Chance me for Physics! (And how to shorten my list) [CA resident, 3.95 GPA (4.0 UC unweighted, 4.35 UC weighted-capped), 1460 SAT, 32 ACT]

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Hello, I’d appreciate if you chance me for my schools :smile: anything vague is on purpose to not get doxxed!

Demographics

Latino at California Public School

Cost Constraints / Budget

Full pay is ok, not getting financial aid (but merit would be nice)

Intended Major(s)

Astrophysics, Particle Physics (Interest area, not a major), Astronomy, Physics

GPA, Rank, and Test Scores

  • Unweighted HS GPA: 3.95 (UC=4.00)
  • Weighted HS GPA: 4.75 (UC=4.35 capped)
  • Class Rank: Top 10%
  • ACT/SAT Scores: 1460, 32 :grimacing: Retaking soon after lots more studying

List your HS coursework

  • English: Honors for three years, AP Lit Senior Year
  • Math: Honors Geo, Honors Alg 2, AP Precalc (5), AP Calc BC Senior Year
  • Science: Honors Bio, Honors and AP Chem (4), Honors Physics, AP Physics C and Astronomy + Python at CC Senior Year
  • History and social studies: AP Euro (5), APUSH (4), AP Gov and AP Macro Senior Year
  • Language other than English: Spanish 2 (4 on self-study AP test, fluent), French 1, then equivalent of French 1 & 2 at CC
  • Visual or performing arts: Orchestra all 4 years

Awards

  1. NASA Writing Award For Research Idea, Semifinalist (11th)
  2. MVP in Water Polo (11th)
  3. Most Improved Musician (9th)
  4. School History Excellence Award (11th)
  5. AP Scholar w/ Distinction

**Possibly research publication, might add

Extracurriculars
(Include leadership, summer activities, competitions, volunteering, and work experience)

  1. Competitive summer program at UCs, did legitimate physics research (hoping to publish) (11th)
  2. School Orchestra Concertmaster (12th, all four years)
  3. Water Polo Captain (11th, all 4yrs)
  4. Rice University Space Class (11th, final project got NASA award)
  5. VP of Physics Club (12th)
  6. Science Olympiad Board (12th, no board 11th)
  7. Tri-M Board (12th, no board 10th-11th)
  8. Violin Tutoring (11th)
  9. Lifeguard Summer Volunteering (9th)
  10. NHS, CSF (member) (9th-12th)

Also did swimming, wondering if I should add it because I didn’t really like it

Essays/LORs/Other

Common App: Working on the wording, but currently love the direction I’m taking. 7/10

LORs: Math (8/10, good student) and Physics (7/10, okay student) Teachers, Counselor (5/10, have to write what I want him to put in with a question sheet)

Schools

  • Assured (100% chance of admission and affordability): UH Manoa, UofA
  • Likely: UCSC
  • Lower Probability: UCI, UCSB CCS, UCD, UCSD, UVA (Jefferson Scholars, such a low probability)
  • Low Probability: UC Berkeley, UCLA, Harvey Mudd, Johns Hopkins, Princeton, Cornell, Yale, Rice, Caltech, Stanford, UNC CH Robertsons Scholars (such a low probability), Pomona

I know I barely stand a chance at any of these schools, but if I do at any pls lmk!! Thanks :pray:

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Edit: UCSB CCS probability because of the college is lowest probability

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Since you asked about how to shorten your list, are there any schools on your list that you would not choose over Hawaii, Arizona (presuming that is what UofA means), and UCSC?

Workbook: UG Admissions indicates that UCB L&S admitted 20-35% of applicants with fully weighted UC-recalculated HS GPA in the ranges starting at 4.2. This suggests less difficult admissions that colleges like Caltech and some others in your low probability list, although it is still a not that likely to be an admit. (Physics is in L&S, and is not an overloaded more selective major like computer science or engineering majors.)

It does look like test scores and recommendations may put you at a relative disadvantage for the (highly selective) non-UC schools on your list, compared to the UCs that do not use test scores and recommendations.

5

Arizona is still on the list as they’re much closer and more recognized than UH Manoa in astrophysics, but cost a bit more and I can’t decide between the two yet. UCSC is, in my opinion, a better bang for buck than these two other schools, but I am considering taking it off because of the housing crisis. Probably will take it off to be honest.

The Berkeley stat gives me hope, thank you!! And the SAT I just need 60 more points on math and I’ll have a 1520, which I believe is good for all of these schools. What would you say are letters of rec that would not put someone at a disadvantage, and possibly an advantage?

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Your rated them as only 8, 7, 5. Probably those who get admission to the most selective private schools have those that impress admission readers more. If you are in a typical public school, your recommenders may not have as much experience or training on writing recommendations compared to those at academically elite private high schools.

Here is what MIT see in recommendation quality: How to write good letters of recommendation | MIT Admissions

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ok, thanks for the insight!

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Link to op’s original chance me: Hispanic Aspiring Astrophysicist Feeling Imposter Syndrome [CA resident, 3.94 GPA (4.0/4.38/4.43 for UC), 1460 SAT, <$200k total until graduation, less for low rank schools]

9

You have a lot of UCs on your list, so do make sure you are really thinking strategically about how to best use your PIQs to set you apart from others. This is quite important and can make a substantial difference to your application.

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If you are taking off UCSC, you may want to add some CSUs such as CPSLO, CPP, SDSU… you never know, in case you need more schools to choose from other than UofH and UofA

2 Likes
11

Here are the overall admit rates for the UC’s based on the Capped weighted UC GPA and not major specific:

Campus 4.00+
Berkeley 17%
Davis 64%
Irvine 42%
Los Angeles 14%
Merced 96%
Riverside 92%
San Diego 39%
Santa Barbara 46%
Santa Cruz 85%

Below are the admit rates for Physics/Astrophysics:

Campus Physics/Astrophysics
UC Berkeley 12.9% College of L&S
UC Davis 37.9% College of L&S
UC Irvine 49.8%
UCLA 11% College of L&S
UC Merced 89%
UC Riverside 87%
UC San Diego Estimated <35%
UC Santa Barbara 32% College of L&S. CCS 10%
UC Santa Cruz 75%

I would not drop UCSC since it is a Very Likely option for you.

You have a solid chance at all the UC’s on your list and I unfortunately cannot give you any advice on where to trim. Since college admissions can be unpredictable, I always like to err on the side of caution and have more schools vs. less.

Good luck to you.

1 Like
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Would making my essays about my impact and my skills and lessons learned in my ecs be good piqs? Or should I take a different direction?

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Yes, that could work. Ideally, each PIQ should show a different side or aspect of you, so think of what four big things you want to show them about yourself, Make each one information-filled. This is your chance to show them who you are and what you are capable of (i.e. why they should want you on campus).

1 Like
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Okay, thanks!!

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I agree UCSC is more bang for the buck. S23 switched from Arizona to UCSC after getting off the waitlist and has enjoyed it (not least because the weather is much more temperate). The astrophysics courses are good, and there are opportunities at the Lick Observatory. He’s not had problems with housing so far (got an on campus apartment in the lottery for sophomore year).

I’d leave it as a safety if you are doing UC applications anyway. However you should probably get some admissions at other UCs too. SDSU has astronomy too, but can actually be a harder admit than UCSC (S23 was rejected there). CPSLO has physics but not much astro.

1 Like
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Ok, I think I’ll leave UCSC on the list as a safety. Glad to hear your son is having fun there!

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