What school do I have a realistic chance of getting into?

College Search & Selection
1

Hey!

I’m going to be a senior in fall, so that means college applications! I would like to become a doctor, so I’m going to be a biological sciences major. I have yet to decide what specific major, but it’s likely to be something related to medicine and science.

My UC capped GPA is a 4.0, and my uncapped GPA is a 4.33.

I studied in the Middle East, at an American International school during my freshman year, and completed my sophomore and junior year in California. Here are my sophomore and junior year grades:

Grade 10, S1:

AP World History: B
Math 3 H: B
Biology H: B
English 10: A
PBS H: A
French 2: A
PE: Raquet Sports: A

Grade 10, S2:

AP World History: A
Math 3 H: B
Biology H: B
English 10: A
PBS H: A
French 2: A
PE: Raquet Sports: A

Grade 11, S1:

AP English Language: A
AP Calculus AB: B
AP Biology: A
HBS H: A
French 3: A
Photography 1: A
Political Science (Delta): A
Economics (Delta): A
US History (Delta): A

Grade 11, S2:

AP English Language: A
AP Calculus AB: B
AP Biology: A
HBS H: B
French 3: A
Photography 1: A
Political Science (Delta): A
Economics (Delta): A
US History (Delta): A

I was on the varsity team for Speech and Debate, and I competed at state level. I also am the President of my school’s UNICEF club, the Vice-President of my school’s American Red Cross Club, and the Vice-President of my school’s Interact Club. I have also completed over 200 hours of community service, some of which was completed in the Middle East, and Pakistan.

I took the SAT, and got a 1310, but I’m going to take the ACT in September, and hopefully get above a 30. In other words, my test scores can be improved.

What schools in California do I have a realistic chance of getting into?

2

Since you are posting your UC GPA’s, I am assuming you are interested in the UC’s.

Below is some statistical data for the UC’s not major specific and for 2018 admits. 2019 data is not yet available.
Biological sciences is an impacted major at the many of the UC’s and for the best chances you want to be above the average stats.

2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 10%
UCLA: 9%
UCSD: 34%
UCSB: 38%
UCD: 41%
UCI: 38%
UCSC: 70%
UCR: 84%
UCM: 95%

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

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

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

So Realistic targets are UC Merced, Riverside and Santa Cruz. UC Davis, Irvine, Santa Barbara and San Diego are more of a Reach and the highest Reach schools would be UCLA and Berkeley.

For the Cal states, they use an eligibility index so your EI is (4.0 x800) + (1310)= 4510. This makes you competitive for all the Cal states that use the EI.

Cal Poly SLO uses MCA points and they also include your 9th grades into their GPA calculation. You can plug in your 9th grades into the UC GPA calculator, still capped at 8 extra honors points to get your SLO GPA.
Averages for the College of Mathematics and Science 2018 were as follows:

SLO GPA: 4.18 ACT: 31 SAT: 1420. MCA calculator: https://mca.netlify.com/

Apply widely, select a major that will also be a good backup if Medical school does not happen and make sure you include 2 safety schools on your list that are willing to attend no matter what.

Depending upon your college budget, there are plenty of private schools in California that are worth considering also such as Occidental, Santa Clara, Chapman, Pitzer etc…

3

You don’t need to study biology to go to med school. You only need to take the required classes (chem, org, bio) and you can study whatever you want. GPA is very important. A lot of students study Chemical Engineering, because that provides and excellent and well compensated career path should med school not work out.

4

UCR has an early admission program to its medical school. Students apply a year before they would normally apply to medical school. If admitted, that allows skipping the usual expensive and stressful medical school application process.

https://somsa.ucr.edu/thomas-haider-early-assurance-program

5

Thank you! I’m considered to be in the top tier of my school, so I am a part of the UC ELC system. Does that play a role in the admissions process?

6

I’ve been looking into that as well. I’m not quite sure what major would be best for me. However, I’m certain that I will not be a biology major, because it’s simply too competitive. Other than chemical engineering, what are some other good majors for a pre-med student.

7

Well Engineering, although a great backup major will be even more competitive than Biology. Some majors that my son’s friends pursued as Pre-Med students were Microbiology, Environmental Science, Bioengineering, History, English and Viniculture.

What are your strengths and interests? What about Biostatistics if you like Math?

Regarding ELC: ELC only guarantees that if you are not accepted into your choice UC campus that your application will be referred to UC Merced if spots are available. Majority of UC admits are ELC eligible.