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

Decision: Waitlisted

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Data Science

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.44
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.86
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.48
Eligibility in Local Context?: Yes

Comments about course load (including senior year): 10 APs, including Senior Year
Junior Year:
AP World
AP CSP
AP Lang
AP Physics

Senior Year:
AP Psych
AP Stats
AP Enviro
AP Lit
AP Calc BC
AP Gov

SAT (total and sections): 1540, 790 math, 750 eng
ACT (total and sections): 34, 36 eng, 31 math, 35 reading, 34 science
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math 2 (800), world history (700)
AP exams (scores in parentheses): World History (5), Comp Sci Principles (5), Lang (5), Physics (5)

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: Speech and Debate, ASB Student Representative, Broadcast Team for Video Production
Job/Work Experience: Two Data Science internships
Volunteer/Community service: 400 hours in teaching Computer Science

Personal insight essay topics: Essay on teaching and how itā€™s impacted me, Essay on how moving around the country has impacted me, how I got into Data Science/Comp Sci, and how I chose to express myself creatively through video production and website design
Letters of recommendation submitted: N/A

Demographics

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

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: Asian Indian

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

Reflection

Strengths: SAT/ACT scores, extracurriculars, essays(?).
Weaknesses: GPA
Why you think you were waitlisted: Low GPA, but competitive SAT.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted:
CSUF
UCR
Cal Poly Pomona
Waitlist:
SDSU
UCSD
(San Diego just hates me, huh. Kinda sucks because I used to live there for like, 5 years.)

Reject:
None

Waiting on: UCI, UCLA.

General Comments:

Praying for a miracle from UCI right now.

Decision: Waitlisted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Biological Sciences

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.8
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.07
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.21
Eligibility in Local Context?:

ELC eligibility (Local or State): Not sure
Comments about course load (including senior year): 6 Honors 6 APs
SAT (total and sections):
ACT (total and sections): 32C- 36 Reading, 35 English, 30 Science, 28 Math
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Bio M- 670
AP exams (scores in parentheses): French-3, English Lang and Comp- 5, Environmental Science-4
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): AP scholar

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:

Extracurriculars: 4 years varsity softball (captain) , 1 year JV- 3 years varsity volleyball (secretary), environmental club

Job/Work Experience: Babysitting and petsitting

Volunteer/Community service: Local garden club volunteer for 12 years (put on events and fundraisers). Volunteered on sidelines of less privileged school for 2 football seasons and assisted the doctor.

Summer Activities: Conservation internship on local federal reserve

Personal insight essay topics: 8/10

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: public, 850 kids

Gender: F
Race/ethnicity: white

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

Highest level of parent education: some college, no degree
Living with both, one, or no parents?: one
Relation to alumni of college: none

Reflection

Strengths: ACT score, personal insight responses were strong and vulnerable but also showed my niche passions and hobbies.
Weaknesses: GPA was brought down my junior year after a serious incident, but I explained this within my application.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Biology is a hard major to get into at this school, but my application was overall competitive
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: CSUSM, CSULB, SDSU (Honors). Waitlisted: UCD

General Comments: Bummed. Really holding out hope for UCSB Tuesday because their biology major isnā€™t impacted.

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Mechanical Engineering, Warren College(2nd choice)

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.93
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.27
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.53
Eligibility in Local Context?: Yes

Comments about course load (including senior year): AP Calc BC, AP Physics C: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism
ACT (total and sections): 35C, 35E, 36R, 34M, 33S
SAT Subject Tests (if any): 790 Math 2, 760 Chem
AP exams (scores in parentheses): 5ā€™s - Chem, Lang, APUSH
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: Student of the year in chem, AP scholar, School related community service award
Job/Work Experience: Mentor at civil engineering company, golf course employee
Volunteer/Community service: NHS, CSF, dedicated volunteer at wilderness foundation, basketball camps
Summer Activities: just being a kid along with community service

Personal insight essay topics: Basketball summer camp helping disabled kids, creativity prompt about woodworking, leadership in wilderness foundation and NHS/CSF, wrote about taking CC classes , extra engineering classes and mentorship led to interest in engineering
Letters of recommendation submitted: None

Demographics

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

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: White

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

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

Reflection

Strengths: Test scores and GPA, essays were mediocre but related to engineering
Weaknesses: Not as many extracurricular activities as some engineering students
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: GPA, test scores and engineering focused essays
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
AC: U of Minnesota, UW(direct admit), CU Boulder, SDSU, Colorado School of Mines
Waitlist: UC Davis
Rejected: Stanford-EA, UT Austin, Probably Cal Poly SLO

General Comments: Donā€™t worry about not getting into a specific UC because thereā€™s honestly no rhyme or reason as to why some reject, waitlist, or accept you. I expected an acceptance to Davis and rejection from SD but you can never know.

Decision admitted (Daughter) in-state:

UC GPA 4.22
Unweighted 4.0
SAT 1210
Top 9%

ECā€™s: 4 year varsity athlete, back-to-back CA state volleyball champion, Junior Olympics gold medalist, team captain, former student body president, 500+ service hrs with youth, small business owner, FAA licensee, member of the Pokagon Band of Potowatomi, private STEM scholarship recipient for excellence

Weaknesses: SAT score low, GPA average for the overall UC system (in the other comments section of the application, my daughter addressed her disappointment regarding her own SAT score, and her thoughts regarding standardized testing in general)

Strengths: insight responses & ECs both VERY good (high school counselor commented her insight responses were the best sheā€™s ever read), STEM class performance

Words of advice from our own experience: my D researched in-depth the UC 14 criteria and where she demonstrated the specific criteria, she called it out in her app; she utilized the ā€œother commentsā€ section to tell more about herself; she began working on essays in May, had multiple people review & provide feedback

Accepted: UCSD, UCSC, UCR, Long Beach State, CSSD, CSSM
Waiting to hear: UCLA, Berkeley, UCI, UCSB, Cal State SLO

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):none

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: neurobiology

Academic stats:

Unweighted gpa: 3.99

ELC eligibility (Local or State): International
Comments about course load (including senior year): im an international student so we have A levels system
SAT (total and sections): 1480 (780 math) (700 english)
ACT (total and sections): 34 (35 Math, 34 Writing, 35 Science, 33 Reading)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): none
AP exams (scores in parentheses): international
IB exams (score in parentheses): international
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: yes

Demographics

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

Gender: female
Race/ethnicity: asian

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

Strengths: i think i had a strong academic profile as well as my UC supplements
Weaknesses: Definitely extracurriculars

G

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): No

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

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.21
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.32
ELC (top 9%): Yes

Comments about course load (including senior year): 2 non-UC Honors freshmen year, 4 non-UC honors sophomore year, 3 APs (USH, Chem, Psych) and 1 UC Honors junior year, 6 APs (French, AB Calc, Bio, Lit, Micro econ, Govt) senior year

SAT (total and sections): 1490 700RW 790M
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any): US History (800) Chemistry (760)
AP exams (scores in parentheses): APUSH (5), Psychology (5), Chemistry (5)
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Top 15 in California National History Day, Le Grand Concours Silver, National Merit Scholarship Commendation, AP Scholar, various department awards, 200+ service hours school award

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars:
-Varsity Mock Trial Attorney, Vote16 SMC Board, Varsity Cross Country and Track, California Girls State, Student Government: Secretary-Treasurer, ASB HR

Job/Work Experience:
-Shift Lead at a Gelato Store

Volunteer/Community service
-Tutor for elementary school students, Autism Buddies Volunteer

Summer Activities:
-After 9th grade: Summer program at UCLA, Internship with Local Mayor, Sociology at Community College, Girl Scouts Camp Leader

Personal Insight essays (details):

  1. fight for womenā€™s basic right over bodily functions by working to add feminine hygiene products in bathrooms
  2. questioning traditional study methods and becoming more adaptable while tutoring students with different learning styles
  3. fight for Ecosia on school-sponsored computers to advocate for forest conservation
  4. birth of passion for history and promoting LGBTQ+ interests during internship with mayor

Letters of recommendation/Augmented Review: None

Demographics

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

Gender: Female

Applied for need-based financial aid?: No

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

Reflection

Strengths: essays, extracurriculars
Weaknesses: test scores and GPA for school statistics
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: passion for politics and history is visible throughout the application
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted to SDSU Webers Honors College, University of San Fransisco, Cal Poly SLO, UCD, UCR, UCSC, Syracuse

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Human Biology

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.8 (When I applied)
UC Capped Weighted GPA: IDK
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.39 (When I applied)
Eligibility in Local Context?: IDK

ELC eligibility (Local or State): No

Comments about course load (including senior year): I was involved in the IB Diploma Program my Junior and Senior year, and in all honesty, I believe this helped a lot. I did not get all As , in fact I had low and high Bs my junior year, but you should not get caught up on the letter grade if anything. I will post my course load throughout my highschool career now, and I think it was not as intense as other applicants, but it was a grind nonetheless.

Freshman Year (All As and A-): Band, Biology, Health (Semester 1 only), Modern World History, Honors Algebra 2, Honors English 1, P.E. (Semester 2 only) and Spanish 1.

Sophomore Year (All As and A-): Honors English 2, AP US History, Honors Precalc, IB Spanish AB Initio Yr. 1, Chemistry, Physics, Lifting (Semester 1 only), Sociology (Semester 2 only)

Sophomore Year Summer: Took Sociology at Columbus State for College Credit.

Junior Year (All As and 2 Bs): IB HOTA Yr. 1, IB English Yr. 1, IB Spanish AB Initio Yr. 2, Human Physiology and Anatomy, IB Math HL Yr. 1, IB Biology Yr. 1, IB Psych, TOK (Theory of Knowledge) Yr. 1.

Junior Year Summer: Took Chem 1210 at The Ohio State University for College Credit.

Senior Year (Mix of As and Bs because of senioritis :wink: ): IB HOTA Yr. 2, IB English Yr. 2, IB Spanish SL Yr. 1, IB Math HL Yr. 2, IB Biology Yr. 2, AP Econ (Macro and Micro), TOK (Theory of Knowledge) Yr. 2.

SAT (total and sections): 1420 (690 Reading, 730 Math)
ACT (total and sections): 35 (36 Science, 35 English, 34 Math, 33 Reading)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): 780 in Math 2, 760 in Bio.
AP exams (scores in parentheses): AP US History (4), AP Calc BC (3)
IB exams (score in parentheses): IB Psych (5)
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Honor Roll (lmao)

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles: Honor Roll (Local), Borlaug Scholar (State), State Delegate to the Global Youth Institute in Iowa (National/State)

Extracurriculars: Marching and Concert Band my Freshman Year, Football and Track and Field my Sophomore Year, Volunteered at COSI (my local science museum) for over 80 hours my Junior Year, and Senior Year I volunteered weekly at my local Food Pantry. I put in over 750 Hours at my local temple throughout my high school career, in which we learned about our culture, landscaped, volunteered, prepared cultural activities and performances, etc.

Job/Work Experience: None

Volunteer/Community service: Lots. Over 80 Hours at COSI, easily over 100 at my local Food Pantry, and about 15 in NHS (Persoanlly, I think NHS is a club that everybody is part of it, which is why I did not put as much time as I should have.)

Summer Activities: Took classes at both Columbus State and Ohio State. I did have football practice over my Sophomore Year summer as well.

Personal insight essay topics:

  1. ā€œEvery person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.ā€ - I talked about how I like building Legos, and that it is my escape and a great way to let my creativity run loose.

  2. ā€œDescribe how you have taken advantage of a signiļ¬cant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.ā€ - Talked about how I took advantage of my Bio Teacher offering to submit an essay we wrote for a competition held by The World Food Prize.

  3. ā€œDescribe the most signiļ¬cant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge aļ¬€ected your academic achievement?ā€ - Talked about living without my father for most of my life since he started med school late, and how before he left to study I lived with my relatives since my parents were college students who could not financially take care of me at the time.

  4. ā€œThink about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.ā€ - Talked about how me going through puberty furthered my interest in Bio and prompted me to volunteer at my local science museum.

Letters of recommendation submitted: 3 (I have really good relationships with all my teachers. They are all amazing, and I can say that over the past four years some of them have become great friends with me. I submitted my Freshman History teacher and Freshman Bio teacherā€™s letters of rec since both of them taught me throughout my high school career. I also submitted my counselorā€™s letter of rec).

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): Ohio
Country (if international applicant): United State of America
High school type: Public

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: Indian

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

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

Reflection

Strengths: I was academically strong, I did a lot of volunteer work at places that I liked to be at, had the IB Diplomma, and had good test scores.

Weaknesses: I was to spread out in extra curricular. I should have kept on playing sports, and done more outside of school such as research or starting a business (both of which I was interested in but never carried out). If anything, do what you love, and keep doing it. Do not spread yourself out and be ā€œwell roundedā€. Be focused on a few things that you enjoy.

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: My academics, volunteer work, being a state delegate to GYI, and letters of rec contributed the most.

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at OSU, University of Cinanatti, and UC Davis. Rejected from Stanford.

General Comments: Good Luck! Everything will work out and remember that the college application process is whack, but in the end you will end up somewhere you will love and thrive at.

Son was Admitted

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

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.88
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.13

ELC eligibility (Local or State):
Comments about course load (including senior year): rigorous with
many honors classes and the following APs;
Junior:
AP English 3
AP Math A/B
AP Chemistry
Senior:
AP Calc BC
AP Spanish
AP Physics

SAT (total and sections): 1460, 730/730
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any): 760 Math
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Chem (3), Lang (4)
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.):

Subjective:

Extracurriculars: 4 years school basketball and AAU- captain senior year, Frisbee, Build- on
Job/Work Experience: pool - swim instructor
Volunteer/Community service: coaching basketball summer camp, help run camp senior year
Summer Activities: working basketball camp, pool and playing aau

Demographics

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

Gender: M
Race/ethnicity: Mixed

Highest level of parent education: both college educated
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both
Relation to alumni of college: none

Reflection

Strengths: solid academics/extra currics/scores
Weaknesses: no academic clubs
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: well-rounded - mixing academics/work/volunteering/athletics
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted - SDSU, SJSU,Chico, Colorado State
Waitlisted: UC Davis, Cal Poly SLO
Waiting: UCB, UCLA, UCSB, Northeastern

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded: none
Major applied to: Public Health

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.92
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.29
UC Fully Weighted GPA:
ELC (top 9%): Yes

Comments about course load: Dual enrollment program (completed over 50 college course units transferrable)
SAT (total and sections): 1250: 560 M, 690 E, 18 W
ACT (total and sections): 27C: 28 E. 28 M, 28 R, 26 S
SAT Subject Tests : none
AP exams : none
IB exams : none
Major Awards: none

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: Key Club 4 years (Club president, Division EA and PTP Task Coordinator, Cali-Nev-Ha District Service Projects Chair), Key Club (state Bronze Award, Local President of the Year), Academic Decathlon 3 year (3rd place essay and 1st place essay regionals), Student Government (2 years Senator), MESA 4 years (treasurer; 2nd place gliders local), National Honor Society 3 years, Culture Club 4 years.
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: Various Key Club events (over 300 hours total); Kiwanis Family House at U.C. Davis Medical Center

Personal Insight essays (details):
I talked about leadership, challenges, school situation, and my interest in the health field. My leadership focused on president of Key Club. I talked about depression for challenges and that time period of life. My school is a dual-enrollment program where I have been able to receive my AA Degree and will be G.E. certified by the time I graduate high school, as well as have been going to a college campus, therefore exposed to the college environment. I talked about what influenced my passion for the health field growing up, including volunteer experience.

Letters of recommendation/Augmented Review: none

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): IN-STATE NorCal
Country (if international applicant): USA
High school type: Public Dual-Enrollment (220 students total)

Gender: Female

Applied for need-based financial aid?: No

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

Reflection

Strengths: Iā€™m known to be a pretty good writer, so my essays were really good. I had strong extracurricular activities that stand out and volunteer experience. I had a high grade point average.
Weaknesses: My scores for SAT and ACT are definitely on the lower end.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Despite my scores, I am well-rounded student overall.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Stan State, Sac State, SJSU, UC Davis. Rejected: SDSU. Waiting: UCLA, UC Berkeley, UC Irvine, USC.

Decision: Waitlisted

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

ACADEMIC STATS

UC Unweighted GPA: (iā€™ll update this later)
UC Capped Weighted GPA: (iā€™ll update this later)
UC Fully Weighted GPA: (iā€™ll update this later)
Eligibility in Local Context?: Yes

ELC eligibility (Local or State): Local
Comments about course load (including senior year): Pretty light freshman and sophomore year, 4 APā€™s junior year and 4 APā€™s senior year (self-studying for Calc BC but Iā€™m not enrolled in the class, so not sure if that even ended up being noticed)
SAT (total and sections): 1420 (740 English) (680 Math)
AP exams (scores in parentheses): AP Calculus BC (not taken yet), AP Macroeconomics (not taken yet), AP Physics 1 (2), AP English Language (4), AP U.S. History (4), AP World History (3), AP Spanish Language (3), AP Human Geography (3)

SUBJECTIVE

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: 4 years in FIRST, business lead junior year and team captain senior year. Swim sophomore year. Cross country sophomore year. Water polo junior year (cut short though due to family circumstances, but I donā€™t remember if I even explained that.)
Job/Work Experience: Internship with a
Volunteer/Community service: Volunteered as an usher during the winter of 2018
Summer Activities: Summer theater camp, water polo camp.

Personal insight essay topics: Community, Leadership, Greatest Talent/Skill, and Significant Challenge
Letters of recommendation submitted: n/a

DEMOGRAPHICS

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

Gender: Female
Race/ethnicity: Latina/Peruvian

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

Highest level of parent education: Bachelorā€™s Degree
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college: None

REFLECTION

Strengths: A lot of my AP tests were decent scores.
Weaknesses: Test scores and GPA. SAT Score was overall decent, but my essay score was absolutely terrible. I almost think I should have submitted the 1390 with the higher essay score.
Why you think you were waitlisted: I didnā€™t take my application as seriously as I should have. I started working on it much later than other people, which is completely my fault. Looking over my essays, thereā€™s a lot I wish I could have said differently, portrayed myself as more real than it felt reading them in those PIQā€™s. I also made the mistake of not letting anyone review them, out of perhaps embarrassment or fear that someone would make fun of them. Writing personally about myself is something Iā€™ve already known I had difficulty with, but it took writing those essays to realize just how difficult it was for me. Basically, procrastination + not having anyone else look over my essays before I submitted probably led to my being waitlisted.

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

Accepted - SDSU + Honors College, UH Mānoa, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Colorado School of Mines, Cal Maritime, University of Mary-Hardin Baylor.

Waitlisted - CalPoly, UC San Diego

Waiting - 4 more UCā€™s

General Comments: Donā€™t procrastinate, itā€™s not a great idea.

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Biochemistry/Chemistry

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.67
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.89
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 3.89

ELC eligibility (Local or State):
Comments about course load (including senior year): Mostly Aps during junior and senior year. Missed a lot of school due to health issues.
SAT (total and sections): 1420, 690 English, 730 Math
ACT (total and sections): 33, 36 Reading, 31 English, 33 Math, 33 Science
SAT Subject Tests (if any): None
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Psych(4), World History(4), APUSH(3)
IB exams (score in parentheses): None
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: Varsity softball and soccer, Science Olympiad, Drama Club
Job/Work Experience: None
Volunteer/Community service: 150+ hours including mission trips to India and Puerto Rico
Summer Activities: Volunteering at a Christian Summer Camp

Personal insight essay topics:
Leadership prompt: Talked about volunteering at a Christian summer camp and taking a special needs camper under my wing.
Educational Barrier: Anxiety
Challenge: The illness Iā€™ve dealt with Junior and Senior year
Subject that inspires: Love for psychology and taking the AP Psych class on my own.
Letters of recommendation submitted: None needed

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant): NY(upstate though)
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Public (very small)

Gender: Female
Race/ethnicity: Caucasian

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

Highest level of parent education: Masterā€™s Degree
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college: None

Reflection

Strengths: Volunteer work, test scores, strength of schedule
Weaknesses: GPA and essays
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Good test scores, talked about serious issues in my essays and communicated reasons for low GPA.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted at SUNY Geneseo, RIT, ACPHS, Siena, Nazareth, Hope College, and Penn State.

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): none

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Biochemistry/Chemistry

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 3.75
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.00
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.00
Eligibility in Local Context?: nope

Comments about course load (including senior year):

SAT (total and sections): 1390 (730 Math, 660 R/W), 1420 Superscore (730 Math, 690 R/W)

ACT (total and sections): none

SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math 2: 720

AP exams (scores in parentheses): AP Lang (4), AP Physics 1(3), AP Seminar(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: Knowledge Matters Virtual Business Challenge - Fashion (state + national), Academic Mentor(local)

Extracurriculars: Peer College Counselor, DECA President, Photography Club Founder, Fellowship of Christian Athletes VP, Varsity Cross Country, Varsity Track and Field, JV Soccer

Job/Work Experience: Kumon Tutor, Private Tutor

Volunteer/Community service: Life Rolls On Land Leader, Merchandising Assistant for Surfrider Foundation

Summer Activities: volunteering and networking

Personal insight essay topics: If you really want to know just message me
Letters of recommendation submitted: none

Demographics:

State (if domestic applicant): CA
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Middle-class independent charter school
Gender: M
Race/ethnicity: Indonesian, Mexican

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

Highest level of parent education: High School Diploma for both

Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both, but divorced

Relation to alumni of college: None

Reflection:

Iā€™m happy that my work paid off! SD is my main target school, and Iā€™m glad I got the first major I applied for. As one of the previous users said, GPA is not the only thing that gets you into college, work those essays!

Strengths:

The essays were definitely the main portion of my application that got me in. I put a lot of time and effort into these (started around May of my junior year) and got a lot of feedback on it. My long-term ECā€™s and growth in positions for them may have also been a strong factor in my app.

Weaknesses:

My SAT score could have definitely been higher, considering the expectations of UCSD. The other area for improvement would definitely be my GPA. Iā€™m glad that freshman year grades are not included, haha.

Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: See ā€œStrengthsā€

Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
UCSC - Accepted
CSUMB - Accepted
CSUN - Accepted
University of Hawaii @ manoa - Accepted

Still waiting on a number of privates, ucā€™s, and cal poly.

General Comments:

I canā€™t stress this enough, but start your essays early and donā€™t procrastinate!! I know how many times students hear this, but itā€™s really true! It wasnā€™t until I saw my senior friends (as a junior) scrambling to write essays a month before they were due that I actually took this to heart! And on an unrelated note, if you are looking to ask for letters of recs (not for most UCā€™s), you should ask before your junior year is over. Your teachers will appreciate you!

Decision: Accepted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):

Major (and division if applicable) applied to:
Political Science - Public Policy
Roosevelt (3rd choice)

Academic stats:
UC Unweighted GPA:3.92
UC Capped Weighted GPA:4.25
UC Fully Weighted GPA:4.45
ELC (top 9%):yes

Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): did not take
ACT (total and sections):34C (36R/35E/35S/30M/11 writing)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Lit 720
AP exams (scores in parentheses): 10th:AP World (5), APES (4) 11th: Psych (5), AP Lang (5), APUSH (4), AP Spanish (3) 12th: AP Lit, AP Stats, AP Govt, AP Micro
Senior year courses: DE Intro International Relations, AP Micro, AP Govt, AP Stats, AP Lit, Differential Calc, Service Learning (Internship)
IB exams (score in parentheses):n/a
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): NHS, Spanish HS, Girls State finalist, AP Scholar with distinction

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: YMCA Youth and Government (State leadership position 2 years), Internship CA Retailers Assoc, Finance Intern on a Congressional Campaign

Job/Work Experience: Customer Service/Front Desk 10 hrs/week Senior year
Volunteer/Community service: Library (200+ hours), Peer Council for local probation department (150 hours)
Activities: Hula dancer, Girl Scout

Personal insight essay topics: Wrote about Leadership position in Y&G, Experience on Peer Council, hospitalization/surgery for heart condition summer after Sophomore year,and creativity involved in playing/DMing D&D

Letters of recommendation submitted: N/a

Demographics:
State (if domestic applicant): CA (Northern)
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Large Public

Gender:F
Race/ethnicity:White

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

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

Reflection

Strengths: well-rounded academically/ECs and specific passion/activities related to major
Weaknesses: GPA, did not take AP Calc/Physics. School does not have honors weighted courses
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: ???
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: UofA (honors), SDSU, UofUtah (Honors), Simmons University (Honors+ full ride Kotzen scholarship), Temple U (Honors), LMU, UC Berkeley (Regentsā€™ candidate), UCI (Regentsā€™ and CHC), UCD
Awaiting: UCSB,UCLA, Scripps, CMC, USC

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): No

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Urban Studies & Planning

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.88
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.21
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.29

ELC eligibility (Local or State): State
Comments about course load (including senior year):
SAT (total and sections): 1210
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:

Extracurriculars: Track & Field, Beach Volleyball team
Job/Work Experience: 16 hours/week working
Volunteer/Community service: Community Housing World (three years)
Summer Activities: YMCA counselor

Demographics

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

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: White

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

Highest level of parent education: College + post grad.
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college:

Reflection

Strengths: GPA, Essays
Weaknesses: SAT
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Essays
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Accepted: Cal Poly SLO; Waitlisted: UC Davis; Pending: UCI, UCSC, UCSB, UCLA

General Comments:

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): Regents

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Warren Computer Science

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 4.00
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.22
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.31
Eligibility in Local Context?: Yes

ELC eligibility (Local or State): Local
Comments about course load (including senior year): Most rigorous year, 5 APs, choir, 1 online course
SAT (total and sections): N/A
ACT (total and sections): 35C (35E/32E/36M/36S/12 Writing)
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math II, Phsyics- 800 Chem-770
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Calc AB, BC, Physics 1, Bio, Comp Sci A- (all 5s) Physics C E/M, Chem, US Gov and Politics, Stats- (not taken yet)
IB exams (score in parentheses): N/A
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): N/A

Subjective:

Extracurriculars:
President of Choir and Table Tennis Club; VP of Key Club, Academic League, NHS, and Science Olympiad; Coach for middle school Science Olympiad; Did school musical for 4 years; Part of church choir and youth ministry; Tennis freshman and sophomore year
Job/Work Experience: High school aide for after school program at elementary school starting August 2019
Volunteer/Community service: 200+ hours through Key Club, NHS, and CSF
Summer Activities: N/A

Personal insight essay topics:
First fundraising gala with choir/drama departments
Love for calc/physics and teaching middle school students
Cancelling school talent show and starting an open mic
Experience as STEM/drama student

Demographics

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

Gender: Male
Race/ethnicity: Asian (Filipino)

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

Highest level of parent education: Bachelorā€™s Degree
Living with both, one, or no parents?: Both
Relation to alumni of college: N/A

Reflection

Strengths: Stats, 3rd and 4th essay, ECs
Weaknesses: 1st and 2nd essay
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Strong stats and something else to differentiate me from pure STEM students
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: UCD, UCSC, SLO, SDSU
Pending: UCI, UCLA, UCB, UCSB

General Comments: Donā€™t sleep on the essays

Accepted

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: International Relations, Roosevelt College (first choice)

Academic stats:
UC Unweighted GPA: 4.0
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.4
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.5
ELC (top 9%): Yes

Comments about course load (including senior year): full IB diploma, no APs. IB program has additional writing requirements and assessments which are additional work beyond the classroom and exams.
SAT (total and sections): n/a
ACT (total and sections): 33
SAT Subject Tests (if any):
AP exams (scores in parentheses): n/a
IB exams (score in parentheses): 6/7 for Spanish SL, sitting for remainder of exams in May

Subjective:
Extracurriculars: multiple clubs including leadership roles in two, orchestra, swim team
Job/Work Experience: part time job at ice cream shop, extensive babysitting
Volunteer/Community service: work at local garden that grows/harvests food for a food pantry, various school and community events (IB program requires 150 hours across arts, athletics, and volunteering).
Summer Activities: summer theater, World Affairs Institute, volunteering, part-time work

Demographics
State (if domestic applicant): CA
High school type: large public
Gender: female
Applied for need-based financial aid?: no
Highest level of parent education: bachelor degree
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both

Reflection
Strengths: IB program, volunteering and programs demonstrating interest in political science/public policy
Weaknesses: Pursuing the IB program forced certain decisions related to course selection
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: UCSD, UCD, UCSB, SLO, SDSU, Wash, Oregon, Wisc., Illinois
Waiting to hear: UCLA, UCB, Michigan, BU, Northeastern, Georgetown

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): None

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Mathematics - Probability and Statistics

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.71
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 3.87
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.07
ELC (top 9%): yes

Comments about course load (including senior year):

  • freshmen year: english honors, acc math 1
  • sophomore year: ap chem (2), ap world history (4), english honors, acc math 2
  • junior year: ap english language (4), ap us history (3), acc math 3 honors
  • senior year: ap calculus bc, ap statistics, ap chinese

SAT (total and sections): 1420 (math 760, reading 660)
ACT (total and sections): n/a
SAT Subject Tests (if any): math 2 (660)
AP exams (scores in parentheses): 7 total aps (see course load above ^^)
IB exams (score in parentheses): n/a

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars: speech and debate (4-year varsity, semi-finalist and finalist at several tournaments), social club that spreads awareness to youths (3 years), tutoring club that is well respected around school (president)
Job/Work Experience: counselor at an after-school program (senior year)
Volunteer/Community service: n/a
Summer Activities: nothing other than summer school

Letters of recommendation/Augmented Review: didnā€™t require

Demographics

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

Gender: female

Applied for need-based financial aid?: yes

Highest level of parent education: community college in another country
Living with both, one, or no parents?: both

Reflection

Strengths: grades and course rigor
Weaknesses: extracurriculars, activity outside of school
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: i honestly donā€™t knowā€¦ thought i was gunna be rejected ngl
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:

  • accepted: ucsd, ucsb, cal poly slo (scholars), cal poly pomona, csulb, csuf
  • wl: purdue
  • rejected: washu in st. louis
  • still waiting for: boston uni, tulane, carnegie mellon, ucla, uc berkeley, uci, nyu

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): No

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Environmental Chemistry, Warren (Both 1st choices)

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 3.93
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.11
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.41
Eligibility in Local Context?: No idea what this means

ELC eligibility (Local or State): International??
Comments about course load (including senior year): 7 APs; 43 semesters of A, 3 B, 8 HL courses
SAT (total and sections): 1510; 720E 790M
ACT (total and sections):
SAT Subject Tests (if any): Math II 800; Chem 770; Bio 760
AP exams (scores in parentheses): Env (5) Stats (5) Chem (4); Calc BC, Bio, Lang, Psych
IB exams (score in parentheses):
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): SASMO silver (9th grade), school honors in math, science, MUN, Spanish, performing arts

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles:
Extracurriculars:

  • Current TA for chem and precalc
  • School badminton athlete for 3 years
  • Student council for schoolā€™s unique program, no other leadership
  • Job/Work Experience: Internship in a chem-related lab (11 summer)
    +Blah blah
    Volunteer/Community service: Math tutor (11 summer), student teacher in a local weekend Korean school (10-11; 3 semesters)
    Summer Activities: NA

Personal insight essay topics:

  1. Academic 2. School a better place 3. Talent 4. Leadership
    1: Tied a story of my pet to how I got interested in toxicology stuff + related internship
    2: Failed attempt to start a peer tutoring system in school after tutoring one during summer
  2. Language abilities (Fluent in Korean and English; Able to speak Chinese and Spanish with supporting test scores and honors)
  3. Leading a dance group full of unenthusiastic people
    Letters of recommendation submitted: Maybe the office sent it idk

Demographics

State (if domestic applicant):
Country (if international applicant): Taiwan
High school type: International school with outstanding school profile

Gender: F
Race/ethnicity: Korean

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

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

Reflection

Since I didnā€™t apply to any EC or ED, UC essays were the first ones to write. Now that I look back, I donā€™t quite like them. The one who helped me said theyā€™re good though (NYU full ride + plane ticket). By the way, I randomly ranked the colleges so I have no idea on their qualities. Obviously not a safety school but I did kind of expect to get in since it was the lowest ranking school I applied to.

Strengths: No big deal on anything but probably GPA and SAT
Weaknesses: A whole bunch including ECs and awards
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Probably cuz UC generally values quantitative data a lotā€¦?
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
No other acceptance yet
Waitlisted: U Chicago, Georgia tech
Rejected: JHU
Waiting for: TBU just in case the admissions office recognizes me

General Comments: Best of luck for those in the waitlist and future applicants!

ADMITTED
PrePsych - Warren College

Merit scholarships awarded (if any):n/a

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: pre-psych

Academic stats:

Calculate your GPAs with https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UC Unweighted GPA: 4.4
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): 1410
ACT (total and sections):n/a
SAT Subject Tests (if any):n/a
AP exams (scores in parentheses): 5 AP exams ( 2 of them 5s and 3 of them 3s)
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: no awards, some leadership roles (church, volunteer org, club sport)
Extracurriculars: church leadership, club sport
Job/Work Experience: retail/ice cream shop
Volunteer/Community service: very involved - 4 years of HEAVY volunteering in refugee resettlement community, tutoring K-5 kids English and Math - for recently arrived refugees from camps. Involving communities to fundraise for school supplies, food, etc, for these kids. very passionate about this project. very personal as well (his mom was a refugee :))
Summer Activities: intro to Pscyh online class (from university of Queensland)

Personal insight essay topics: about the refugee project above, mainly
Letters of recommendation submitted: yes

Demographics:

State (if domestic applicant): GA
Country (if international applicant):
High school type: Public (top 5 in the state maybe?)

Gender:M
Race/ethnicity: Asian

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

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

Reflection

Strengths: most likely essay and the passion project
Weaknesses: SAT score
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: probably the PIQ/essay =unsure
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected:
Accepted: UCSB (super unexpected)
Waitlisted: UGA (hmm)
Rejected: Emory *expected
Waiting for: UCI, UCB, UCLA, Boston College, NYU, UBC (canada)

General Comments: He feels EXTREMELY fortunate to get into UCSD and UCSB so far (especially since schools in his home state did not show him love at all lol). very unexpected. Hoping for UCLA (1st choice) but no expectation. I think a project that you are truly passionate about can come across as unique and therefore stand out (just speculating here).

Decision: Admitted

Merit scholarships awarded (if any): No

Major (and division if applicable) applied to: Microbiology (1st option Revelle)

Academic stats:

UC Unweighted GPA: 4.011
UC Capped Weighted GPA: 4.238
UC Fully Weighted GPA: 4.333
Eligibility in Local Context?: i donā€™t know what this is

ELC eligibility (Local or State): yes maā€™am
Comments about course load (including senior year): Always tried to take the most APs available in my school even though some of the teachers suck. Always took honor classes
SAT (total and sections): SAT with essay 1010
ACT (total and sections): nope
SAT Subject Tests (if any):nope
AP exams (scores in parentheses): AP Lang(1), AP World History(2), AP US History(1). Taking 4 AP exams in the spring: Calc BC, Computer Sci, AP Lit, Ap Gov
IB exams (score in parentheses): nope
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): nope

Subjective:

For the following, indicate level of recognition or award (e.g. local, state, national, international) and/or leadership roles: Honor roll 5 times, Dean Honor 2 times at community college
Extracurriculars: Math Club, Youth Ministry, Iā€™ve taken community college classes since 10th grade
Job/Work Experience: nope
Volunteer/Community service: 1 year at hospital, senior citizen home, tutoring
Summer Activities: college classes

Personal insight essay topics: 1st PIQ how I took advantage on the opportunity of free college classes since Iā€™m k-12 student and how Iā€™m graduating with 2 associate degrees before I finish hs, 2nd PIQ is the challenge I faced growing up with traditional old school mindset family as a woman. 3rd PIQ how science has inspired me to want to be a surgeon.4th PIQ other qualities I have on why I should attend a UC
Letters of recommendation submitted:nope

Demographics

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

Gender: Female
Race/ethnicity: Mexican

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

Highest level of parent education: mom bachelors degree; dad some high school
Relation to alumni of college: nope

Reflection

Strengths:
Weaknesses: I didnā€™t commit to community extracurriculars long enough. SAT scores and AP exams.
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: As a student I really shine in my school. My school sucks. I stand out compared to what the usual student is in my community.
Where else were you accepted/waitlisted/rejected: I was accepted in Cal State LA, UCR,
Iā€™m waiting on decisions for UCLA and UCI which comes out on Friday .

General Comments:
PIQs really make all the difference itā€™s where the school gets to know your accomplishments and struggles. Make yourself stand out.