Western Schools for the 3.0-3.3 kid

<p>hi, i wanted to know since i am applying to a lot of western schools(im from ca),
is taking the act over in november to late for applications</p>

<p>No (10 char)</p>

<p>Just checked Sonoma State. The list of impacted majors is much smaller for Fall 2013. </p>

<p>[Impacted</a> Majors for First Time Freshmen Fall 2013 : Sonoma State University](<a href=“http://www.sonoma.edu/admissions/ftf/freshmenhighdemandf13.html]Impacted”>http://www.sonoma.edu/admissions/ftf/freshmenhighdemandf13.html)</p>

<p>^Weird…during the tour it was said that Criminal Justice was being added to the list of those already impacted.</p>

<p>After talking with another HS Mom it dawned on me how many don’t realize that, in California, it’s all about the Eligibility Index. She was shocked that her 3.6 grad did not get into any CA schools; he’s going OOS. (She didn’t mention test scores, so I assume they weren’t stellar, probably average though.) She focused on UC’s for DH, but, after the wake up call, is focused on CSU’s for DD, a junior. </p>

<p>I truly felt bad for this Mom. The OOS fees are huge and it could have been avoided. It made me realize how if you aren’t proactive and investigating this on your own you’re likely to get burned. Definitely, our HS could do a better job getting the word out; it’s all self-service and the info is not current. Naviance is available, but since it doesn’t utilize the EI it’s misleading.</p>

<p>otc2010 - I am not sure I follow. We are in CT, but plan to have DS apply to some UC schools as well as Cal Poly SLO. Does this index effect us?</p>

<p>This index is on the UC site and if a CA kid falls into the top 9% (it calculates this for you) you are guaranteed (well, that’s what they say) a spot at ONE of the UC schools. It may not be your top choice. That does not mean you will not get into a UC if you are not in the top 9%. If you fall into that group, you will get an email telling you. (If your school participates) UC schools do rely heavily on the numbers for admittance but majors and other factors do play a role. OSS is harder to predict. The state loves OOS extra fees but instate kids are complaining that they are being shut out by OOS. Apply. You don’t know until you apply. As usual, it’s a crap shoot.</p>

<p>Got it…thanks. I am a UCSB alum and DW is from UCLA. Of course our DS will apply!</p>

<p>you are guaranteed (well, that’s what they say) a spot at ONE of the UC schools</p>

<p>In regards to the above…
Two years ago, UCR and UCM changed the policy and now require that you apply in order to get in there. Prior, you would get offered admission there, if you didn’t get into your choices, even if you didn’t “check the box/pay the fee.” For a 3.0-3.3 kid, I think these two schools are the only options - average admit there from our HS was 3.6 and 3.5 respectively. UCSC has climbed to 3.85.</p>

<p>bltkmt,
Just wanted to make sure you are aware that Cal Poly, UCSB and UCLA admit GPAs are in the 4.0 range these days for in-state students. As an example, DD’s HS for UCSB last year was 4.09 and 1382/30 on average.</p>

<p>Thanks! I didn’t know that!</p>

<p>At UCLA, the admit rate is less than 5 percent if you have less than a 4.0.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_fr/Frosh_Prof12.htm[/url]”>http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/adm_fr/Frosh_Prof12.htm&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>“This index is on the UC site and if a CA kid falls into the top 9% (it calculates this for you) you are guaranteed (well, that’s what they say) a spot at ONE of the UC schools.”</p>

<p>Just to be clear, I believe you have to be a CA kid to be guaranteed.</p>

<p>NO. This does not apply to OOS. Just like other states, CA has a priority program for CA kids. CA parents pay taxes to support these schools and get some benefit. But even after these kids get in, there is lots of room for OOS. They are judged by their application (and who knows what else!) but they are not guaranteed acceptance like CA kids. My son is in the top 9% so I will be interested to see if this is actually true. With all the budget headaches and cut backs, who knows. But you have to realize that probably half of the kids that qualify for this program can’t afford to go. Financial aid funds are limited.</p>

<p>Just messing around with the UC calculator…
If you had a 3.3 UC gpa, you’d need a 28-29 ACT and around 630-640’s on SAT sections. According to the UCR Common Data Set, this puts you in the bottom quartile gpa-wise and the top quartile test score-wise.</p>

<p>I don’t imagine that DD will test this well. I’m just hoping that she scores high enough not to have to do remedial math; she is currently enrolled in Alg II. DH and I got honest with ourselves over the summer and realized she would not do as well at a UC. She’s not a theoretical person, would get lost in large lecture type classes and being in the bottom quartile would probably mean struggling more than most.</p>

<p>Thank you for all the helpful UC and CSU info otc2010! And I am grateful to all those who contributed to this wonderful thread. We live in San Diego, and my 3.3 son is just beginning to apply for schools. It has been frustrating to find the UC’s so competitive and expensive, and many of the CSU’s impacted. Thanks to this list, and the WUE, it is nice to see there are some attractive OOS that might be manageable.</p>

<p>Does anyone know how to send 2 test ACT test scores to the CSU’s for superscoring? Do you know if you have to pay twice? I am looking forward to more additions to this thread as application season progresses!</p>

<p>Have you tried CSU Mentor? I was not aware California publics allowed superscoring, but maybe that is just UC’s. I just looked briefly, but I don’t see anything about superscoring. </p>

<p><a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;

<p>This page from Ms. Sun says yes to superscoring. Maybe she knows how. </p>

<p><a href=“Error”>Error;

<p>It is only CSU’s that superscore. UC’s do NOT. (Superscoring is only for admissions. You may still want to submit multiple test scores as many campuses, CSU and UC, use section scores for course placement.)</p>

<p>The CSU uses something called the ACT Scores Manager. For each test sitting, you list one, (it doesn’t matter which one) CSU campus code during test registration. Then, on CSU Mentor, at the time of the application, click the box that says share your test scores with all campuses. If you did not list at least one CSU campus code at the time you registered for the ACT test, you will have to pay the fee as the fee is on the ACT side, not the CSU side. Still you should only be hit up for one fee per test sitting versus the old method of per test sitting and per campus.</p>

<p>Once you complete your application, you will want to verify that the Score Manager received the test scores from each sitting.</p>

<ul>
<li>Note: If you are plan to take the SAT use code 3594 and CSUMentor will get your score.</li>
</ul>

<p>CSU superscoring…page 4 - Multiple Test Scores
Multiple Test Scores
If an applicant submits multiple score
reports, the highest score earned in each
single sub score of the examination is
used. A redefined SAT-Total will be calculated
by adding the highest critical reading
and highest math scores. A redefined
ACT composite will be calculated as an
average of the best scores in each of the
four areas.
<a href=“http://www.calstate.edu/sas/publications/documents/admissionhandbook.pdf[/url]”>http://www.calstate.edu/sas/publications/documents/admissionhandbook.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>@shrinkrap-thanks for the helpful link, Ms.Sun seems to offer a lot of insight into both UC and CSU’s.
@otc2010- Very helpful as well! I went to the ACT site and submitted both test date scores . His composite only went up one point when super scored, from 26 to 27, but I think paying for the extra submission is probably worth it, since any edge might help, especially since it will be shared with other CSU’s he may apply to.
I am concerned about how the budget cuts will impact our fall admissions.</p>

<p>@lemonheads - I’m hoping that my DD, a junior, will be able to score a 26 or 27. My DD has the same GPA, 3.3, as you son. IMO, any bump in Eligibility Index is worth the bucks it took to submit it with these stats. And, if you consider the fact that those ACT scores get him out of having to take the placement tests, for CSU’s, then you won’t be spending money on remedial classes. </p>

<p>On the CSU vs. UC cost front, we’ve come to the decision that the additional cost would not be worth it because my DD would not do as well there academically. My DD does much better in classes where she connects with the teacher, so the few large, lecture classes the better. I printed out the course list for her tentative major, business with sociology minor, and learned that at Sonoma there are fewer of the large lecture classes vs UCR.</p>

<p>As far as budget cuts go, I just hope the Prop passes, so we don’t have to worry about further cuts. I’ve been reading that it’s about a 50/50 chance. IMO, it would be a good idea to apply to one or two OOS or privates (for those that have the dough or can qualify for aid). I also think it’s worth it to apply to CSUSM if you’re in that service area, which we are. My DD is not too excited to do that as her HS classmates talk down about it and it’s less than 15 miles away. But, I have seen many with the “dream school” mentality in desperation mode because their kid refused to apply to anything local. Our guidance counselor shared that many students from our HS end up at U of Az because of this - U of Az admissions deadline is open until May 1 for this reason. At a cost of $35,000 OOS, many do just one or two years and then transfer back to a public CA. NAU is the only one we’re looking into so far that’s OOS.</p>

<p>What major is your DS applying to? Applying to at least one school where that major isn’t impacted is a great plan, too. That is how my son ended up at CSULB. We checked the box due to that fact and hadn’t visited. He was waitlisted at UCI, so we visited both after acceptances were received. He decided not to pursue the UCI because he loved the LB campus. He’s never regretted his choice. Getting involved in club lacrosse and meeting surfer-types has made all the difference. His hometown is coastal SD, so applying to schools along the coast was a good strategy. </p>

<p>My DD is into field hockey, running and equestrian, so if anyone knows or hears anything in that regard please post.</p>

<p>Otc2010- my D just started Davis this fall. The equestrian center is really nice. It is a great place to make some friends and find a community at a large school.
I have noticed the last few years that even though the Ca public school admissions are numbers driven it is not easy to predict admissions at anything but the lowest ranked CSU’s. If you can afford the application fees I would suggest applying to a couple of extra Ca public schools. Your child’s interest may change between November and May 1.</p>