<p>What the hell?
This is so outrageous!!
I'm an out-of-stater and this system is practically MADE for unprivileged people.
Is it my fault my family makes more money than most Americans?
I'm missing out on 1500+ points just because my parents get a good salary, and I don't go to a "ghetto" high school?</p>
<p>Argh.</p>
<p>I think UCSD is my top choice for college and this system is totally discouraging...
I'm a New Yorker.
I go to one of the most competitive high schools in NYC, and last year, there were two applicants: 89.3/1410(accepted), 84.0/1460(rejected).
Under this point system, I get 7250.
I just did it really quickly and maybe I'll be able to make it 7500 but...</p>
<p>I thought I could try to be unique somehow by mentioning a one-month program in Japan along with other things "international." Btw, I'm planning to apply to the International Studies Program..<br>
However, with this system, they might not even look at my application!</p>
<p>Btw, does anyone know how to convert numerical averages (on a scale of 0->100) to the 4.0 GPA system? I'm in the low 90's (90-92?) and I figured that may be 3.5...</p>
<p>Okay this was a total rant. Please ignore me. :)</p>
<p>what exactly is this eaop, is it that one thing in 8th-7th grade where we would do math on saturdays or something? or does it continue into high school?</p>
<p>and to Eddiee, yes it does suck. i was at first rejected to UCSD because i didn't have enough community service hours. i was 127 points away from the cut off of 7460. but i'm here now with my appeal :)</p>
<p>Heard of anyone got rejected from UCSD having an "academic index" number above the cutoff score? Is this pretty scientific that if your "acdemic index" is above the cutoff score you are in? Also, is the cutoff score published somewhere?</p>
<p>I think the academic index is how they determine whether students are admitted or not; that is the final step in determining admittance.</p>
<p>That brings up something. There's a thread floating around whether a student should attend a school that got in with appeal because he would be competing against a lot of tougher students than if he had chosen to go to a school he was accepted into.</p>
<p>I have a question. Under 'Personal Characteristics and Achievement Factors', it says:
150 pts for two or minor roles, (President or VP of club, captain or co-captain of team, secretary, treasurer of class or school)</p>
<p>Does it mean 150 points for 2 or more? Also, are the roles only limited to those in parathesis?</p>
<p>DO we get the 300 pts for being below the federal trio-cutoff
aka really low income ONLY if we apply to EOP on the ucapp (education opportunity prgram) that gives urm/minoiryt/low income students a better chance</p>
<p>OR DO i get the 300 for being low income REGARDLESS if I apply to EOP or write how I faced hardship b/c of low income </p>
<p>basically can i get the full 300pts for low income if I just list my family income and not write any essays or select yes for (eop)</p>
<p>what are the qualifications fro points given for your "educational environment" ?? do they do it by the number of kids graduating, or # of kids going to college etc...</p>
<p>wouldn't we have to adjust the formula becuase that's based on the sat that's out of 1600 - thus using that formula would always give higher score...</p>
<p>The whole formula idea for college acceptance is totally nauseating. It makes no logical sense whatsoever. I never heard of such idiocy in my life. It's completely irrational to put points on things. Who decides how "life-altering" an event is, for example? And some outside extra curriculars are far more valuable than team captain (which can be bogus at some schools, where every senior is automatically a co-captain). At our town's high school, the school government (class president, etc) do NOTHING and all the activities, fundraisers, etc, are run by another group!</p>
<p>Thank God for schools that DON'T do that and actually LOOK AT THE CANDIDATE. My son goes to a top ten LAC where, when we go up for parents' committee meetings, etc., the President KNOWS HIM BY NAME and even comments on his essay (which was apparently passed around).</p>
<p>I think that the factors like "leadership" and "life altering events" are determined by the app. readers from the essays. I don't think that a state U which gets tens of thousands of applications (41,000 for UCSD) can realistically be expected to have a system which isn't at least somewhat mechanical in its operation of weeding out candidates. Every system will make some mistakes. In the long run - it doesn't matter. There's always another school which will admit you. Some kids like the idea of a huge school (my kids won't even look at a LAC). I'm perfectly OK with the U Pres. not knowing my son by name (I'd actually be a little concerned if he did!) Like you say, nedad - to each his own.</p>