<p>Do you know what you want to major in? Can your family afford to pay for a private college? Some privates (University of Pacific, Redlands, Cal Lutheran) will give you merit aid, but the cost will still be in the $35-$40,000 range.</p>
<p>Can you study really hard for your ACT to bring it up to mid-range for Cal Poly? Average ACT score was 27 for incoming freshmen in 2011, I’m not sure what it was last year. </p>
<p>Are you in the top 9% of your class at school? If so, you’d be UC eligible via the ELC path. However you might not have your choice of UCs.</p>
<p>[University</a> of California - Local path (ELC)](<a href=“University of California Counselors”>University of California Counselors)</p>