My SAT score is 1050 with writing, my cumulative gpa is a 4.12, I participate in various clubs- such as ASB, FFA, etc- on campus, and I have a superb amount of community service hours. I’m an AP and honors student with a perfect attendance from my whole entire high school career. What has been discouraging me from applying to schools is my SAT score mainly due to the several dream schools that I had in mind.
What us you weighted capped GPA as calculated by https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/ ?
You could retry the SAT and try the ACT for a better score.
Cal states admit by CSU/UC Capped weighted GPA and test scores. They calculate your eligibility index and then rank you based on your EI and major.
Until you calculate your UC/CSU capped weighted GPA as posted by @ucbalumnus , there is no way to chance you. Also need intended major and if you have any specific schools in mind. What is your HS course rigor such as AP/IB/DE courses?
Definitely consider retaking the SAT and some CSU’s only take up to the November sitting (SDSU and Cal Poly SLO) so hopefully you are signed up for the November test.
Also get rid of the notion of a “dream” school. Your dream school will be the school that accepts you, is affordable and you are willing to attend.
Some UC SAT ranges for 2018 Freshman and based on SAT alone, UC Merced would be your target UC.
2018 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:
UCB: 1360-1540
UCLA: 1340-1540
UCSD: 1300-1520
UCSB: 1270-1500
UCD: 1220-1480
UCI: 1230-1490
UCSC: 1210-1450
UCR: 1130-1380
UCM: 1020-1280
What is your local CSU based on this link? https://www2.calstate.edu/apply/freshman/documents/csulocaladmission-serviceareas.pdf
Your local CSU will give you preference as an applicant.
I took the ACT just yesterday to get a better score. My gpa based on the CSU/UC Capped weighted GPA is 3.87 (unweighted), 3.94 (weighted), and of course 3.94 (unweighted and weighted).
So for the Cal States with exception of Cal Poly SLO your EI would be (3.94 x800)+(1050)= 4202.
An EI of 4202 can get you into the most of the Cal States depending upon major. Exceptions would be Cal Poly SLO, Cal Poly Pomona (impacted majors), San Diego State, San Jose State (some majors such as Engineering/CS) and CSULB (unless local).
For the UC’s, depending upon how you do on the ACT, Target schools would be UC Merced, Riverside and possible Santa Cruz since your capped weighted UC GPA is near or above the averages for these schools.
Although UC’s are very GPA focused, test scores, HS course rigor and essays are also Very Important in their application review. Based on your posted UW GPA vs Weighted GPA, your HS rigor seems lacking but that may be due to your school’s policy on taking AP/IB or DE courses.
You have not listed an intended major nor your HS course rigor?
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 (capped weighted) and not major specific:
UCB: 12.6%
UCLA: 11.7%
UCSD: 38.7%
UCSB: 53.6%
UCD: 56.5%
UCI: 52.1%
UCSC: 75.7%
UCR: 90.1%
UCM: 96.1%
2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13
UCD: 4.11
UCSC: 3.96
UCR: 3.81
UCM: 3.71
Target ranges for ACT::
25th - 75th percentiles for ACT:
UCB: 30-35
UCLA: 31-35
UCSD: 28-34
UCSB: 28-34
UCD: 26-33
UCI: 26-33
UCSC: 26-32
UCR: 22-30
UCM: 19-26
Best of luck and make sure you apply to wide range of schools.
How would the eligibility index work for the ACT? I intend to major in either public health, psychology, nursing, or biology. I have 3 APs and 1 honor course out of my whole entire high school career.
The EI is also calculated on the ACT (CSU capped weighted GPA x200)+ (ACT composite x10). Some campuses will convert your ACT score into an SAT equivalent and calculate. Also CSU’s do superscore so they will take the highest sections for each test if you took it multiple times.
Here is a link for impacted campuses and majors so you should at least apply to 1-2 non-impacted campuses and majors so you have a few safety schools. Also Nursing is highly competitive so an EI of 4500+ will make you competitive and all Nursing programs are impacted at the CSU’s.
https://www.calstate.edu/sas/documents/impactedprogramsmatrix.pdf
Only 2 UC’s have Nursing programs which are direct admit: UCLA/UCI and their acceptance rate is around 2-3%.
Biology is an impacted major at many of the UC campuses along with the Cal states. Psychology can be very competitive also and is a very popular major with Freshman applicants.
All these majors will require an advanced degree (graduate) so make sure you take that into consideration.