Hey CC, Posted on this forum before but wanted to edit original post for brevity. Any chances would be great. TY.
I’ve just I finished my junior year, so i’ll have recommendation letter and references done during early senior year. What do you guys think my chances are for UCB?
STATS
Background Information ----
• State : Florida
• School Type: Public
• Ethnicity: African-American
• Gender: M
• Income Bracket: Low-Income
Academics----
• SAT I : 2060 (740 M), (650 W), (670R)
• SAT II: (Math II - 770), (US History - 690]
• Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): [3.65 (4.3 W)]
• Rank: 33/665 (Top 5%)
• AP Courses: [AP Computer Science (5), AP Calculus AB (5), AP Macroeconomics (5), AP Calculus AB/BC (5), AP World History (4), AP United States History (4), AP English Language (4), AP French (4), AP Government (4),
• Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): Winner of the IBM Master the Mainframe online coding competition
Extracurriculars ----
3 Years on Cross Country and Track (Current Team Captain),2 Yrs in French Honors Society (Current Treasurer), National Honor Society, Robotics Club (Tech Coordinator), University Engineering Summer Program, Orlando Science Center Intern
• Job/Work Experience: Front Service Clerk at Publix
• Volunteer/Community service:100 hours @ Orlando Science Center (Star Giant program)
Summer Activities: Alumni of 2014 Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar, Volunteer work at the Orlando Science Center
If you’re low income, then take off UCB. The UC’s don’t give any aid to cover the OOS portion, which is $23k per year, and their aid pkg for the rest already includes full loans and work study.
If you’re low income, then likely your parents will not pay the $23k per year plus cross country travel.
How much will your family contribute each year?
You need to focus on schools that will meet need.
Congratulations on your excellent credentials, particularly your SAT math score!
To really bolster your chances of being accepted into these schools, you will need to demonstrate strong leadership in your EC activities. Next year try to become president of the robotics club or somehow gain a position where you will be entrusted with significant responsibilities. Also, start working on your personal statements this summer. You will need to write a powerful narrative demonstrating your high academic and social potential. The fact that you come from a low income family but have been able to achieve all the success you have thus far will be an asset to your application. To get the best outcomes, apply to your state flagship and direct the rest of your applications to private colleges with large endowments. Like the poster above said, avoid large public OOS because they are not good with financial aid.
OOS publics won’t be affordable. Stanford and the Ivies for a URM with a 2060 SAT and a 3.65 GPA? That’s pushing it.
If you’re interested in a CS major, check out Bucknell, Colgate, and Union College. The excellent Midwestern schools Grinnell and Carleton (reach) are worth a look, too. Run the Net Price Calculators on these schools to see if they are affordable.
You will likely have to target schools that meet 100% need (or close to it) if your family hasn’t put away significant funds for college. You could try to get merit aid, but with your stats, you’d probably have to go so far down in selectivity that the quality of the school wouldn’t be close to a 100% need-met school, where you should find some success.
U Florida is a sensible pick. Don’t forget an in-state safety, maybe FSU (be careful due to your u/w GPA).
You’ll make a lot of schools. Trust me. Go to a school with great financial aid like Princeton. It’s more about which schools give financial aid rather than what you’ll make. You’ll make a good amount of the schools above.
Why the bump? They’ve answered your questions.
Chances for UCB, not that great since it is a very competitive school and you are not a California resident. Your full fees will be $55K.
I’m looking for more thoughts on other universities if UCB isn’t a good pick b/c of finances.