I’m going to be a senior this year and my list of colleges I’m applying to include (in order of preference):
UCLA (Pretty tough for me to get in but still Would LOVE to go here! 1st choice)
UCSD (Less of a long-shot but still somewhat difficult to get in. 2nd choice)
UCI (Would be very happy to go here, love the area! 3rd choice)
UCSB (More of a back-up, still considering going here if their anthro program is better than those above)
UCR (Would be okay with going here, more of a back-up)
SDSU (Back-up)
Cal State Long Beach (Back-up)
All of these schools have anthropology majors but I’m not sure which school’s department has the best quality/field work/recognition. I am shooting for UCLA (out of hope) but I also really like UCI and have a better chance of getting into Irvine. I assume UCLA probably has one of the best anthro departments because of how renowned they are for many of their programs but really don’t know for sure; UCSD or UCI could have better programs! These are the only schools I’m interested in. Please help!
Add UCD and Chico State to your list. What are your Stats?
Hs gpa: 3.74 (I have somewhat of an upward trend though, 3.5 soph year and then 3.92 junior year)
ACT: 32
AP US History: 5 (hoping it will show how serious I am about the social sciences)
EC’s:
Editor-in-chief for the school newspaper
President of the human rights club
Student mentor for freshmen (“Peer Leader”)
VP & Co-founder Habitat for Humanity club
(I want to start an Anthropology club this year but it’s difficult to pitch it to my peers to get them interested)
I scored a 5 on the APUSH exam which I’m hoping will show how seriously I take my career in the social sciences.
I know that I am somewhat below average academically for UCSD or UCLA but I’m hoping my test scores/EC’s/personal statements will make up for that.
HS GPA is 3.74. Is this also UC/CSU GPA? ACT score is competitive but UC’s are very GPA focused so make sure you are happy attending your Safety/Backup schools just in case.
http://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
UCR, SDSU and CSULB are likely to admit you. You may want to expand your list to include Chico and Sonoma.
Good luck.
If the 3.74 is unweighted, I believe you should get into at least a lower tier UC. I know someone who had a 3.2 weighted GPA and got into UCSC a year ago. He had a 1900+ SAT score to offset the low GPA. I think a 32 on the ACT might be high enough to offset a low GPA.
If deciding on a choice between a lower tier UC or a CSU for anthropology, I would go with UC. UCs are known primarily as research institutions and this will help you get into a graduate degree program which I think you would need for an anthropology career.