Where should I have Reach,match,safety chances

College Search & Selection
1

I’m currently a high school senior at a Public school in Bay area in North California
Intented major: I want to major in Biology

UW GPA - 3.84
NO AP/Honours as school did not provide for 10,11,12. In 9th,I did 5 honors classes but does not qualify for honors as per UC

ACT scores -
Composite Score: 24
English 25
Mathematics 24

My extracurricular are pretty mediocre, 1 yr ROTC,1 yr community service, 1 yr Lead clubs

Any advise is much appreciated. Are there any Reach,Mach,Safety schools that I could be looking outside CA.
My father will not spend much.

2

What is the dollar amount? If he “will not spend much” then, you look at your local Cal State where you can commute or community college. Are you low income?

Take a look at the WUE schools for OOS. Still need to know a budget to give you some realistic choices.

http://wue.wiche.edu/search_results.jsp?searchType=all

3

I agree. If Dad won’t pony up any money, how will you pay the non-resident tuition for an OOS school? That is IF you are admitted. Right now, you may not get into any schools outside of the state. Your ACT is not competitive and you want to major in Biology?
Which means that another state’s colleges will not be very enthusiastic about providing any funding to you.

Commute to the local CSU or go to the local CC and bring up your stats for transfer.

Do you qualify for CalGrants?

4

money aside - which i hate saying - UCR and UCM are likely to accept you. Any of the CSUs except CP SLO will accept you.

Knowing as little as I do and in light of the looming application deadline, my recommendation is that, since you want to study a hard science, I’d apply UCR, UCM and since they share an ap, UCSC,(they may or may not take you), Also apply to your ‘local’ CSU - in the Bay Area, that could be one of several. Since your financial situation is unclear, I’d also apply to CPP, SDSU and perhaps CSULB because they have very good STEM programs. I’d also apply to Humboldt and Chico, both highly residential and relatively cheap rent. Sac is less residential and much easier to get to but, also sports a relatively low cost of living so, perhaps a viable option.

There are WUE schools like Reno and Oregon Inst of Tech that are drive able from the Bay Area and will be close in cost to a CSU. So, perhaps an ap to one or both.

At this point, the name of the game is having open doors. Apply to lots of schools, then sit down with your dad and understand what he’s willing to pay, what your financial aid picture looks like and evaluate your potential to earn some of the $$ yourself. Depending on what you find, one of those schools, or you local CC might be the best answer.

Check back in when you have a clearer picture of your budget and good luck with your aps.