Hi I’m a junior in High school now, it’s second semester I ended the first semester with a 3.5 weighted gpa and right now I have a 3.9 weighted gpa with 2 Aps I’m involved in 6 clubs I founded the Programming club and am president and as well as the president of Filipino club also Ive done 4 years of track (2 varsity letters) I’ve been in 6 clubs for four years and I’ve been in the California Scholrship Federation for 2 years and I’m taking the SAT in May and next October and also I’ve had over 150+ hours of community service i will be rewarded for my Invlivment int he community by my school and finally my essay which I have started and hope to edit through summer, I’m applying as an in-state.
besides my transcript
, I was born and raised in the city of Stockton California ranked one of the most miserable cities in the world, stockton has had an increase in crime everywhere 2012 was the worse,I’ve had 3 friends killed from shootings and whenever I go to School which is a public school all I ever see is kids with no ambitions and only influences to drugs and violence only a minority of kids at my high school care for their future and that’s just me speaking the truth not many kids at my school care about life after high school so they try to ruin it for other kids by causing gang related violence and drugs, and fights with other teachers and students at school I just hope I can incorporate that in my essay so that the admission office could feel what I see and feel everyday and what I have to go through just to pull it together and try to make something out of my life I have a strong influence in Computer science and Ive made two apps and also have been seen on tv for creating the programming club I want them to see that CS is my passion
Sounds like you are on track. Keep up the grades and score around 2000 on the SAT and you will be a very competitive applicant.
I’m not really a great test taker what if I were to score around 1650 ?
For a decent chance at UCSB, you need at least 1900+ on the SAT. 1650 is pretty low and UCSB has a tendency to favor high SAT/ACT.
Do you really think that they would weigh that over everything else that I have done and have to go through ? It’s hard enough just keeping these grades and balancing it with sports and clubs and coming home to a family that wasn’t their to guide me in the right path
On your application for UCSB, GPA/Test scores and a-g courses count for 50% and the other 50% is essays and EC’s. Yes, your accomplishments will definitely help but to make UCSB a Match school, you need to be competitive in all areas. Average SAT is a little over 1900 and that is the reality and for CS you need to be above the average.
I would try the ACT. My older son was a bad test taker and he did better on the ACT.
I heard Computer Science wasn’t a popular major there, so wouldn’t that increase my acceptance in their department ?
CS is a popular major at all the UC’s. CS is in the School of Engineering, which is the most competitive school at UCSB. Check out the Class of 2018 UCSB decisions to see how you stack up.
This will give you an idea of the competition.
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-santa-barbara/1623635-ucsb-class-of-2018-official-decisions-thread-p1.html
03-17-2014 at 2:04 pm
Decisions are up. D is admitted. In-state. Computer Science. 4.0 UW, 4.31 W Capped, 4.89 W Uncapped, 2200 SAT, 34 ACT.
I’m a student at UCSB. Dude, Computer Science is very hard to get into. It’s genuinely not that hard to do well on either the ACT/SAT. If you legit are unable to study and do well on either one of those, you should reconsider being a Comp Sci major at any competitive UC (sorry but true). Study hard over the summer, maybe hire a private tutor, or find a group of friends to study together/etc. Then do well in the Oct/November SAT of your senior year, or do well on the ACT senior year or something.
You’ve already overcome alot and that will count toward your admission at UCSB and elsewhere.
Prepare for and do your best on the SAT/ACT and see where that puts you.
Apply to several schools - at least 2 you KNOW you’ll get into. You will probably be ELC (eligible in local context) due to your performance in high school - which will get guaranteed admission to Merced. Maybe not much of a scenery change but, UC Merced has a very credible CS program and is worth a look
Keep an open mind about where you apply. There are LOTS of very good CS programs in CA. SDSU, CalPoly Pomona, SJSU, CSULB and Chico are all solid options if you don’t make it into your first choice. Also, private schools like USD and Santa Clara are looking for motivated, talented applicants from difficult situations. For the right student, they will often cover all the cost of attendance.
Great work so far! Keep it up and you’ve got a promising future.
Good luck.