CBSE student living in the UAE
Academics
9th grade - 9.4 CGPA (90%)
10th Grade - 10 CGPA (95%)
11th Grade - 85.4%( Economics 93, English 86, Chemistry 84, Physics 82, Math 82) [really low, I know ]
12th grade - 90% (Mid year/Predicted)
ACT - 32 (E-33, M-36, R-31, S-29)
SAT Subject tests- Math- 780 Physics- 740
IELTS - 8.5 (On 9) (Recommended for intl. students)
Intended major- Mechanical Engineering
Desired Unis- UCLA
Extracurriculars-
Trinity guitar exams Grades 1 through 6 with merit and distinction
Member of school band
Active member of international organization called Best Buddies. It is a club where me meet up and interact with challeneged individuals (9th-12th)
Best Buddies prefect - 11th
Best Buddies Vice President - 12th
Chief Editor on a blogging website (12th)
MUN (9-12) (Participated in many conferences, won Best Delegate)
Rec Letters-
Math Teacher - I personally thought it was great
Work Experience-
Internship at a local firm in India during summers of 10th and 11th
Internship at GM company summer of 12th
Extra info-
Completed 3 courses on edX.org
Appreciate all the help
no chance, junior and senior year gpa were way too low
3 people in my school got in with similar stats. And btw, most college counsellors are aware that CBSE is one of the hardest curriculums
Reach (both GPA and ACT are low).
OP’s 32 ACT is not low for UCLA. According to the latest (2014) Admitted Student Profile, the 25/75 percentiles were:
Applicants: 24-31
Admits: 28-34
Enrolled: 26-32
GPA is on the low side, and getting into an impacted major, as an international student, will be very difficult.
That ACT although good, should be higher if you want into the impacted major. Every year the stats of admitted students are very different because the student profiles each year get tougher. You can’t base things according to previous admits.
UCLA
applicants/admits/enrolled
2014
24-31/28-34/26-32
2013
27/30/28
2012
27/30/28
2011
27/30/28
2010
27/30/28
Averages for GPA/test score are good guidelines but depending upon major, does not give the whole picture. STEM majors will always need above average GPA/test scores to be competitive, so quoting the averages in this case is only slightly helpful. OP you want your stats in the top 25% of in-coming Freshman for the best possible chances.
Top 25% or 75th percentile for the ACT is 33 composite, 33 English and 34 Math.
Good Luck.
^ Top 25% for ACT (2014 admits) is 34 composite, 34 English and 34 Math.
At any competitive school, a student needs to be in the top half of admits to have a fair chance and in the top 25% to have a better chance, especially if applying to an impacted STEM major.