So I don’t think I’ll be able to qualify for ELC (eligibility in local context) as my UC GPA is very low (4.07). However, my uncapped weighted 10-11 GPA is pretty high (4.60). I took the most rigorous classes possible, with 4 APs in 10th grade and 7 in 11th. Because of this, I got a few Bs, but my weighted GPA still remains high.
Will UCSD, Cal, and LA recognize this? I know Cal and LA look at the uncapped weighted, but I’m really worried nevertheless. Please help me out here. Thank you!
Also, I qualify for eligibility in the statewide context (35 ACT) and I’m pretty sure that by the end of this year I will be in the top 10-15% of my class, though not in the way the UCs calculate.
HELP!!!
To answer your question, you do not have to be ELC eligible to get into a UC although most admitted students are top students.
@Gumbymom Oh ok, I see. This is my main question: Suppose Student A takes easier classes in grades 10-11, gets better grades, and therefore has a higher UC GPA (capped, weighted). Another Student B takes much more difficult classes in grades 10-11, gets a few B’s, and therefore has a lower UC GPA (capped, weighted) but a higher uncapped 10-11 GPA (fully weighted). Then, Student A would qualify for ELC because they took easier classes and earned A’s, and since the UC GPA only takes into account a few semesters of honors, the extra honors taken by Student B would not be factored into the UC GPA, and they would in fact end up being at a disadvantage for challenging themselves.
I know I worded this kind of confusingly, but do you kind of understand what I mean. Basically, my concern is that the UC GPA seems to be a somewhat misleading indicator of academic performance in grades 10-11, and will the admissions officers recognize and look beyond this?
4.07 is in the range of low chance of admission to UCB, UCLA, UCSD. Also, UCD, UCI, UCSB will not be “safeties” no matter how high your test scores are. UCs are very GPA focused; test scores matter much less.
Also, some majors are more selective.
@ucbalumnus Oh ok…thank you. My question was, though, what if you have a low UC GPA but a high uncapped GPA? The UC GPA system seems to be in favor of those who take just the minimal amount of AP classes and do extremely well in them, rather than those who take more AP classes and do a little less well. For example, my UC GPA is a 4.07 but my uncapped 10-11 is a 4.60. Will they even take into account the difficulty of your classes, or do they just look at the UC capped GPA? That seems to be quite unfair…
Bump
They will see all of your GPAs. However, they will consider your taking honors/AP courses in context of what was available to you.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary indicates the following percentage admitted for 3.80-4.19 UC-weighted-capped GPA for 2015:
12% Berkeley
14% Los Angeles
39% San Diego
49% Santa Barbara
52% Davis
57% Irvine
83% Santa Cruz
90% Riverside
92% Merced
@ucbalumnus Wow thank you, I’ll check out that link! And I took pretty much all of the honors/APs available to me. If 39% of those with 3.80-4.19 capped UC GPA were admitted to UCSD, doesn’t that mean I have a somewhat decent chance? Or maybe I’m missing something…
@ucbalumnus Also, you mentioned that some majors would be more selective than others. Would you say biology/biochemistry is one of the most selective majors at UCSD? I noticed that it’s not impacted, but still.
Any capped major at UCSD will be selective which includes Biology.
https://students.ucsd.edu/academics/advising/majors-minors/capped-majors.html
@Gumbymom Oh okay, thanks for letting me know. I was somehow under the impression that only majors in the Jacobs School of Engineering were impacted. How would you say my chances are at UCSD, for the biology major? According to the very helpful dataset @ucbalumnus showed me, 10,866 of those admitted to UCSD had UC capped GPA between 3.80 and 4.19.
UCSD just added Biological sciences to the capped majors for this year. You look like a competitive applicant based on stats. How your essays and EC’s are received by admissions is subjective so difficult to predict. Apply and hope for the best.
You probably want to include at least two of UCSC, UCR, and UCM and perhaps some CSUs (not just CPSLO) in order to have some low matches / almost safeties. Your stats (GPA in 3.80-4.19 range, high test scores) seem to be similar to disappointed applicants to UCD and UCI this year posting their surprise and complaints about being rejected or waitlisted.
With capped or selective majors, some UC campuses either admit to the major or reject; others like UCSD may admit you as undeclared if they do not admit you to the major. But if you are admitted undeclared, changing into a capped or selective major involves another admission process after enrolling.
@ucbalumnus Yep, I’ll definitely apply to UCR and UCSC, and CSU Long Beach and CP Pomona. I really do hope to get into UCD/UCI/UCSD/UCSB, and maybe even Cal or LA, so we’ll see how things work out. Do you think there’s any chance of me getting UCSB Regents or UCI Regents/UCI CHP?
Getting the top level scholarship will be a few steps less likely than getting admission (unless the scholarship is automatic for stats that you have, which tends not to be offered by California schools). E.g. getting a top level scholarship at a match school would be a reach, and getting a top level scholarship at a safety school could be a match or reach, depending on how many and other factors (if too difficult to tell, always assume a reach).
@ucbalumnus Ah I see, thank you!