Has anybody surfed at Black’s beach? I am looking to join the surf team at UCSD but dont know what the conditions are. I’ve heard there’s some killer beach breaks during the winter season
It’s random. Waited listed at UCSC, UC Davis, rejected at UCSB with 4.1 WGPA and 34 ACT. It’s messed up
Does anyone know if UCSD admits to their colleges first or into the major? I was not sure.
@momoftwoandone: UCSD admits into the University first and then into the major. They also consider alternate majors.
I have not but Trestles is only like 40mins away and is an AMAZING spot for advanced surfers.
My son didn’t receive a phone call. Is he rejected? Did any in state students get phone calls? He has 34 ACT. Weighted 4.6. Unweighted 4.0. Rejected Notre Dame. Accepted UCSC. Waiting UCLA.
So worried!
he probably is rejected
No, @chrisread. Not every accepted student gets a call, in fact most do not.
@chrisread Definitely doesn’t mean he’s rejected. Don’t worry. My brother had a 1510 SAT, valedictorian, 200 community service hours, 800s on bio and math II SAT subject tests, and he didn’t get a phone call from UCSD. He still got admitted but no phone call. They’re random and I’m not entirely sure they’re actually even happening right now to be honest.
another thing to take into consideration is if you even put your phone # on your UC app. My daughter did not.
Thank you court16!
Accepted to Boston College but it’s so outrageously expensive. Good luck to everyone. My daughter was accepted to UCSD with 29 ACT and 3.7 unweighted. 4.3 weighted. This process is so random.?
my son was rejected from UCSB, with 1500 SAT and 4.68 weighted GPA 3.89 unweighted. Is he going to get rejected from UCSD. seems so random , so worried
@momoftwoandone: There is no way to know until the decisions are posted. Each UC uses their own criteria to review applicants so a decision from 1 UC means nothing for another.
@momoftwoandone My S is in the same boat. Still waiting to hear from CalPoly SLO, Rejected by UCSB with 33 ACT, 4.56 GPA, 4 yrs varsity sports etc… really hoping for some good news on Friday! Fingers crossed for all of us!
Heres a sliver of how the UCs do applications, I read this somewhere and its very similar to what Harvard does. This is my take on the system:
UCSD: Average ~3-4
UCLA: Average ~2-3
UC Berkeley: Average ~2-3
Ivy League: Average ~1-2
SCALE - 1 - Best of the Best → 5 - Red Flag
4 Categories (5 for Ivies):
Academics:
- 1 : genuine scholar, perfect scores (36 ACT, 1600 SAT), top of class, Amazing GPA (Above 4.4 Fully Weighted GPA), published papers, national awards for academics
- 2: Amazing scores (32-36 ACT) and GPA (Above ~4.4 Fully Weighted GPA)
- 3: Good scores (28-32 ACT) and GPA (Above 4.00 GPA)
- 4: Mediocre scores (22-28 ACT) and GPA
- 5: Red Flag scores (Below average ACT/SAT and GPA)
Extracurriculars
- 1: Unique ECs (Business founders, abroad internships, published papers, national athletes, school board member, non-profit organization owners, and etc.)
- 2: Exceptional ECs (ASB President, State-level athletics, city symphony instrumentalist / scholarship instrumentalists, Marching Band Conductor, Club Founders)
- 3: Good ECs (Varsity Sports Captain, Robotics, Hospital volunteer, 300+ hours Community Service, Club Officers/Presidents)
- 4: Average ECs (Sports, Music, Clubs, Community Service)
- 5: Red Flag (no ECs, or stuff you did in middle school or elementary)
Personal Qualities
- 1: Celebrity-like (Genuine and demonstrated concern for societal issues, ambitious to create change, passionate about making the world a better place)
- 2: Model-student (Passionate and caring towards others. Seeks knowledge for a genuine passionate for learning and not for a grade. Leader in his/her high school and shows humility)
- 3: The “Good” Student (Passionate, Caring, and demonstrated a need for learning and personal growth)
- 4: The Average Student (Shows interest in college and success, but only applies for the prestige of the college. Does not pursue knowledge for personal growth, but rather, for possible success in a career)
- 5: The “Red flag” student (Disregard for others, overly “braggy”, holds views that shows disregard for morality)
Essays:
- 1: Very compelling essay. Demonstrates and confirms all of the 3 categories above and shows the uniqueness of a student, their ability to overcome, create, endure, love, and be greater than their struggles
- 2: Masterfully written original essays
- 3: Good essays that conveys a student’s passions and their love for learning
- 4: Personal stories of everyday life, mostly unoriginal.
- 5: Essays that conveys worrisome personal character, or shows little to no attempt to correct grammer.
Recommendations (Usually in Ivy league admissions, but not UCs)
- 1: Unusual support from recommendations (One of the best students in years…The best student ever…)
- 2: Very strong support from recommendations (Best student…Loves to learn for personal growth and has done things to influence their community/peers…)
- 3: Good support from recommendations (Good student…Learns with a passion…)
- 4: Average, generic recommendation
- 5: recommendations that conveys bad/worrysome personal qualities regarding a student.
Hooks (Not a category but could influence your application positively):
- First Generation Student
- Legacy (Ivies)
- Athletes
- Minority
- Success regardless of personal struggles
@TheBeyonder Very helpful and insightful, thanks for that!
to any URM out there concerned over not getting a call, I didn’t get one when I was awaiting for results and surely thought I was not going to get in… now in my third year 
best of luck to you all!
help lmao I just got rejected from UCSB and I lost hope for all other UCs I applied to i just wanna get in somewhere I’m freaking out dudes
@beyonder This is the most helpful post I’ve seen in a long time - thank you!
@camille004 i relate to this so much