Schools : CSUF, Cal Poly Pomona
UCR, UCI, UCSD, UCSB
Pepperdine, University of San Francisco
I mainly hope to get into UCR.
Intended Major : Psychology for all privates and Cal States
Undeclared Social Sciences for all UC’s except for UCR (Creative Writing)
Weighted and Capped UC GPA: 3.32; upward trend from freshman year to sophomore year. extreme downgrade trend during junior year.
took mostly honors courses and 6 APs
failed PreCal but made it up during senior year
earned all A’s for Senior year and earned a 4.4
SAT : 1200 (590 RW, 610 M)
EC’s :
- Key Club: Dedicated in service and charities (Pediatric Trauma Program, Eliminate Project). Built core values: caring, leadership, inclusiveness, and character building. Was involved in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade
- National Honor Society: Maintained good grades, volunteered at service events, and offered after-school tutoring. Learned importance of promoting service and excellence in academics. Was involved in 10th, 11th, and 12th grade
- Community Tutoring: Tutoring high school and college students who just came from Vietnam in English and math. Developed patience, structuring, communication, and teaching skills. Was involved in 11th and 12th grade
- Red Cross: Club was started this year. Taught how to prepare for emergencies, provided first-aid kits, donated blood, and helped ensure safety in community.
- HOPE: Tutored, taught music lessons, and hosted field trips to museums and science centers for elementary kids. Influenced active learning during the summer. Was involved in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade.
- Key Club College Expo Coordinator: Planned College Expos, created online guides on college topics, and helped Key Club members all over Cal-Nev-Hawaii District to prepare for a higher education. Was involved 11th and 12th grade
- Student Service Foundation Representative: Only 10 school district representatives are chosen. Reviewed grant applications for projects that apply learning outside of classroom and kept track of school district funds. Was involved 11th and 12th grade.
- Key Club President: Organized meetings for members and officers, emphasized importance of service to members, raised $1500 for charities, and increased club membership from 47 to 104 members. Was involved in 10th and 11th grade.
- Key Club Treasurer: Handled club membership dues, hosted fundraisers, and raised $1000 for Pediatric Trauma Program, Eliminate Project, and club funds. Was involved in 9th and 10th grade.
- Varsity Tennis: Built teamwork, communication, endurance, improved fundamental techniques, and learned time management. Helped coach Junior Varsity players after tennis season. Was involved 9th and 10th grade.
College Essays:
- UC’s : 1. Talked about my talent in music. I learned piano when I was young and know how to play songs by ear. Had to stop taking lessons, but I still practiced and learned how to play other instruments like ukulele, trumpet, and guitar. I also learned how to compose songs and talked about how I wrote one for my grandma battling breast cancer.
- Talked about how I express my creativity by tailoring and altering 50 cent clothes from the swapmeet because I cannot afford new clothes.
- Talked about my 6 year dedication in AVID. AVID is a college prep program. I explained how I “took advantage” of the free college trips and tutoring because I can’t afford it on my own. I talked about how my communication and collaboration skills improved.
- Explained why my grades were low because of the inconveniences in my life. My father left us when I was young, leaving my unemployed mother to take care of my family with no viable source of income. My brother developed depression and my grandmother was battling cancer. Because of these things occurring, I didn’t want to tell anyone I was struggling and continued to try to balance my academics, ec’s, and time to take care of my family. I had a lot of pressure because I am an eldest sibling and am expected to be a model child. After a meeting with my counselor at the end of my junior year abt my declining grades, I decided to do what I had feared to do and spoke up. Because of this, everything in my life drastically improved.
- Privates: Mainly talked about my desire to change the Asian community's immediate reaction to casualties of mental illness, that they are weak and should just toughen up. This is because of how badly my family treated my brother during his battle with depression.
I know my chances aren’t very high and there’s really no point in asking when decisions are starting to roll in, but I was just curious and wanted to get an idea of where I’m at. I’m just regretful of my academic performance because I know I could have done much better. Thank you.