Will having no SAT Math(Lvl2) score kill my chances at UC's?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>So I never got around to taking the Math Level 2 Subject test, and its too late to do that now, since I'm retaking the SAT(I) in december. UCLA is my dream school, and Im applying to several other UC's for mechanical engineering. I realize that engineering majors highly advise taking the Math Level 2 Subject test, but what are my chances of getting admitted without it? Will having no score kill my chances and competitiveness with other people applying? The other UC's im applying to are UCD, UCSB, UCSD, and UCB (might switch for UCI).</p>

<p>Here's my other stats:</p>

<p>GPA:
3.97 (unweighted), 4.53(weighted), 4.4(UC/CSU GPA)
I got straight A's throughout all of highschool, aside from one B+ freshman year. Took one AP sophomore year, three APs junior year, four APs senior year, and a lot of honors classes.</p>

<p>Scores:
SAT: 590 critical reading, 670 math, 670 writing (1930 composite)
SAT (second attempt): 620 CR, 660 M, 630 W (1910 composite, did worse)
Subject Tests: Biology(630)
ACT: Took it October 25th, haven't received scores yet, however I think I did in the 30s range
AP: APeuro(2), APUSH(1), Chem(3), English(4)</p>

<p>The next is what I've put on my application:
Educational prep:
MESA (4 years, treasurer 12th grade), Pre-Engineering Academy (1 year, offered at the local navy base)</p>

<p>Volunteering:
School Recycling (1 year, about 100 hours, was the leader), Coastal Cleanup (1 year, only 6 hours), Tae Kwon Do Demonstrations (2 years, about 70 hours), Link Crew (2 years, about 40 hours), Relay for Life (1 time, 25 hours)</p>

<p>Awards/honors:
NHRP Scholar (got recognized as an academically excelling Hispanic student, only about 5000 students in the US were given this), 2nd Degree Black Belt (received after 10 years of tkd), MESA regionals 2nd place (2nd place in math competition) MESA regionals 3rd place (3rd place in math competition another year), Principals award (top scholar at school)</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Tae Kwon Do (12 years), Track and Field (4 years), Cross Country (3 years), Food Culture Club (Co-Founder, 1 year), Guitar (5 years)</p>

<p>Essays will be about:
1) Growing up as the youngest child, eventually becoming independent
2) Experience helping underprivileged children through Tae Kwon Do</p>

<p>Also to take note:
I am a CA resident
Hispanic
Top 3% in class of 631 students
School isn't exactly high quality</p>

2

<p>Your low SAT score will be a bigger issue. You need to increase it by a 100 points atleast to be competitive</p>

3

<p>You should know the UC’s don’t consider race and your SAT score is waaaay to low. Plus, your ec’s are a little lacking. If you can boost your sat score, you’ll stand a much better shot at UCLA.</p>

4

<p>Agree with the above posters that your SAT score is too low to be competitive. Retaking is the best option for UCLA and UCB. Good Luck.</p>

5

<p>Youre not getting in with those sat scores… especially for engineering.</p>

6

<p>Your class ranking will get you into at least one UC campus under “local context” admission, but it won’t necessarily be UCLA. </p>

7

<p>ELC for the UC’s only guarantee admission to a UC if you are not accepted into any UC’s of your choosing. UCM has been the default UC for the last several years if they have room. </p>

8

<p>Bumping:</p>

<p>Just got my ACT score, it ended up being a 32, so the admissions people will probably use that instead of my SAT.
Back to the question, how will it look to have no Math 2 score (or a low Math 2 score)?</p>

9

<p>Nice job on the ACT score! You can choose not to submit the SAT if you so choose. To answer your question, not having a math 2 score might hurt you. Ordinarily it wouldn’t, but since you’re applying as Mech E, i would expect the other applicants to be HIGHLY comptetive especially when it comes to math.</p>

<p>It wont kill your chances but it certainly puts you at a disadvantage considering you havent taken calc yet.</p>

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<p>@bonsly‌ Thanks for replying! But actually, I just signed up for the Math 2. I’m not very confident in getting 700+, but I just thought at least having a score will look better than not having one. Which brings another question: will a bad score look worse than no score at all?</p>

11

<p>Yeah good thing you signed up for Math 2 because you probably will need to take it.</p>

<p>As far as what I think your chances are, hard to say. I would say don’t expect to get into UCLA or UC Berkeley (You still have a slight chance) but as far as any other UC goes I think you are in the running. Your regular SAT scores will be what hurts you the most, if you can I would try to retake it in December and aim for 2000+ if at all possible. But if not good luck.</p>

12

<p>@RHSclassof16‌ My SAT scores will still hurt me even with a 32 ACT?</p>

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<p>The UC’s will take the highest score in 1 sitting from either the SAT or ACT. With your ACT score, it puts you in the running for most of the UC’s. UCLA and UCB are always tough, but it would be to your advantage to take the Math 2 SAT to stay competitive.</p>

14

<p>@Gumbymom‌ alright thanks, I’ll be sure to study hard for it. Also, how do I stand at the colleges I’m applying to now, with a 32 ACT (plus all my other stuff)? Like which would be safeties/matches/reaches? (UCLA, UCB, UCSB, UCSD, UCI, SDSU, CalPolySLO)</p>