Hi, I’m going to be a senior this upcoming year and I feel as if I’m not competitive enough for schools I like. I am very much interested in USC, as well as Cal Poly SLO and UCI. Where do my achievements place me in terms of schools and what can i do to improve my chances? Thanks.
Background info:
Female
Attending a Northern California public high school
Average a 3.8 GPA
AP’s taken/planning to take: AP Chemistry (taken), AP Environmental Sciences (planning to take), AP Calculus AB (taken), AP Statistics (planning to take), AP Language and Composition (taken), AP Literature (planning to take), AP Government/Economics (planning to take)
Extracurriculars/Achievements as of completion of my junior year:
3 Years Varsity Field Hockey
3 Years Varsity Soccer
3 Years Varsity Badminton
1st-Team All-League Field Hockey 2015
Badminton Captain 2016
Badminton MVP 2016
5 Semesters CSF so far
Secretary of Cancer Awareness Club
President of Athletic Society
3 Years Member of Link Crew, Red Cross
2 Years Chief Yearbook Editor
Test Scores (Will retake both):
New SAT score: 1330 (Reading/Writing: 690, Math: 640)
ACT Composite: 32 (Writing: 35, Reading: 33, Science: 30, Math: 28)
Thanks
If you can boost the test scores, you will ofc have better chances. I’m also from a norcal public high school, so schools definitely compare you to the average scores/gpa of YOUR high school. To improve your chances: get teachers that really know you to write LoR and start your essays over the summer so you have ample time to get feedback and revise. Getting a prep book for standardized tests and working on that towards the end of summer might not be a bad idea. Good luck and feel free to PM me with any questions 
Being in state gives you the chance to apply to all the UCs! Don’t forget reach schools!
Instate and decent scores should get you into some of your targets.
Submit you ACT 32, it’s a great score. No need to retake the SAT.
For privates, you may want to take a couple SAT Subjects.
Pick ONE from APES or AP Stats, and take a “rigorous” version of the class (AP Science or AP Calc BC) if you qualify; if you don’t, pick either another solid AP class or a “core” class at Honors level.
Mak sure you have 4 years each of English, Science, and Social Science + Foreign Language up to Level 4 or Ap (plus Math up to precalc/calc, but you already have that).
What major(s) are you considering?
i forgot to mention i did take the Chemistry and Math 2 subject tests, scores just haven’t been released
@Redishwoods , i’m very interested in environmental studies but if a school offers it, i’d prefer marine sciences over that
SLO would be a great fit since you are non engineering. You do need to be comfortable declaring major at application. I’d check overlap in curriculum between biological science with the marine concentration versus environmental science as it may be easier than most (for SLO) to switch between those two.
I think some of the other UC’s are stronger in marine then UCI or USC so I’d dig into that. I agree with having some reaches in there.
UCSD has an astounding marine biology/sciences program. (Go figure since it’s literally on the beach) I think you could have a pretty good shot there so check it out.