Chances at UC's - average academics, very weak EC's

Chance Me / Match Me
1

<p>This is my first time posting on this forum. I’m just a lazy student who is starting to worry about college admissions before senior year (especially after seeing everyone else’s stats). I’d just like to see what people here have to say. :slight_smile: At this point, I don’t really think I would be able to improve much more, but I’d appreciate any tips. Please chance me! Thanks.</p>

<p>Class: C/O '08, going to be a senior
Gender: Female
Resident: California
Race: Asian
Intended Major: Engineering</p>

<p>Colleges I plan to apply to:
UCLA (top choice)
UCSD
UCB
UCSB</p>

<p>Test Scores:
PSAT: 218
SAT Reasoning:
1st time- CR 590, M 760, W 570, T 1920
2nd time- CR 620, M 740, W 650, T 2010
3rd time- CR 680, M 710, W 680, T 2070
SAT II’S:
Math Level 2- 770
Physics- 660
U.S. History- 610
Bio E- 520
ACT: 24</p>

<p>Courses:
Freshman:
English 1A - A/A
Spanish 1- A/A
PE- A/A
Integrated Math 3- A/A
Band- A/A
Biology- A/A</p>

<p>Sophomore:
English 2A- A/A
Spanish 2- A/A
PE- A/A
Math Analysis- A/A
Band- A/A
Chemistry Honors- B/A</p>

<p>Junior:
English 3AP- B/A
Spanish 3- B/A
AP US History- A/A
AP Calculus AB- A/A
Journalism- A/A
AP Physics Lecture- B/B
AP Physics Lab- B/B</p>

<p>Senior:
English 4AP
Spanish 4AP
Gov/Econ
AP Calculus BC
Journalism
AP Statistics</p>

<p>GPA: ~3.8 UW
Class rank: ~40/500</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
I have almost nothing here… very weak. I am worried about this section the most.</p>

<ul>
<li>Tennis (JV 1 yr, varsity 3 yrs)</li>
<li>Varsity Track (1 yr)</li>
<li>Key Club member (~60 hours, still doing more)</li>
<li>CSF publicist (member for 4 yrs)</li>
<li>Attended National Young Leaders Conference</li>
<li>Chinese Club historian</li>
<li>VP of Environmental Club (1 yr), member (2 yrs) (club kind of died though)</li>
<li>Volunteering at Wildlife Center (starting soon)</li>
<li>Probably will be an editor for school newspaper</li>
</ul>

2

<p>Aww, anyone?
I’m also thinking about volunteering at the library or getting a job (if anyone hires me)… not sure if that would help.</p>

3

<p>UC GPA doesn’t count PE courses or freshman year grades.</p>

<p>Your UC GPA is computed as follows:</p>

<p>Sophomore year:
9 As and 1 Bs = 39 grade points (10 courses)</p>

<p>Junior year:
8 As and 4 Bs = 44 grade points (12 courses)</p>

<p>Subtotal: 83 grade points (22 courses). </p>

<p>Then because you took 8 semesters of honors/AP/IB courses (and the most you can get credit for is 8), you get an extra 8 grade points.</p>

<p>Total: 91 grade points (22 courses). UC GPA = 91/22 = 4.136</p>

<p>Your SAT I score is 2070 (best single-sitting score) with SAT IIs of 770/660 = 1430.</p>

<p>Your major is engineering. Your ECs are good for the schools you are interested in, but not spectacular. You are an in-state student.</p>

<p>Therefore, my estimate of your chances are:</p>

<p>UC Berkeley-Slight Reach
UCLA–Match
UC San Diego–Match
UCD/UCSB/UCI–Safe Match
UCSC/UCR–80% (Safeties)
UC Merced–100%</p>

<p>P.S. Retaking the SATs and improving your scores has increased your chances tremendously. Congratulations to you for having taken the time and put forth the effort to do this. Oh, and UCLA is my alma mater so I can strongly recommend it as a great place to go to college.</p>

4

<p>UC Berkeley-Slight Reach
UCLA–Match
UC San Diego-Safety
UCD/UCSB/UCI–Safety
UCSC/UCR–Safety
UC Merced–Safety</p>

5

<p>Thanks for replying. Your post really helped me, by the way, Calcruzer. =)</p>

<p>Anyway, I’m thinking of retaking the SAT II and ACT. Would that help incrase my chances?</p>

<p>Also, I got a job at KFC, (kind of lame to be working at a fast food restaurant, but a job nevertheless) and I am going to be a Link Crew Leader over the summer. Do those help any?</p>

6

<p>My son worked throughout high school. It shows responsibility etc. and is just as valid as ECs.</p>

<p>The UC app. will ask how you spend your earnings too.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

7

<p>You’re in state therefore you’re in at all the UCs.</p>

<p>lol @ a 2070 on the SAT and a 24 on the ACT though.</p>

8

<p>I got my AP scores today.</p>

<p>US History = 4
English Language/Comp = 5
Calculus AB = 5
Physics B = 3</p>

<p>I don’t know if these will hurt or help really.</p>

9

<p>AP scores don’t effect apps at all.</p>

10

<p>llpitch: it’s really not that simple. In-state is easier than out-of-state, but not that easy.</p>

<p>To the OP: I’ve looked at this thread a few times now, not sure whether I should post, but here goes.</p>

<p>First, I believe you report your exam scores on your app, but no official score report is sent till much later (if you get in). As such, I think it might have a small influence, but the general rule is that AP scores don’t matter much.</p>

<p>Second, while your sophomore GPA is good, your junior GPA has far too many Bs. As such, Berkeley/UCLA would be a reach. However, your ECs are pretty good (not great, but adequate) and that could make up for your GPA, as your SAT score is far from your saving grace. My advice: make sure that your essays are really, really good – that could definitely get you in. So, based on that…</p>

<p>Berkeley/UCLA: slight reach (UCLA might be closer to a high match)
UCSD: match
UCD/UCSB/UCI: safe match
UCSC/UCR/UCM: safety</p>