History A/A

  • PE Requirement A/A

Junior Year:
AP Art History A/A
AP English Language A/A
Mandarin 3 A/A
H Trigonometry/Math Analysis A/A
H Chemistry A/A
AP US History A/A

Senior Year:
Painting
AP English Literature
Mandarin 4
AP Calculus
AP Physics:C Mechanics
AP Government and Politics

EC:
head costume mistress, Theatre(9-10) Grease(ensemble), Any Number Can Die(Judy), Hairspray(Lou Ann)
President, Academic Decathlon(10-12)A team all years
Figure Skating(9-12) national competitor
Robotics team(10-12)
treasurer, MESA(9-12)
Classical Vocal Performance/Music Theory(9-12)

Volunteer/Community Service
Recruiting committee, Chatelaines & Esquires(11th grade school service organization)
Activity Coordinator, Knights & Ladies(12th grade school service organization)
Heal the Bay(9-12)
Youth Group Co-President, WLAUMC(church)

Work
Skating school assistant(10-12)
Skating Camp Counselor(11-12) one week camp, each summer, 7-2 for 5 days

Awards
LAUSD Academic Decathlon 3rd place team conference 1(2014)
LAUSD Academic Decathlon Bronze Medal in Interview(2015)
Certificate of Merit passed levels 5&6, both with music theory honor roll, 6 with Branch Honors in Performance
USC MESA Egg Drop 3rd Place
High Honor Roll(9-12)

Other
California Resident
Asian
Female
Parents: one has Master’s, other has PhD
in Magnet school

AP Tests
AP World History 2
AP Art History 3
AP English Language 3
AP US History 4
planning to take in may…
AP English Literature
AP Calculus AB
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Government & Politics

Sorry for the length, I would really appreciate a response, thank you so much.

2

The Cal States you’ve listed are possible matches.

The UC’s are reaches with your SAT and ACT scores which would not be competitive at those schools you’ve listed.

Your AP scores don’t support your “A” grades. :-<
Your school may be interpreted as having grade inflation because your grades don’t match the output of your SAT/ACT and AP scores.

Typically, the test scores coincide with the grades.

3

“aunt bea” Okay thank you for your response, I know my scores aren’t the best but I am planning to explain a personal issue during the AP World test. As for my SAT/ACT test scores I took the October SAT and am waiting to receive those scores, that will hopefully be higher. I am also planning to take SAT subject tests for US History and Math 2. But I really appreciate your feedback! :slight_smile:

4

it pisses me off how guys like this are gonna get into great colleges because they go to grade inflated schools where i have to work my but off get an SAT score 300 points higher get 4-5’s on my AP tests and still go to a lower ranked college

5

because i go to a grade deflating school

6

@BucketsUCSC I’m sorry but I do not go to a grade inflated school, I just suck at taking standardized tests. I know someone who got an F in AP World History and a 5 on the exam. My schools grades are not inflated nor deflated, the normal amount of people get As, Bs, Cs, and Ds, and Fs. I worked really hard for all of my grades. The SAT doesn’t necessarily test how good a student you are, but how good you are at taking standardized tests and the SAT. Similarly I know someone with a barely passing GPA that scored in the 2300’s on the SAT. I’m sorry if I’m being harsh or rash, that’s just my view.

7

@BucketsUCSC honestly the SAT’s are shit, Ive gotten 4’s and 5’s on all of my AP tests and have a 4.57 GPA but have yet to finally reach the 2100 range on the SAT. I was also horrified to have found out that my school valedictorian, who has taken something around 12 AP classes since 9th grade and has gotten a 5 on every single AP exam and has studied forever for the SAT’s only got a 1900. The SAT is terrible and in my personal opinion definitely NOT a true measure of your academic and intellectual ability. I hope to get a higher score on my own SAT once I get results back in two weeks. Good luck to yourself and be informed before you start yelling at other people about going to a grade inflated school. :)>-

8

@cottonfleur Considering your GPA and class rank, plus the classes you took, I’d say that you have pretty solid chances at all the UC’s except for UCB and UCLA, those would be reach schools for you. But since your ECs include important things (acadeca) and your leadership positions, I think it will help you in the holistic review. Good luck and try to get your SAT score up!!! :(|) :bz

9

For get about UMich and other OOS schools as you scores are too low. Even you do get a miracle boost in the October test to bring up 500 in SAT or 8 in ACT, your scores may be withhold and ask you to verify by another test as they consider those to be unreasonable improvement.

10

You need to target the mid-tier UCs. Even for them you better have significantly better scores.

11

So stupid how people like you can get A’s at an easy high school. At my school people like you wouldn’t even be allowed to take AP classes. My school is extremely competitive and I have to work my butt off just to get a 3.8, but then I take the ACT once and get a 33. Just a shame.

Anyways, unless you somehow increase your act score by at least 6 points or your sat score by at least 350 points, you stand no chance at UCLA, Berkeley, UC San Diego, and Michigan.

Washington and UC Irvine is a low reach/high match for you. The rest you should be fine.

Your GPA looks great on paper, but your test scores are comparing you to the rest of the kids in the US, not just at your school. And based on your scores, you are just an average student.

Increase your test scores or shift your focus to less selective schools.

12

@plummpeach the SAT and ACT test how fast you can put together information and draw conclusions. GPA is so different from school to school, and can be extremely misleading. No schools are the same, but the ACT and SAT are the same for every high school student. This is how colleges find out whether or not your GPA is bullshit, because if you can’t focus for 6 hours and take a basic test, then you clearly don’t have the intellectual capability to excel in college level classes. You and @cottonfleur clearly go to grade inflating high schools that give little homework and tests. Another thing: you can easily cheat to get a better GPA, but its impossible to cheat on SAT/ACT.

13

Why is everyone so harsh? @cottonfleur I think you’ve got a very high chance at every school except Berkeley/UCLA/Michigan, and I wouldn’t be surprised if you made it into at least one of those 3. Don’t know why everyone is salty about OP having higher GPA than SAT scores, I’ve got a high SAT score but lower GPA than OP, yet I feel no ill-will. Everyone has different strengths, and it’s ridiculous and condescending to say the only reason for OP’s high stats is because he goes to a “grade-inflated” school. OP, try your best to hit 2100+, and I think then you’ll be able to make UCLA. Also, very impressive extracurriculars! I hope you make it into your #1 choice.

14

@ambitionsquared because based off just stats(I’m assuming OP isn’t an applicant is a typical applicant without a hook, ETRAORDINARY EC’s or essay) i’ve seen students with much better stats get rejected by UCLA. I also think if you get a 2100+ you will get into UCLA. I’d say thats a stretch considering you have a 1720 RN

15

Wait, it’s not called being harsh. I have a lower GPA than OP, and lower grades in some classes, but STILL scored 490 points higher on the SAT, and got 5s on the AP tests that he and I both took (except AP Lang, which I self-studied and still got a disappointing 4). If this isn’t grade inflation, I don’t know what is.

16

Whether it is because of grade inflation or not, do not forget the fact that OP did excel in her school “environment” among her “socioeconomical” peers. That matters a lot and it is not fair to ignore those facts entirely and make those harsh judgments!

17

Lol I work for grades and only have a 3.6-3.7 but I still managed a 2100 on the SATs, and its not like I’m some genius. I agree with @BucketsUCS ,it’s so annoying to see schools where getting all A’s is actually somewhat common. I don’t think anyone at my school (competitive parochial school) has a 4.0 UW

18

I feel like a lot of members on th boards are upholding college confidential stereotypes of being an incessantly critical and narcissistic bunch. What benefit will it bring you by disparaging OPs accomplishments? It won’t raise your own gpa; it will only take away from what someone else has worked to earn.

19

There’s no such thing as a “bad test taker” because if you take APs/Honors classes, tests/quizzes will be weighted (or should be weighted) heavily. If one is able to do well on those tests, why can’t he/she do well on the SAT/ACT/other standardized tests?

@ambitionsquared I (and others on this thread) are just stating facts. A high GPA with low test scores is a clear sign of grade inflation.

20

Most of the schools on OP’s list will be reaches unless she can get a 2100+ on the SAT.