***ucsd class of 2024 decision thread (stats only)***

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of California - San Diego
1

Please post your decision and stats only on this thread.

If you would like to join the 2024 applicant discussion please use this thread: http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-san-diego/2172401-ucsd-class-of-2024-decisions.html

Remove the a before posting your stats.

[aB][asize=4][acolor=#008000]Decision: Admitted[/color][/size]**
[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FFA500]Decision: Waitlisted[/color][/size]**
[aB][asize=4][acolor=#FF0000]Decision: Rejected[/color][/size]**

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major (and division if applicable) applied to:

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA:
UC Capped Weighted GPA:
UC Fully Weighted GPA:
Eligibility in Local Context?:

ELC eligibility (Local or State):
Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections):
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any):
AP exams (scores in parentheses):
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars:
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service:
Summer Activities:

Personal insight essay topics:
Letters of recommendation submitted:

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant):
High school type:

Gender:
Race/ethnicity:

Applied for need-based financial aid?:
Pell grant eligible?:
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?:

Highest level of parent education:
Living with both, one, or no parents?:
Relation to alumni of college:

Reflection

Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

General Comments:

2

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):no
Major (and division if applicable) applied to:
Neurobiology

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.85
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.11
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.49
ELC (top 9%): yessir

Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): did not submit because :confused:
ACT (total and sections): 32C: 34 E 32 M 31 R 30 S
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math 2: 800 Biology M: 710 Chemistry: 720
AP exams (scores in parentheses): 3 in AP Bio, Lang, and World History, 4 in Chem, 2 in Calc (LOL)
IB exams (score in parentheses): no
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: Section Leader, Varsity Marching Band; Section Leader, Concert Band; Varsity Track & Field; Captain/Founder, Science Olympiad; Ambassador of e-STEM academy program; Science and Engineering Research Project Mentor; United Sound Member (teach special education how to play); Principal Advisory Committee Member (handful of people chosen by principal to discuss how we can make the school a better place);HOSA Member: listed LIFE Health Internship that I planned to do this school year
Job/Work Experience: NONE, cause school itself was my job
Volunteer/Community service: Kaiser Permanente Hospital Volunteering (130+ hours)
Summer Activities: Kaiser Volunteering, Band Camp (which I didn’t talk about), took an English college course, sectional rehearsals, etc.

Personal Insight essays (details):
In the leadership essay talked about my leadership experience as a section leader what I gained from it as well as how this was applicable to wanting to study brain science. Another essay (educational opportunity) talked about my experience in my school’s e-STEM program in which catered to my interest in the medical field more and allowed me to do a research project. In the talent essay, I talked about my ability to communicate with other people how it’s allowed to build relationship with a variety of people from my school. I also related that to how it’s allowed to gain leadership positions and volunteer positions and stuff like that while adding a bit more of how it related neuroscience, psychology, and how we think and all that. In my last essay(passion), I talked about my absolute passion for neurobiology and I even gave it a theme around different brain concepts I was interested in. overall, that’s pretty much it. I felt my essays arched over the different themes in my life but they all tied into what I wanted to study somehow. So perhaps this is a good strategy
Letters of recommendation/Augmented Review: didn’t receive a request for this?

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): IN-STATE SOCAL
Country (if international applicant): USA
High school type: Public (near 5000 students)

Gender: Male

Applied for need-based financial aid?: yes

Highest level of parent education: 2 yr or associate degree (only one of em)
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both

Reflection

Strengths: my essays? Counselors said they were pretty solid. My ECs were also pretty good and I think that both of these combined carried my app
Weaknesses: I feel my unweighted GPA was pretty bad, but my capped weighted and act were well in the average
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Well-rounded applicant pretty much
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: rejected to Stanford, accepted into ucsb (chancellor notice), cal poly slo, and fullerto, uc davis waiting to hear from UCI, UCLA, UCB, and USC

General Comments:
Grateful for acceptances so far scared about next 4 though lol

3

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):
Prolly not
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Atmospheric Science!!

Academic stats:
Decision : Admitted!!!

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.4
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.7
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 3.7
Eligibility in Local Context?:
i think so I was when I applied last year
ELC eligibility (Local or State): No idea
Comments about course load (including senior year):
AP Gov
AP Lit
AP Calc Bc
AP Econ
AP Bio
SAT (total and sections):1500 (720 R, 780 M)
ACT (total and sections): N/A
SAT Subject Tests (if any): N/A
AP exams (scores in parentheses):
AP Calc BC (3)
AP Calc AB 3 subscore: (4)
AP Lang (3)
APUSH (3)

IB exams (score in parentheses): N/A
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
N/A
Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: Lots of experience in field couple of internships in field.
Job/Work Experience:
Kumon Tutor

Volunteer/Community service:
Lots of EC nothing remarkable but a lot
Summer Activities:
None
Personal insight essay topics:
I don’t feel comfortable revealing them but they were very personal. I talked about my gap year in some. thought they were a 10/10
Letters of recommendation submitted:
Not applicable
Demographics
Asian Indian from underprivileged Area
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
High school type:
Underprivileged
Gender: M
Race/ethnicity:
Asian Indian
Applied for need-based financial aid?: No
Pell grant eligible?: No
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?: No

Highest level of parent education:
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college:
Bond
Reflection
Honestly, looking at last year the great gpas and the common myth that UCs only care about gpa. This clearly proves it’s possible with a low gpa. Essays matter!!
Strengths: SAT, Essays, ECs were good also, good reason for low gpa!
Weaknesses:
GPA!!!
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Essays for sure and a story to back up my low gpa!
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
CP SLO - Accepted
Rutgers- Accepted

Long Beach- Accepted
San Diego State- WL
Stevens- Accepted
Westmont - Accepted
UC Davis - Rejected oof
General Comments:
Tell your story if you have a reason for your low gpa or test scores explain it way. I wouldn’t have gotten it if I didn’t!

4

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded: None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Political Science-Public Policy

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.91
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.4
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.26

ELC eligibility (Local or State): Local
Comments about course load (including senior year):
-2 honor classes/6 APs/5 Dual Enrollment Classes
ACT (total and sections): 33 (35W, 29M, 36R, 32S)
SAT Subject Tests (if any):
-U.S History (750)
AP exams (scores in parentheses):
(5) APUSH
(4) AP Euro
(4) AP STATS

Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):
GGSA State Championship Qualifier

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars:
-Basketball
-Debate
-Yearbook
Job/Work Experience:
-Starbucks
Volunteer/Community service:
-Church
-Museum
-Food Bank
Summer Activities:
-Work

Personal insight essay topics:
-Yearbook
-Debate
-Starting a Website
-Something about my childhood
Letters of recommendation submitted: NONE

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): CA
High school type: Public

Gender: Female
Race/ethnicity: Asian

Applied for need-based financial aid?: NO
Pell grant eligible?: NO
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?: NO

Highest level of parent education: Graduate
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college: NONE

Reflection

Strengths: Classes at local college, GPA, major, and extracurricular.
Weaknesses: Test score was on the low side
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
-Major
-ECs
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
-UCD

5

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Microbiology

Academic stats:
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.43
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.70
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 3.70
Eligibility in Local Context?: Below average lol

ELC eligibility (Local or State):
Comments about course load (including senior year): IB diploma student
SAT (total and sections): R/W: 700 Math: 800 Total: 1500
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Biology E: 800 Chinese W/Listening: 800 Math II: 780 Chemistry: 770
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Biology: 5 Chemistry: 4 Calculus BC: 5 BC subscore: 5 Environmental Science: 4
IB exams (score in parentheses): Predicted 36+ 2 bonus 38/45
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Not really lol

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: I founded a non-profit that fed homeless people, Secretariat team of a MUN conference, Award at Hotel MUN conference

Job/Work Experience: None

Volunteer/Community service: volunteered at the library since grade 9, volunteered for an engineering professor at a university, volunteered at animal hospital, went on outreach team to Trinidad for 2 weeks

Summer Activities: None

Personal insight essay topics: Talked about hardship of immigrating to English speaking country, founding my non-profit

Letters of recommendation submitted: None

Demographics: Canadian

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Canada
High school type: Private

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: Chinese

Applied for need-based financial aid?: No
Pell grant eligible?:
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?:

Highest level of parent education: Masters
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college: None

Reflection
My GPA sucked, but I showed massive improvement in grade 11 and 12. Attaining 4.0 in grade 12. I believe that my upward trend and competitive test scores admitted me

Strengths: Standardized test scores
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Standardized test scores
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: First US school so far :slight_smile:

General Comments:

6

Decision: Admitted

Chinese International Student (4 Years US Religious High School)

1490 SAT, 35 ACT

780 Math 2, 700 Physics

4.34 GPA, 4.0 UW

Electrical Engineering, Muir College

6 AP classes (5x5 and 1x4)

Major ECs
-Filmed a documentary in North Korea
-Operate Self-titled YouTube channel
-Apps published on the Apple App Store

Awards
-Science Fair 2nd place State
-ISEF Finalist (but didn’t go due to personal reasons)
-A couple of not-so-serious national awards
-Some LOL school-level recognition

Essays
-Talked about my filmmaking and CS passion
-8/10 if I have to rate them

Reflection:
UCs don’t use affirmative action. SWEET.

7

Decision: ADMITTED!!!

GPA: 3.38 (uw)
SAT: 1590
9 AP Exams, 7 5s, 2 4s
Essays: Kinda rushed them, they could’ve been better

Strengths: SAT Score, I am such a lucky person! The one day I took it was the day the test was super easy, and essays I guess? I kinda wrote a weird one to try and be original and also because I didn’t think I had a chance, so I guess it paid off?
Weaknesses: GPA, :blush:, basically everything else

Comments: OMG THEY TOOK ME WHAT I TOTALLY THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHATTTTT FIRST DAVIS AND NOW SAN DIEGO???

i sincerely hope they aren’t sending the wrong person acceptance letters WHATTTT

1 Like
8

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Chemical Engineering

Academic stats:
Decision : Admitted!!!

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.96
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.34
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.55

Comments about course load (including senior year):
AP Gov
AP Spanish
AP Physics
AP Econ
AP Bio
SAT (total and sections):1520 (720 R, 800 M)
ACT (total and sections): N/A
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math-II-800, Chem-800, Bio(E)-790
AP exams (scores in parentheses):
AP Calc BC (5)
AP Calc AB 3 subscore: (5)
AP Euro (4)
APUSH (5)
AP Chem (5)

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
California All State Band, Santa Clara County Honor Band

Extracurriculars: MEDCSI Internship at Stanford, Doctor Shadow program at India Hospital

Job/Work Experience: Worked as Cashier at a Bakery in Summer

Volunteer/Community service:
More than 450 hrs of volunteering at Kaiser Hospital

Personal insight essay topics:
9/10
Letters of recommendation submitted:
10/10
Demographics
Asian Indian
State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Small, Public
Gender: M
Race/ethnicity:
Asian Indian
Applied for need-based financial aid?: No
Pell grant eligible?: No
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?: No

Highest level of parent education: Masters
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
CP SLO - Accepted
SJSU- Accepted
CP Pomona- Accepted
UC Merced-Accepted
UC Davis - Accepted
Stanford EA-Rejected
Johns Hopkins-Rejected
General Comments: Waiting UCB, UCLA, UCSB, UCSC, UCI, Harvey Mudd, USC, SCU, Purdue, BU, Northeastern, Northwestern, Cornell, CMU, and Rice.

9

Admitted! :smiley:
Major: Physics with Specialization in Computational Physics

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.87
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.40
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.60

Course load: 8 APs for all 4 yrs
SAT: 1500
ACT: 35
SAT Subject Tests: Physics (760), Math (710), Bio (700)
AP exams: Bio (5), Physics (5), Studio Art: Drawing (5), Calc AB (5), Calc BC (5), English Lang (3), Chem (tbd), English Lit (tbd)

Subjective:

Extracurriculars:
— 4 yrs school paper editor and artist. Writing articles, designing pages, and illustrating full-page spreads and images to go with articles.
— 5 yrs powerlifter. 3 national USPA records, no coach, on a 24hr Fitness membership
—Self-taught animation and digital art since elementary. Projects for school and personal interests, up to year-long to complete. YT channel has >2 million views, >20k subs.
—Took a 4-week life-drawing class last summer

Work Experience: Math tutor for a student for a few months, commissioned to design an ad
Community service: About 80 hours at a food bank and a local art center.

Summer Activities: Personal animation/digital art projects and powerlifting. Mostly stayed home and did my own thing.

Personal Insight essays (details): Self-made powerlifting journey, activism in journalism about dieting, year-long animation project based off a video game, public speaking challenges

Demographics

State: CA
High school type: Public

Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian

Applied for need-based financial aid
Living with one parent, bachelor’s education

Reflection

Strengths: Test scores, GPA, achievements, EC’s are unique for an Asian female
Weaknesses: Little leadership or work with organizations, most activities I do don’t require social interaction
Why you think you were accepted: Strong stats compared to the average acceptance stats, EC’s show self-motived commitment
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: UCSC (accepted)

10

Admitted (in-state) :slight_smile:

Major: Human Biology (Muir)
UC GPA: 4.11 (W)/ 3.92 (UW)
SAT: 1370 (720 English, 650 Math)

Strengths: SAT score? I’m not really sure, tbh. I definitely wasn’t expecting this. I also have 400+ hours of community service, which may have been helpful, and my essays were apparently pretty good (or so I’ve been told). Art school education, which shows flexibility and multi-disciplinary interests.

Weaknesses: not very many APs, due to a lack of availability. Also, my weighted GPA isn’t amazing, again, due to a lack of available courses.

General Comments: again, I am completely in shock. I didn’t expect to get in, so this is a very welcome surprise. Congrats to everyone else!

11

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Economics and Mathematics Joint Major (Muir College)

Academic stats: ADMITTED!

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.2
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.3

Senior Year Courses:
AP Lang
AP Psych
AP MacroEcon
AP Stats
BC Calc

SAT: 1440 (720/720)
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any):
AP exams (scores in parentheses): World History (4) English Lit (3) Physics (5)
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: Band (Multiple leadership roles including Drum Major) Powerlifting, Interact Leadership Club, Started a Math Mentoring Program at local elementary school
Job/Work Experience:
Volunteer/Community service: Catholic Charities Immigration Services, Manna For Others (Serving Breakfast to poor every Saturday am); volunteering at my sister’s school for kids with intellectual disabilities every week (second highest number of volunteer hours in my class)
Summer Activities: Marine Biology I and II with SCUBA certification and learning at sea; Duke TIP Class on Cryptography; Band Camp

Personal insight essay topics: Having to get creative while tutoring elementary students; taking care of my sister with Down Syndrome; leadership in the Band; being part of the powerlifting team
Letters of recommendation submitted:

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): Texas
Country (if international applicant): US
High school type: private all boys Jesuit school

Gender: M

Applied for need-based financial aid?: no
Pell grant eligible?:
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?:

Highest level of parent education: Masters
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both
Relation to alumni of college: no

Good Luck to ALL!

12

D Accepted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major applied to: International Relations

(Marshall college - 2nd choice)

UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.2
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.5
ELC (top 9%): yes

ACT (total and sections): 33 (34R, 34E, 30M, 35S)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): didn’t submit
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Lit (5), French (5), Spanish (4), US (3)

Extracurriculars: Several and with leadership
Job/Work Experience: No
Volunteer/Community service: Yes, 3 yrs volunteering at the same place
Summer Activities: GWC, Cosmos

State (if domestic applicant): In state
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Private

Gender: Female

Applied for need-based financial aid?: yes
Pell grant eligible?: no
Maximum Pell grant (FAFSA EFC = $0)?

Highest level of parent education: BA
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both

Where else were you accepted: SDSU, UO, IU (Kelley direct admit), Tulane, UCSC, UCD
Waiting: UCLA, UCB, UCSB, UPenn, Davidson, UVA

13

Accepted!

Major: Neurobiology
College: Revelle

Gender: Female
In-state
Unweighted GPA: 3.84
Weighted GPA: 4.32
ACT Composite: 34
SAT Math II: 710
SAT Biology M: 720
AP scores: AP Calc AB (5), AP Calc BC (5), AP Bio (4), AP Eng. Lit (5), AP Spanish Lang (5)

Senior year courses: Gov / Econ (one semester for each), AP Eng. Lang, AP Physics 1, AP Stats, Medical Core (weighted)

ECs: varsity cross-country for 3 years, varsity track for 4 years, Irish dance for 11 years, piano for 5 years, volunteered at a community clinic, animal shelter, and church
Job experience: have been working at the same restaurant as a cashier / server for almost a year

No financial aid

One parent has a bachelor’s degree and the other has a master’s. Graduated from UCLA and Purdue. Living with both.

Other decisions:
Accepted: Univ. of Minnesota, SDSU, UCSC, UCD, Cal Poly SLO, Univ. of Washington, Univ. of Oregon honors college
Waitlisted: Johns Hopkins
Deferred: Univ. of Michigan
Waiting to hear from: BU, UCI, UCLA, and UCSB (received the Chancellor’s Invite for UCSB though)

Congrats to everyone!! :slight_smile:

14

Decision: Waitlisted :confused:
Merit scholarships awarded (if any): N/A

Major applied to: Political Science and International Affairs
Top School: Eleanor Roosevelt

UC Unweighted: 3.76
UC Capped Weighted: 3.95
UC Weighted: 4.21
ELC: Yes (top 4%)

ACT: 32 (30 M, 33 S, 33 R, 30 E)
AP Scores: AP Euro (4), APUSH (4), AP English Lang (3), AP Physics C (3), AP Calc AB (4)

Extracurriculars:
STEM Club (Historian, VP, President), SeaPerch underwater robotics (placed 7th overall at internationals), Science Olyampid (founder and president, qualified for NorCal States two years), Mock Trial, writing and producing music, student government (community service commissioner, asb treasurer)
Jobs/Work Experience: worked for the county jail with Seaperch team to create a model design for a nighttime surveillance robot
Volunteer/Community Service: 160+ hours mostly with organizations that help cancer patients, the middle school Science Olympiad team, and my high school’s summer program for incoming freshman
Summer Activities: NSLC Forensics, study abroad in France

Personal Insight Questions: my chronic health condition, my brother who is on the spectrum and how our relationship has affected me, studying abroad, Science Olympiad

State: California (northern)
High School Type: Public

Gender: Female

Applied for need-based financial aid?: Yes
Pell Grant eligible?: Yes
Maximum Pell Grant: FAFSA EFC ~ $7,000

Highest level of parent education: DVM
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both but divorced
Relationship to alumni: none

Reflection

Strengths: extracurriculars and service
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think my grades are what got me waitlisted, I was a little bit surprised because I got in UCB early for Regent’s consideration but hey, it is what it is
Where else were you accepted: UC Berkeley, Cal Poly SLO, SDSU, SFSU, CSUN

15

Decision: Admitted

College: John Muir

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): no
Major (and division if applicable) applied to:
Computer Science

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.71
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.34
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.57
ELC (top 9%): top 10%

Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): 1310
ACT (total and sections): did not submit
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math 2: 610 Math 1: 610 (yikes)
AP exams (scores in parentheses): AP US Gov (3), AP Lang (4), AP Psych (4), AP Comp Sci A (4), AP Comp Sci Principles (3), AP World History (3), AP Seminar (3), AP Calc AB (3), I am taking AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Lit, AP Research, and AP Calc BC my senior year for reference
IB exams (score in parentheses): no
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): no

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: National Honor Society (President), Girls Who Code (Chapter Founder and President), Networking Club (President and Semi-Finalist in the Gold Tier for 3 years), National Center for Women in Technology (State Award Recipient 2 years in a row), Varsity Volleyball Captain (Regional Champions, State Quarter-Finalists), Future Business Leaders of America (3rd Place at RLC in Global Business, 1st place at SLC in Global Business), Firaxis Games Headquarters (internship over the summer at a video gaming company), Girl Up (Vice President and Financial Director)
Job/Work Experience: i worked but did not list any
Volunteer/Community service: did not list any major volunteering activity, I have done a ton though (I just didn’t want to over list activities)
Summer Activities: Teacher Assistant at Kode With Klossy (which I didn’t talk about), Internship, Assistant Volleyball coach for Youth Volleyball (didn’t talk about), High School Volleyball Training, went abroad for a month (didn’t talk about)

Personal Insight essays (details):
In my creative essay, I talked about my passion for nail art and how it grew since the 6th grade, I developed a real skill and it was my escape from when I was battling depression for two years and refused to talk to my therapist. In my academic subject essay I talked about my internship at Firaxis and how it was out of my comfort zone because I wasn’t a gamer, I talked about how it allowed me to experience different facets of computer science (it was super cool!), for the community essay I talked about starting a Girls Who Code Chapter at my school after seeing the lack of diversity amongst my computer science classes (it was so weird!), for the freelance essay I basically cut down my Common App essay a ton, I talked about how I got rejected by the NSA because of my dual citizenship and how I was affiliated with foreign nationals, I talked about how that really hindered the way I viewed my culture and refused to accept that part of myself and then talked about how I learned that its the name I make for myself and not the world’s preconceived notions about me (I think this was one of my strongest application pieces!)
Letters of recommendation/Augmented Review: didn’t receive a request for this

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): out-of-state
Country (if international applicant): USA
High school type: small public (near 1100 students), magnet school, ranked #1 school in my state, blue-ribbon school, very very competitive

Gender: Female

Ethnicity: South Asian

Applied for need-based financial aid?: yes, I am Pell-Grant eligible (about $7k), EFC is $0

Highest level of parent education: I’m a first-gen low income
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both

Reflection

Strengths: I think both my essays and my activities took over my application. I definitely would NOT have gotten in with just my stats, I am a pretty strong writer and I think my essays may have carried, I also showed sides of myself in my essays that you wouldn’t see through my transcript or scores
Weaknesses: My UW GPA was definitely below average, but my weighted was very good!
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I think I showed that I am a real human, not a robot who just studies and takes AP’s, obviously I don’t have a 4.0, but that has never stopped me from taking advantage of all of the opportunities that are presented to me :slight_smile:
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: rejected to Princeton (lol), accepted into UMBC, UMD, NJIT, NYIT, Georgia Tech, waiting on too many schools to list but a few include UCB, UCLA, UCSB, Brown, Yale, Cornell, and USC

Good Luck everyone!

16

Decision: Admitted
Merit scholarships awarded (if any):
Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Cognitive Science 6th College (first choice major and first choice school!)

UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.04
ELC (top 9%): yes
ACT (total and sections): 32 | 31E 29M 34R 33S
Course load: always took AP/honors if available. took a crazy junior year course load that I definitely regret
Senior Year- AP English Literature, AP Calculus AB, AP Statistics, PLTW Engineering Honors, AP US Government/Econ H, Intro Art
AP exams: 10th grade- AP CompSci Principles 4; 11th grade- AP English Language 5, AP Biology 3, AP Computer Science 3, AP Environ Science 4

Extracurriculars: president/leadership in several clubs (some stem/cs related), church activities, art
Job/Work Experience: internship at stem education summer program
Volunteer/Community service: 400+ hours and awards

Personal Insight essays (details): don’t want to specify the topics, but they provided a lot of insight into my character and experiences in my extracurriculars.

female attending a CA medium-size public hs who applied for need-based financial aid.

Reflection:
Strengths: essays, ecs, girl in cs
Weaknesses: got Bs both semesters in AP Bio and AP Chem junior year
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted- pepperdine, LMU, CPP, UCR, SLO
Waiting- UCI, UCSB

General Comments: good luck!! wasn’t expecting this and totally elated :))

17

Decision: Accepted

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Mechanical Engineering (1st choice)
College: Sixth (1st choice)

UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.27
SAT (total and sections): 1490 (Math: 800, English: 690)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math 2: 790, Physics: 730

State (if domestic applicant): California

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: SDSU
Waitlisted: UC Davis
Rejected: SJSU (appealing decision)

18

Decision: Accepted

Major/College: Human Biology / Revelle (1st) (Don’t mind the humanities portion and I always wanted to take Latin but high school never offered. )

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.97
UC Capped Weighted GPA:4.27
UC Fully Weighted GPA:~4.59

Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): 1370
ACT (total and sections):32 (35 E 34 M 32 R 27 S) (ran out of time on last section of science)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): MBio (710) Chem(640) Math2(640) (Probably should have taken more time studying these)

Strengths:GPA
Weaknesses:Test Scores
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Additional comments explaining my situation with my grandmother and her deteriorating health in a long term care facility. Showed genuine interest in my major with clubs: Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, and Academic Decathlon
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: UCD

19

Accepted!

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Got Alternative Major
First Major: Computer Science
Alternative Major: Data Science

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.75
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.96
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 3.96
ELC (top 9%): Yes, Rank 10

Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): 1250(670 English, 580 Math)
No AP Exams or classes, 5 Dual Enrollment Classes

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: CS, Video Production, Cybersecurity Classes/Certifications, and Drone Piloting
Job/Work Experience: Minor Job Experience
Volunteer/Community service: 40 Hours
Summer Activities: Dual Enrollment Classes

Personal Insight essays (details): Autism, Computer Science, Video Production, and Beating Barriers

Demographics: Native American

State (if domestic applicant): CA
High school type: Low-income Public HS

Gender: Male

Applied for need-based financial aid?: Yes
Pell grant eligible?: No

Highest level of parent education: High School Graduate
Living with both, one, or no parents?: One

Strengths: Great personal essay, heavy extracurriculars
Weaknesses: Low GPA and stats in comparison.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
CSUF - ACCEPTED
CPP - ACCEPTED
CSULB - ACCEPTED
UC DAVIS - REJECTED
Waiting: UCI, UCR, CPSLO

20

Decision: Waitlisted

Major- Math-Computer Science

UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.3
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.3

SAT: 1290 (650/640)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math2-750
AP exams: CalcAB(5), Eng Lang(3)

State: CA
High school type: Public
Gender: Male

Accepted- SLO, UCD, CSUCI, Cal Poly Pomona
Waiting on UCB, UCSB