<p>Hi guys. I just wanted to get your opinion of what my chances are for getting into UCSD. It's pretty much the only school I would love to get into. If I don't, then I'm going to CSU San Marcos since I'm already accepted there. But I still don't know if I should go to San Marcos or just go CC and transfer. Anyways, my current GPA as it stands is a 3.8 weighted and it's still the same unweighted. Freshman year was my best year, getting a 4.0. Sophomore year was ok but junior year was my worst year, resulting in a C and a D. This year, as a senior, I'm taking 5 AP classes with one normal English class. Last semester, my GPA was still a 3.8.
My SAT scores are average. First time I took it I got a 1850 and the second time I took it I got an 1880. Not much of an improvement but yeah. My extracurriculars do not include any sports but I am part of the academic team, speech and debate club, and a new club on campus called club class in which we do some community service. I also volunteer at the library once in a while for a couple hours. This year, i also decided to got a part time job. My biggest hours however, go to my church, which I spend all my time at. For the church, I have over 200+ hours since I have been with them since before my freshman year and still going. My personal statement was graded by my English teacher and I managed to get a B for it. My teacher used to read personal statements for colleges so I trust her judgement. In the part of the UC app where it lets you explain anything else I would like to share, I told them about why I received a D during my junior year and what I am doing to fix it. I am currently retaking that class in order to get a better grade. I applied as an engineering major and yes, I am aware of how impacted that major is at UCSD.
That's pretty much how my UCSD application was written. I have no idea if I am able to go to UCSD with my grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. I was wondering if you guys could tell me if my chances are pretty good or not. If I don't get in, my fallback is CSU San Marcos. But like I said, I don't know if I should go there or just got to CC and transfer to UCSD. What are my chances and what would be my best option if I don't get in? Thanks.</p>
<p>UCSD engineering: Reach</p>
<p>what exactly does that mean? Is it a reach school for me, meaning I might get in? Or there’s a pretty good chance I will get in? Or I’m not gonna get in?</p>
<p>Reach means it is difficult, but not impossible, to get in.</p>
<p>Oh ok. So are my chances of getting into UCSD pretty good or ok or what? And if not, what do you guys think my best option would be?</p>
<p>Reach means that it’s unlikely you will get in to UCSD, although nothing is impossible, perhaps you will have a massive stroke of luck and get in. Although it doesn’t look very likely, I’m afraid.</p>
<p>My friend applied to UCSD as well. Her GPA is a 4.1. Her SAT score was 1630 and ACT was 23. Her extra curriculars were soccer, treasurer of a minor club, and peer counseling. She also did a lot of community service(200+ hours) such as tutoring and volunteering. She past part of NHS as well and I’m in NHS too. She got a phone call saying that she was accepted. How is it possible that I have an unlikely chance of getting in when my grades, coursework, SAT scores, and extracurriculars are slightly a little better than hers and she got in? I mean, I don’t mean to sound egoistic, because you guys are right. My grades are terrible. But she was able to get in. And it seemed like she had less of a chance than I did. Can someone please explain that to me? How do UC’s decide on these things? Again, she’s an amazing student and I’m glad she made it. And I hope I do too. I’m not trying to sound like I know everything, But I’m confused as to how she got in with all her stuff and while it’s unlikely for me to get in with my stuff.</p>
<p>I’ve talked to the UCSD admission last summer, and it’s pretty much the fact that they look for people who chalolenege themselves in their classes while having well-roundedness</p>
<p>You are going for an engineering major.</p>
<p>In addition to what others have said anecdotal evidence is practically useless and you can’t compare yourself to your friend. Additionally, you may not see what the admissions office sees in terms of the person. Keep in mind that even at Ivy Leagues there will be people who get in with scores/GPAs under the 25th percentile: its just statistics. To me, it seems your friend had a decent GPA, and well rounded extracurriculars. Perhaps she had some extenuating situation that you are not aware of but that she made aware to the adcoms. Perhaps she had stellar essays. Speculating on this is ultimately useless. And if she had posted her stats on here, we would still have chanced her as a reach: guess it turns out it was reachable with a stroke of luck. As for you: we say its unlikely because it is. The GPAs/SATs/ACTs statistics are all freely available for you to peruse on the internet: you will see you don’t quite stack up to their averages. You could peruse the UCSD decision forums to see other’s ECs who have gotten accepted and seen once again how it is unlikely you will get accepted. I’m not trying to bash on you, but its the truth. And unlikely does not mean impossible: it just means its not likely to happen.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say it’s impossible to get in but honestly you applied for engineering and engineering is super difficult to get into for many schools. Your ECs are good but probably not prominent enough. SAT scores are always the weird factor so I won’t comment on that. If you do get in, congrats to you but I wouldn’t say it’s set in stone.</p>