Unlike most people in this thread, I’m going to attempt to be productive…
The GPA is obviously very good, and even if there is grade inflation, being ranked 10th out of 456 is still very impressive. ECs are good as well.
However, the ACT and SAT scores are just not up to par with most people who get into schools like UM, Berkeley, or UCLA. And unfortunately colleges look at these more than anything else. So, if possible, you really need to take these tests before the application deadline if you want to get into a top tier school.
I do think what you have right now is good enough to get into any of the other schools you listed, but if you really want to get into one of the better schools, you need to take the SAT and ACT again.
@QuiteAverage90 True but sadly many kids still get in through grade inflation so the OP has a chance at the schools he’s listed but it’s a low one he has to raise his SAT score by a MINIMUM of 200 points. There’s way too many grade-inflated students at elite schools though so you never know
Gotta agree with some of the posters… I can’t help but feel jealous. My GPA is complete crap because my classes are hard and get me 4/5’s on AP’s and a 36, but it won’t make up against kids that go to inflated schools in the admissions process.
For Christ’s sake, there are literally no 4.0’s in my class…
Anyways… these are all inferences. Sorry for my baseless spite. I’m sure you worked very hard and your class rank shows that.
Regardless, I think your scores will kill you, but great EC’s and obviously good gpa… Essays will make a huge difference. OOS UMich, UCLA, Berk are crazy competitive and your scores will be the death of you at those places. Otherwise, I think you have a great shot at the other places you listed. Good luck.
@james1998iq I feel you it kills me how even though we’re considered a “gold medal” school you have to be in the top 10 % to go to UCR no that wasnt a typo i didnt mean UCLA i meant UCR. If you get a B in an AP class you’re basically guaranteed a 5. At most of the schools I’ve seen an A could mean anywhere from a 2-5. It kills me when my friend at UCLA tells me that there are kids that wouldnt have even survived if they went to the high school we went to
@BucketsUCSC At my school, everybody in AP Euro got an A. Most got a 2 on the exam. Out of 150 students, only 1 got a 5 (lucky me). At first, I was annoyed that I got the same grade as everybody else when I worked harder to know the content. Then I realized how petty it was to think like that. Even though it is harder for you to earn good grades than some others, it’ll make you stronger when you go to college since you’ll have developed a more dedicated work ethic.
Also, good luck OP, and please update us when you find out your results!
I applied to all of the UC’s I posted as well as San Diego and San Francisco State, I have decided not to apply to Washington, and apply to Michigan soon hopefully. I got my SAT scores back, still bad I nearly cried, CR: 550 M: 630 W: 560(yes writing dropped!) I also got my Nov subject test scores back M2: 720, US H: 590.
I stopped going on College Confidential because I always felt horrible afterwards but I never learn so here I am again, but I understand where everyone is coming from. Students that come from harder schools and that work harder but get a lower grade will just do better in college. In the end its not where you come from, or what college that you go to, but how you use what you have learned in life. Hard workers will always be rewarded in the end. I have accepted that I may go to a grade-inflated school, but does that make me a stupid person? Not necessarily, there are different types of stupidity, as there are different types of intelligence.
I will definitely let all of you know where I get rejected from, and hopefully I’ll get accepted somewhere as well!
Also, I got an email from UC berkeley that was requesting a letter of recommendation, but I assumed that they were just sending them to everyone, since one of my friends got one too. Does anyone know if this means anything, or is it just like a default email for every Berkeley applicant?
@ everyone attacking OP: Chill out. Yes, some schools have more grade inflation than others. Good thing that adcoms receive school profiles, which will show things such as average GPA!
honestly, @BucketsUCSC I go to a grade-deflating school as well; yet, AP scores are almost never a component of the college admission process. Additionally, the SAT is not in any way related to GPA…
@plummpeach 100% agree. The SAT and ACT should not even be considered a viable form of determining ones readiness for college. Most people (not all obviously) that earn the top scores go to tutoring centers (I know at least 50-60 at my school who have gone this route), leaving people who can’t afford such programs struggling on their own. These tests are all about knowing the strategies and knowing the patterns- the only component of it that is actually practical is the math section, as well as probably the writing portion (but even then… I am probably a little biased as I scored well in Math and Writing, but terribly in Critical Reading…despite being in Honors and AP English classes for the majority of my high school career and earning a 5 on the Lit and Comp AP Exam…).
@loquatical we apologize for attacking the OP but we are just transferring our anger from the unfair and far too subjective college admissions process onto the OP which is not fair he as well as the rest of us is a byproduct of the system, and while there are beneficiaries to the system they did not in any way cheat to get into the positions they are in
@BucketsUCSC Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man ;).
Sometimes I feel like one of the few students that advocates for holistic admissions, even though I am most definitely not benefited by it as a female that is primarily interested in LACs. Colleges create their systems and change them if they want to. CSUs have matrices, the upper tier of colleges have holistic admissions, etc. In fact, I bet that 90% of colleges in the US will accept you on the dot if you have a 2100 SAT and a GPA above 3.5.
As for GPA, it oftentimes is more of a measure of work ethic than anything else. If I were on an adcom, I would prefer the test-anxious student who hustles to study and earn their grade over the “lazy but really smart” type. Colleges are allowed to have their preferences on which traits they prefer.
I, for one, am grateful that I am not summed up by my stats in the eyes of holistic admissions. Or that I have to devote my whole life to studying for a test like the Gaokao.
@BucketsUCSC I understand that it’s your opinion, but I have to disagree with you. Imagine if everything you’ve every learned is compounded into a 1-4 hour test. That’s what subject tests and AP tests are. It’s like saying: the exam will cover topics from A-Z’’, but hey we’re not going to tell you anything about the actual exam. Imagine if you study the stuff you think will be on the test, but it’s an entirely new set of things you haven’t learned before/didn’t study. To some degree, yes, these tests are clear indicators of how well material is transferred via classes, but it’s hard to say, especially since they are so make or break. GPA is so important because you can’t just “redo” or :“retake” 4 years of high school work like you can with standardized testing. OP is right. GPA is a clear indicator of work ethic WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF A SCHOOL in combination with class rank and course rigor. Standardized testing (esp. pertaining to AP and SAT 2) is just to show how well it was taught. A kid who earns an A in an AP class should be getting 4+ and 750+ on AP and subject tests, but really it’s about how well the material was transferred.
@jackisawesome I would disagree about people being doomed without a fancy tutoring center. My entire prep cost was around $150-$200 (primarily prep books), and I scored pretty well. I’ve heard that such centers are mainly for those who wouldn’t be motivated enough to study on their own, but that’s a subjective opinion. At my school, the top ACT scorer and the top 2 SAT scorers self-studied. In fact, out of the couple dozen I know that did prep courses, none hit 2150 SAT or a 31 ACT. It is true that the test is all about learning the strategies and patterns, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing: it distinguishes those that can adapt from those that cannot. It could also reflect college readiness by reflecting someone’s drive and commitment, although I realize there are many students who are very studious that can’t reach certain SAT thresholds. Ultimately, there are plenty of other (and likely more meaningful) ways for someone to demonstrate their intelligence besides a standardized test.
Also, on the subject of which is the most valid way to evaluate a student, I would say extracurriculars. I have no reason to be biased for this answer, as my extracurriculars are practically non-existent despite having strong SAT/GPA. The SAT only tests a relatively narrow type of cognitive function and GPA can be heavily influenced by a grade inflating/deflating school. Extracurriculars, however, show a student’s capacity to take initiative and create a difference in their community. IMO, that demonstrates potential more than anything else, especially if the person can reach excellence in whatever extracurricular they’re in. Of course, someone could rebut that extracurriculars are often manufactured and forced by overachieving parents, so maybe there is no perfect way to evaluate a student after all.
@BucketsUCSC hey, trust me. I was like you too in high school, but now that I came to college, I’m really glad that I went to a competitive high school. It definitely put me on a stool compared to the other kids… If I went to a low performing school I woulda been struggling adjusting to the college life. In hindsight everything seems better. I know you’re a bit disgruntled now, but you’ll see the value later on.
@jackisawesome Just as students can get tutoring for standardized tests, they can also get tutoring for school. If we look at it that way, then there is no basis to evaluate an applicant. I do agree that test scores shouldn’t be weighted heavier than GPA, but they certainly should not be undervalued either.
To everyone else: Even though it may not seem like it from my comments, I think GPA/test scores should be looked at equally. Colleges should not be weighting one more than the other.
I disagree but what can you do It’s bound to happen haha. I just think GPA should be weighted much higher, as I believe it is a more accurate test of success. For example, I know quite a few people with a perfect ACT score of 36; however, at my school, their GPAs are less than 3.5. Thus, I feel that this is indicative of the faults of standardized testing; that just because someone can answer questions on the top of their feet at a good pace, it doesn’t mean they will actually contribute anything valuable in the world as they may not possess the actual knowledge necessary to think on one’s feet, to actually research and be a valuable leader in academics. But, I would say that I would give some weight to SAT/ACT, as testing is universally accepted in all colleges and I think standardized testing might be able to show if one will be able to graduate from a specific college, at least for the majority of people. Thus, if I was an admissions officer, I would probable weight these two (if it was only these two) in the following manner:
70% for GPA/rigor of academics
30% Standardized Testing
It’s bound to happen haha. I just think GPA should be weighted much higher, as I believe it is a more accurate test of success. For example, I know quite a few people with a perfect ACT score of 36; however, at my school, their GPAs are less than 3.5. Thus, I feel that this is indicative of the faults of standardized testing; that just because someone can answer questions on the top of their feet at a good pace, it doesn’t mean they will actually contribute anything valuable in the world as they may not possess the actual knowledge necessary to think on one’s feet, to actually research and be a valuable leader in academics. But, I would say that I would give some weight to SAT/ACT, as testing is universally accepted in all colleges and I think standardized testing might be able to show if one will be able to graduate from a specific college, at least for the majority of people. Thus, if I was an admissions officer, I would probable weight these two (if it was only these two) in the following manner: