I want to apply to USC, UCB, and UCLA. But I have a 3.7 (weighted gpa) and a 29 on the ACT will they even look at my application?
I think you should provide more information than just GPA and test scores, there are a lot more variables that go into admissions than just those. It would also give people a better basis on what your actual chances are.
PS: wait, there’s already a new thread
There is nothing keeping you from applying to these schools and no your stats will not make them an automatic rejection but your stats will make them high Reaches.
UC’s are very GPA focused and USC is very test focused so I am sure you are aware that your GPA along with your test scores will be an issue; however, your EC’s, essays, LOR’s and HS course rigor will all contribute to your chances at any school.
It is nice to have Reach schools on your list but I would focus my time on finding a couple of solid safety and match schools before you add these schools to your final list.
So put forth your best effort, apply widely and remember where you go for undergrad will not define you, it is what you do with the opportunities you are given that will make you successful.
Does this help?
Ethnicity (people say this helps but does it really?) : Hispanic
- first female to go to a four-year university
My WEIGHTED GPA = 3.74 (so far)
My ACT = 29
AP classes: (so far I plan on taking two more next year)
- Comp
- Seminar
Extracurriculars:
- Honor Roll three years in a row
- Drama Club three years in a row
- Alice and Wonderland Play
- Body Positive Club one year
- Internship at a preschool (one year)
- A part-time job at that same preschool (three years so far)
- Volunteer at annual races around my community (three years)
- Internship at Animal Shelter (one year)
I answered your other thread but are you a California resident? What can you and your parents afford to pay each year for college?
I will not rewrite what I wrote on your other thread but you should consider USC and the UC’s as Reach schools. Your application is not just GPA and test scores, but you still need to meet an academic threshold to have a chance for an acceptance. First generation? will help for the UC’s and USC but the UC’s do not consider race/ethnicity. USC will consider race/ethnicity but it still does makeup for a less than stellar overall application.
There is nothing wrong in applying to several of these schools, but you need to identify some solid Safety and Match schools or there is the possibility of being shut out of any of the colleges.
For the UC’s, you need to calculate your UC GPA: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Post your capped weighted and fully weighted UC GPA along with your 9-11th Unweighted GPA.
Intended major?
Here is some statistical data for the capped weighted UC GPA and not major specific from 2017 along with test scores. See how you compare to give you an idea of your chances. I suggest if you a California resident, that you take a look at UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside, UC Merced, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Long Beach, Cal State Fullerton and your local CSU as a safety.
Some privates to consider would be University of Redlands, University of La Verne, Whittier College, St. Marys, University of San Francisco.
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCB: 1.8%
UCLA: 2.2%
UCSD: 7.2/;%
UCSB: 10.1%
UCI: 11.1%
UCD: 16.6%
UCSC: 43.8%
UCR: 63.3%
UCM: 88.7%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19:
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%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 4.20 or above:
UCB: 42.7%
UCLA: 47.2%
UCSD: 84.2%
UCSB: 82.0%
UCD: 90.3%
UCI: 94.1%
UCSC: 92.7%
UCR: 97.5
UCM: 98.1%
25th - 75th percentiles for ACT:
UCB: 30-34
UCLA: 30-34
UCSD: 29-34
UCSB: 28-33
UCD: 26-32
UCI: 26-32
UCSC: 26-31
UCR: 23-30
UCM: 20-27
USC Freshman profile: https://admission.usc.edu/docs/USCFreshmanProfile.pdf
There are many colleges that would love to have you, but the ones listed do not look possible based on your post.
Best of luck.
UC’s do not consider ethnicity/race but being first generation will help. USC would consider race/ethnicity but it still does makeup for a less than stellar overall application. You have some good EC’s but look at the statistical data I posted on your other thread to see that your GPA will be a huge issue for the UC’s and USC. USC also tends to be test score focused so based on their Freshman profile from last year, you want a target ACT score of around 32 and an Unweighted GPA of 3.7+.
Some compelling essays and LOR’s could bump up your chances but I would work on finding schools that would fit your stats since your stats do not fit these schools at the moment.
UC’s only use 10-11th grades for their GPA calculation: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
The UC calculation will weight up to 8 semesters of UC approved Honors/AP/IB or DE courses taken 10-11th grades only which is the capped weighted UC GPA. UCLA/UCB will also consider your fully weighted UC GPA which is an unlimited # of semester of these courses taken 10-11th grades only. 9th and 12th grades will not be used for admission purposes but to make sure you meet the UC a-g course requirements.
USC will use 9-11th grades and you need to know your Unweighted GPA since they do not specify how they weight courses. Each school will weight your HS courses differently and most do not tell you their formula.
I’m a junior in high school. I really want to go these certain colleges but I keep comparing my scores with others and am feeling discouraged. I’m confused because people say, " scores aren’t everything" and then others say, " having a high gpa and test score is the most important part." I study really hard, my teachers love, and I do have extracurriculars but I just don’t know if it’s enough. PLEASE GIVE ME INSIGHT 
I plan on applying to:
- USC
-UCSB
-UCSD - UC Berekely
- UCLA
- University of Texas at Austin
- University of Michigan Ann Arbor
- Boston University
-Bryn Mawr
Ethnicity (people say this helps but does it really?) : Hispanic
- first female to go to a four-year university
My WEIGHTED GPA = 3.74 (so far)
My ACT = 29
AP classes: (so far I plan on taking two more next year)
- Comp
- Seminar
Extracurriculars:
- Honor Roll three years in a row
- Drama Club three years in a row
- Alice and Wonderland Play
- Body Positive Club one year
- Internship at a preschool (one year)
- A part-time job at that same preschool (three years so far)
- Volunteer at annual races around my community (three years)
- Internship at Animal Shelter (one year)
How did you make up your list? All of those schools are different.
The UC’s and CSU’s are funded publics that are not allowed to use race for admission purposes. It’s illegal.
Those schools are reaches because currently, those schools are admitting students with higher test scores, higher GPA’s and multiple EC’s.
When you take coursework at those colleges, you have to hit the ground running. You only have 10 weeks to prove yourself at most of the UC’s so students with stronger abilities in test taking and GPAs have the advantage.