UCs, USC... LOW GPA, OK SAT

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi guys,
I'm planning on applying to the following colleges this fall:
UCI
UC San Diego
UCLA
UC Riverside
USC
Cal State Long Beach
Cal State Fullerton</p>

<p>GPA: About a 3.36 (UC)
SAT: 1930
SAT IIs: Lit 540 (gonna retake)
US 580 (")</p>

<p>APs:
10-Euro
11-US (3)
11-Environmental Science
11-Physics B
12-English
12-Biology
12-Civics
12-Spanish</p>

<p>Honors:
11-Precalc
11-English
12-Economics</p>

<p>ECs:
Newspaper Editor-In-Chief 9-12
Key Club 10-12
Interact Club 10-12
Academic Decathlon: 10-12
CSF: 9-12</p>

<p>Volunteer Work In Addition to Key Club/Interact stuff:
Sunday School volunteer teacher 9-12</p>

<p>Awards:
5th Place in speech in Orange County Academic Decathlon</p>

<p>Has anyone heard of someone who got in with such a low GPA?
Where can I get in and where should I not bother applying to?
Thanks</p>

2

<p>UCLA: Super Reach
USC, UCSD: Reach
UCI, UC Riverside: Match
Cal State: Safety</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply,
but isn't that kinnda optimistic...</p>

4

<p>Oh yeah...
i am being considered for ELC and i'm in "GATE". I also gotta throw a story out there: i know a girl who got into UCI with a 3.1 GPA, 1 AP whose brother who graduated from Berkeley wrote her admission essay. Another girl who was in ASB and editor of the school newspaper got into UCLA with about the same GPA. Miracles happen frequently I hope.</p>

5

<p>Yeah, "miracles" do happen at UCLA and USC. I've seen people with your stats get in. Still, they are reaches.</p>

<p>How is that being optimistic? You can get into Irvine, and Riverside could even be a safety.</p>

6

<p>One does not get considered for ELC. Either you're in the top 4% at your school or you're not. I've never seen a CA public school where a 3.3. UC GPA was ELC.</p>

7

<p>YOU MUST NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS...
they consider the top 10% of the class and then choose the top 4%. By the way, there were people in the top 10% with worse grades than mine. My GPA usually appears higher... but I gave you a version which only weights 4 APs and does not include the As I got in classes like PE and Journalism (which USC, for example, accepts).</p>

8

<p>AdmireMe:</p>

<p>UCLA: Super Reach
UCSD: Reach
UCI: Slight Reach
UCR: Match
Cal States: Safety
USC: Reach</p>

9

<p>Why are u guys putting USC as a reach and UCLA as a super reach? I thought they were nearly identical in rankings and admissions.</p>

10

<p>ALSO, is anyone familiar with how onw goes about with applying to the cal states?</p>

11

<p>I doubt you'd get into Cal Poly SLO, since they hardly look at EC's and really just focus on test scores and GPA, which aren't going to help you get in unless you put your major as "Agriculture" on your application. I don't know too much about other Cal State schools, but Cal Poly Pamona, Long Beach, Fullerton, Northrigde, LA, Sonoma, and Chico you could probably get into. SDSU you probably don't have a chance unless you're a San Diego resident since they get preference (no matter how low their GPA), and the school is already overcrowded enough.</p>

12

<p>Where can I get in and where should I not bother applying to?</p>

<p>Don't bother with USC, UCLA, an UCSD</p>

13

<p>I wouldn't give up on USC. Although they have dramatically raised the SAT scores for accepted and admitted students, based on what I've seen on CC they often do take interesting students with lower credentials. If you really want USC let them know of your interest; recruit them. Go to regional meetings; take a campus visit; interview; make friends with the regional admissions' rep; stay in touch with the admissions' office but don't be a pest.</p>

14

<p>Is giving up on UCSD logical? People with similar stats have gotten in this year and in the past. The same can be said about UCLA (although not as frequently).</p>

15

<p>You should apply to UC Santa Cruz</p>

16

<p>I don't think so... i'm in OC... and I plan on staying at least near here. Are there any near colleges that i'm leaving off the list?</p>

17

<p>San Diego State OWNS Cal State Long Beach and Cal State Fullerton combined</p>

18

<p>haha, looks like we have the same UC gpa now that i look at it! I really think that you should look into UCSC and at least give it a chance, I don't see how anyone could pick boring, hot ol' Riverside over the lovely nature/beachy atmosphere of Santa Cruz. I'm right down in the OC as well!</p>

19

<p>UCLA: Extreme Reach
UCI: Reach
UC Riverside: Match
USC: Reach
Cal State Long Beach: Safety
Cal State Fullerton: Safety</p>

<p>You might as well give it a shot at all these universities, often times unexpected students are admitted.</p>

20

<p>Does USC cap on how many classes can be weighted? Also, does it really accept PE and Journalism and art classes in the GPA? Also, I heard UCSD doesn't cap unlike all the other UCs.</p>