University of California Chances

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

Hey all,

After collecting what I believe are my final SAT scores, I would like to see how competitive I am as a prospective Engineering student at the Universities of California (especially UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and UCLA).

I’m an international senior in Zurich, Switzerland, but I’ve studied under the American High School system, so I have the same grading format as most American high schoolers.

Scores:
SAT Reasoning: 800 Reading, 720 Math, 690 Grammar (2210 overall)
SAT Subject tests: 740 Physics, 730 Math Level 2, 730 Chem, 740 US History
AP Scores: Calc AB (5), Physics 2 (4), Chemistry (4), US History (5), English Lang (5), World History (5)
GPA: unweighted 3.89 (I’ve taken 6 AP courses, and I’m currently taking 6 right now)

Extracurriculars:
Varsity Basketball (MVP in 10th grade)
MUN (Best Delegate in Paris last year)
Captain of Swiss Youth Physicists Team
Vice President of Student Council
Head of TEDxYouthZurich Film and Tech crew
NHS
History Club (my team placed 2nd in all of Europe)
Leader of South Pole Carbon (carbon-offset group at my school)

Work experience:
Self-employed IT consultant
Tutor
Week-long internship at CERN (where the Large Hadron Collider is operated)
Month-long internship at IT consultancy firm (Capgemini)

I’ve only gotten A’s and A-'s in my schooling, but clearly my scores aren’t exactly stellar. I would really appreciate any advice and opinions on my chances at the UCs. University recommendations are also welcome - it’s hard to find good information about American colleges in Switzerland :\

Many thanks!

2

I would really appreciate any feedback :slight_smile:

3

UCB/UCLA - High match
UCD - match

4

Week long internship isn’t really anything significant to put on an app… But it would make a riveting essay topic.

5

Can you afford the UCs? That is always my first question because the cost is very expensive to non residents of California. $55K per year. They do not provide Financial aid to non-residents.
SAT is good for Davis, but not competitive for Berkeley or LA.Sorry (:expressionless:

6

OP has a 2210 SAT. According to the latest (2014) Admitted Student Profile (25/75 percentiles):

Applicants: 1,640-2,060
Admits: 1,940-2,240
Enrolled: 1,790-2,150

7

Are you looking at CS in the College of L&S at Berkeley or EECS in Engineering? It makes a big difference. EECS is notoriously difficult to get into.

8

OP is an international candidate whose scores have to be better than the recruited athletes and local high school admits.

9

To clarify my post above, those are the numbers for UCLA.

(#7, yes, it’s good that OP’s scores are better.)

10

If OP’s major is not engineering, his/her test scores should be fine for UCLA. (and maybe UCB depending on what his/her major is.)

11

My major is mechanical engineering, to clarify. Thanks for the feedback everyone :slight_smile:

12

In August 2015, I walked into the UC Berkeley Mechanical Engineering office and asked what the admitted freshman SAT scores were. The answer was 50% of all freshman had a 1550 or higher for their combined Math and Verbal SAT scores. OP is in the upper 50% for straight SAT scores. My score was only 1450, so the person I asked gave me a look like, you are out of your league. Then, to give me hope, she suggested that I take the SAT subject tests. When I reported an 800 in Chem, and a 790 in Math Level 2, she indicated that I had a chance. I’ll know on 3/26/16.