Unique application for CAL and UCLA. Chance me please and read my story!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, my name is Sebastian CAL and UCLA are my only schools I am left to here back from, so I figured I could get some insight into that decision that I am so eagerly waiting on.</p>

<p>What you need to know: </p>

<p>I am 100% Hispanic, my mom is Mexican and my father in Argentinian, live near Sacramento, and my application isn't a typical one. I'll be the first to admit that I have made plenty of mistakes during high school, we all have, but I hoping that the way I reacted to and overcame situations help them to see me as someone who can greatly influence their campus in a positive light. </p>

<p>My grades aren't great, mostly because my freshman and sophomore year when I went to a private high school in the area and had my life in whirling pit of disaster at that institution. My GPA those two years came out to like a 3.2 or around there, but since UC's only factor in sophomore year and junior year my sophomore year was like a 3.25. I'm a bright student, I really am, but at my time at Jesuit, I hated my life and school and just about everything. I constantly being harassed and bullied at my time there in spiraled into depression, which was confirmed by a psychiatrist and was always contemplating taking my own life. Also my entire life I have had to deal with a mild form of Tourrettes syndrome, which doesn't effect my school work, but definitely my school and social life, which at Jesuit was basically obsolete. I wasn't really involved in any clubs, but I did participate in track and football both years, as I love both sports.</p>

<p>At the end of sophomore I came to the decision to really turn my life around after I almost lost my friend to suicide. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't be here today and while I take pride in helping him, the effect that experience had on me was just as great because it helped me realize that I couldn't keep living like this. So junior year I switched schools to a local public school that I knew some people and had good sport programs. Immediately I made the conscience decision to be the best person I can be influence this campus in the most beneficial way possible as well as helping myself, but I have great dreams an ambitions just as the rest of us. During my junior year at Bella Vista, I did a complete 180 in terms of my life. I was did over 100 hours of community service at a local library and food bank, my junior year I took two AP classes and ended with a GPA of 4.1 weighted, that turned my UC GPA to around a 3.6. I balanced a job at KFC then later Hollister, I became president and chief editor of my school's literary journal (I love to write), I ran track and went to sections, I was in my school's play and musical, and I started the cultural architects club. The club is about shaping and architecting a new culture on my campus. We utilized social media and started trends like #speaklife to help create a more positive and loving campus. The club has over 100 active members and I believe that the school is now a better and more loving place, because I know what it was like to never had life spoken to me, so I want people that were in a similar situation to me sophomore year to have help and hopefully turn there life around.</p>

<p>Senior year I was elected to be my senior class representative for student government and continued my involvement in my school activities from the year before. I also contacted a website affiliated with Sports Illustrated called justblogbaby.com that does writing about the Oakland Raiders and asked if I could have piece featured on their website, they liked my writing so much that they invited me to be a full time staff writer. I write articles a few times a week for them and while I don't get paid for it, they get a lot of visitors, so my exposure is already helping me build a niche for myself in the Sports journalist world. </p>

<p>I took the ACT and SAT but my ACT was better so I chose to send that in instead. I didn't get an amazing score, but I got a pretty good 28. </p>

<p>So basically in a nut-shell that is my story, about a boy who overcame a difficult situation to make the best of it. I know my grades are not up to their standard because of my first two years, but i'm hoping that my involvement in all the extra-curriculars, become a leader on my new campus and overcoming a hard situation inspires them. Also I would think that writing for a fairly well-known sports website would impress them. I believe I would be a great addition to a campus, hopefully they do to. I think I covered anything, so thank you for reading. Please comment and if you need anymore information, just ask.</p>

<p>Thank you!</p>

2

<p>You have to look at it from the Schools POV. Why do you deserve to goto CAL over UCD? Or to UCD over UCR. Or UCR over CSULB? Are you following me? Just because UCLA rejects you doesn’t mean your chance of getting going to college is over. For this reason it wouldn’t surprise me if they rejected you.</p>

3

<p>No, i don’t follow actually…</p>

4

<p>What I’m saying is that their is nothing in that writing that makes it seem like Cal should accept you over UCSB. Or UCSB should accept you over UCR. It’s not like getting rejected from Cal would end your life, you’ll just goto the next best school. At the worst case these schools know that if you want to get into badly, you can always goto CC and then transfer after 2 yrs. For these reason I don’t think you have a high chance of getting into UCLA or CAL</p>

5

<p>I never said it would, in fact I said that I probably wouldn’t get in. I still don’t see the logic, but it’s okay. Anyone else want to chime in?</p>

6

<p>bump, would like some opinions.</p>

7

<p>Possibly. Chance me?</p>

8

<p>Did you write about this in your UC applications? </p>

<p>Sent from my iPhone using [URL=&lt;a href=“Tapatalk”&gt;Tapatalk]Tapatalk[/URL</a>]</p>

9

<p>UC schools put an INSANE weight on academics alone. This is why they hold such a high Asian population. </p>

<p>Personally, I hate the UC system for this reason. Try applying to some private colleges. They usually put a huge weight on diversity compared to big state schools or the UC system.</p>

10

<p>Yes, my UC essays were, in my opinion, amazing. Well I can’t afford private schools, sooo.</p>

11

<p>i don’t think you’re getting in homie</p>

12

<p>you can make excuses all you want…your situation doesn’t help your numbers
if you had earned a boss 4.0+ GPA & had scored hella high on the ACT & SAT while still going through the stuff you went to…you would’ve had a greater chance</p>

13

<p>Look, I don’t know california schools but i think you have a clear heart and a strong drive and a great sense of your calling…along with strong ambition…I believe that the right admissions officer would see past simple stats…and pull you up.</p>

14

<p>In most cases for low-income students, private schools are CHEAPER than public schools. Sure they are 50k+ but the huge amount of grant aid they provide in their PRIVATE financial aid offices are immensely generous.</p>

<p>It’s probably too late to apply though. Try looking at privates whose deadlines are around Jan. 15. GO GO GO</p>

15

<p>I’m not low income. My parents just can’t give me money. And hopefully they see past it.</p>

16

<p>here’s the deal;
unfortunately, from the UC point of view, this hardship wouldn’t impact their decision because it isnt something that should ultimately put a halt to your academics and success like a medical condition would. again, i don’t want you to feel bad that you may not get in but its better to get prepared for the possibility. i feel like it may be a no from both universities.
i went through something very similar , especially the suicide, etc. i let my straight a’s for all my years go to straight b’s in my junior year. and then picked myself back up immediately. i’m still nervous about my decisions. but don’t ever give up! :slight_smile: Its never about where you go to college, its about where you end up. And you can ALWAYS transfer.</p>

17

<p>No, yeah I know I’m probably not going to get in, I busted wanted to hear other peoples opinion :)</p>

18

<p>And what type of medical condition? I mean I have a mild form of tourrettes syndrome but I don’t think that’s what your talking about.</p>

19

<p>So you’re not low income and I’m assuming both of your parents went to college…?</p>

<p>In which case, I have no pity for you. All we can say is good luck.</p>

20

<p>It doesn’t look like you have a good chance of getting in, but colleges supposedly like seeing people who get their acts together and raise their GPAs later in the game. So that might help. It really depends on who is reading your essays and whatnot. Good luck!</p>