UCD, UCI, and CPSLO would be very reachy for a student with a <3.4 HS GPA, downward trend, and low course rigor.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary indicates, that for 2015, only 3% of frosh applicants to UCD with HS GPA of 3.00-3.39 were admitted. The admission rate at UCI was 4% for that year and HS GPA range.
@GMTplus7 He’s never earned an A in any literature course, ever. His teachers dubbed his writing as subpar. For this reason, his parents are getting him a counselor to help with his prompts. Also, I never said that. I’m neutral on this whole matter. Reread my comment and try again.
“Subpar”? How would you know what his teachers’ thoughts are? Not “ever” getting an A in a lit course has nothing to do with being capable of writing an engaging essay. A 3.4 GPA is the mark of a good student, not a great student. It certainly is not “weak”, nor does it doom someone to community college. This student would seem to be an ideal candidate for the CTCL schools.
You’re definitely not neutral. All your descriptions about him have a smug undertone. Why do you even know all his grades and his parents’ income? Are you eagerly anticipating the Schadenfreude of watching him get rejected?
Why not apply ED or EA? He’ll either get in or not, and his chances are probably better early than regular. What does he have to lose other than the opportunity to apply to a different school ED? If USC is really his first choice, he should do it.
Not USC. SCU. I assume it’s Santa Clara. A selective school, but not insanely uber competitive, so I really don’t see the big deal here. It’s not like the kid is ED’ing to Harvey Mudd.