What universities would I actually have a chance at?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Sorry, I know that especially at this time of the year, this question is asked a lot. But I don't know where else to ask, so please bear with me. I made an account to specifically see opinions on this. </p>

<p>I'm planning on applying to 6-7 schools, since it costs a lot to apply to each and every one. (My family can't afford to apply to a lot, but we don't qualify for the fee waiver either.) So I have to make my choices realistic and reasonable. </p>

<p>I live in California, and I'm not planning on applying anywhere out of state. </p>

<p>The colleges I'm THINKING of applying to are:</p>

<p>UC Berkeley
UCR
UCI
UC Davis
UCSD
Cal poly SLO
Cal poly Pomona
(One more Cal state I'm not sure of yet) </p>

<p>However, I'm not sure if these are the right choices? My grades aren't too high, and my extracurriculars aren't that impressive to be honest. </p>

<p>I have a 3.889 weighted GPA (I'm disappointed in myself for that). </p>

<p>I rank #151/836 students. </p>

<p>By the end of this year I would've taken a total of 6 AP classes. </p>

<p>I have a 1540 SAT score however I plan on doing much better on my ACT this weekend and submit that score instead. (I might retake the SAT too).</p>

<p>Extracurriculars/community service:</p>

<p>Red Cross: 10th, 11th, 12th
Link crew: 10th, 11th
INTERACT: 10th, 11th
Best buddies: 9th
Key club: 10th, 11th, 12th </p>

<p>In all it adds to about 80 hours total.</p>

<p>Sadly I'm not in any sports or lessons of anything. </p>

<p>I'm also a girl (don't think that makes a significant different. </p>

<p>Major: mechanical engineering </p>

<p>I'm in advanced math. (Took AP Calc BC last year, in AP stats this year. Again, not sure if that matters?) </p>

<p>Am I missing anything else important? Anyway, the colleges that I've listed, do I have a chance? I mean I don't want to apply to a college I have absolutely NO chance at. (UC Berkeley is an exception because I've always wanted to go there, so I'm going to give it a shot no matter what because you never know.) I know that the acceptance rates for high universities like that are around 12-17%, so you don't need to remind me on that. </p>

<p>And if I don't have a chance at any if them, which UCs/CSUs would you recommend? </p>

<p>Overall, i know I'm completely AVERAGE in pretty much everything, but, I'd still like suggestions/opinions! </p>

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<p>Hi!</p>

<p>At your current grades/scores, I probably can’t say that you have a good shot at any school other than maybe Pomona/Riverside. Your GPA is a bit under the weighted average of UC applicants for Cal/Davis/Irvine/SD which tend to be around 4.0-4.2. You might have a chance at Davis or Irvine if you bump your SAT up or submit a better ACT. I’d suggest focus on writing a really good essay for the UC App and see if that can carry some extra weight on your app. By the way, did you factor in freshman year for your GPA? If I remember correctly, UC’s don’t count freshman year grades into cumulative gpa (hopefully that brings it up!). EC’s are okay, but they’re nothing too special unless you’ve held a board/officer position for any of them.</p>

<p>Regardless, don’t give up! Just apply; you never know what might happen. Also, Go own that ACT saturday! ( I actually have it myself heh)</p>

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<p>You need to calculate your UC/CSU GPA, see link: <a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU;
For SLO only, include your 9th grades also in the calculation.
Rank doesn’t matter for Cal States or UC’s. Your SAT is low, but if you can get around a 30+ on the ACT, your chances will much higher at many of the schools.
ME is very competitive at all the Cal States and UC’s. If UC GPA is <4.0, UCB/UCSD/UCD/UCI would be reaches. UCD/UCI like higher GPA’s versus test scores and UCSD/UCB want high stats period.
Cal Poly SLO is almost as competitive for ME than UCB/UCSD/UCI/UCD, so again a reach unless you get a great ACT score.
UCR/CPP would be matches. I would add UCSC where you might have a decent chance. Some Cal States to consider would be SJSU/SDSU/CSULB, all with good ME programs.
Good Luck.</p>

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<p>I’m trying to edit my original post but it won’t let me. </p>

<p>Anyway, I just checked my Cal Grant GPA (is that the same as the UC/CSU GPA? But my Cal grant GPA is 3.3 and I honestly did not realize it was THAT low. I didn’t think my GPA could possibly get lower but now it did. I feel so hopeless and disappointed now. </p>

<p>By the way, do senior grades really make a big difference? I know, I know, I still have to pass my classes. But I just realized that by the time I send in my applications, the first semester of my senior year won’t even be completed. What if I end up getting a 4.6 GPA this semester? Would it be too late for it to bring my cumulative GPA up? Since I would have already sent in my application? The 3.8 GPA I have right now…is that the only GPA colleges will see? </p>

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<p>For the UC’s and Cal States, Senior grades will only help maintain your acceptances, not help your GPA. I would calculate your UC/CSU GPA since I believe it will be higher than your 3.3 with your weighted classes. If you are not sure how to calculate it, you can private message me your 9-11th grades, indicate which are UC approved Honors/AP classes for your high school and I can help you calculate it. SDSU did ask for Mid-term Senior grades after my son accepted his admission, probably to make sure he was not getting the dreaded “senioritis” and maintaining his current GPA. He actually got his best grades Senior year and they probably would have helped him with some of his reach schools… oh well</p>

<p>Since you self-report your grades, the schools will recalculate your GPA anyways and they will look at unweighted versus weighted. Having the UC GPA will just give posters a better idea of your chances.</p>