Help! I hope this one is more appealing than the other 1000 that have the same title.

Applying to College
1

<p>I must admit, I’ve been looking around this forum for a while now, but I never made many posts of my own, because my knowledge of how colleges judge and scrutinize applicants is limited. I’ve come to notice that a lot of the people here don’t actually need help with SAT’s, ACT’s, or SAT II’s, because the ones who are the most worried are the ones who get 790’s in every subject and end up disappointed that they didn’t get a perfect score.</p>

<p>Obviously, the higher the score, the better. My request is that someone helps reassure me, as I am genuinely intimidated by the people on here who are surely bound for Ivy League schools and great things in the future.</p>

<p>Personally, I’ve always been sick of living life according to multiples of 10, and my repulsion against standardized tests is forever engraved in my head, but this doesn’t limit me from trying my hardest to please my parents and eventually succeed in life. Somehow, I’ve always come up short with these things. Looking at my friends and other people at my school, I feel that it’s a constant competition to prove that I can match their intelligence.</p>

<p>I’m a 17 year old girl, reside in California, go to a relatively good public school in the area, plan on majoring in biology or chemistry… or biochemistry (the best of both worlds), and plan on applying to UC’s… preferably Berkeley, LA, or SD. I also have personality that can last for days!</p>

<p>Well, aside from that online dating service-like introduction, I NEED to know where I stand and what I should do.</p>

<p>This is the first time I’ve done this, so I’ll try to make it as clear and concise as humanly possible.</p>

<p>SAT I (I’m never going to take this again. I loathe this test more than anything.)</p>

<p>10/2006: M-800, CR-640, W-620; Essay-10
03/2007: M-660, CR-620, W-670; Essay-8
(I feel like I don’t do myself justice when it comes to the second time I took this; I was really sick.)</p>

<p>ACT (I plan on retaking this in September.)</p>

<p>Composite: 31
English: 29
Math: 34
Reading: 31
Science: 29</p>

<p>SAT II</p>

<p>Math IIC: 760
Biology M: 710
Spanish: 690</p>

<p>GPA</p>

<p>9th: 4.0
10th: 4.17 (3.83 unweighted)
11th: 4.67 (4.0 unweighted)
Composite (without 9th): 4.42 (3.92 unweighted)</p>

<p>12th grade</p>

<p>I plan on taking AP English (but no one gets A’s in this class), AP Gov/Econ, AP Spanish, Physics Honors, Wind Ensemble.
Then, Calculus C at the local community college, because I’ve already taken the highest math class at my school (AP Calculus BC).</p>

<p>Extracurriculars</p>

<p>Varsity Tennis (3 years)
JV Tennis (1 year)
Piano (11 years–I passed the level 10 test twice)
Flute: Wind Ensemble (1 year), Symphonic Band (2 years), Concert Band (1 year)
Marching band (1 year)
Unpaid internship (Summer 2006)
Stanford High School Summer College–Chemistry (Summer 2007)</p>

<p>I’m also in a couple of clubs at school, but it’s nothing to write home about.</p>

<p>So, if anyone can help me out and tell me that I’m not screwed and that I’m not a failure at life, that would be greatly appreciated. And for the record, I’m a very happy person and my name is not actually Girtrude. I thought had a bit of a ring to it, though.</p>

2

<p>Luckily you are a CA resident, so I think your chances at the top UCs are pretty good, especially if they superscore the SAT. A 31 ACT is probably good enough anyway, in state. Flopsy and Calcruzer haven’t been posting much lately, but they can give you a definite answer as they’re experts on the UC system.</p>

3

<p>I am 99% sure that you can get into the schools that you wrote down…i think a safe match for SD and a MAtch for LA and Berkeley…</p>

4

<p>Your SAT is a little bit low, but I’d say you can safely get into UCSD for sure :).</p>

5

<p>ucsd actually admits by numbers; they rate grades, ECs, etc and come up with a score. Do a google search and you can find the formula. And you can assume other UCs look at similar things, even if they don’t weigh them as mechanically.</p>

6

<p>You spelled Gertude wrong.</p>

<p>And, wrong forum.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the help! I greatly appreciate your taking the time to read through my boggled thoughts.</p>

8

<p>Compared to girls from my school (in state) who have gone to Berkeley, you’re in the same range.</p>

9

<p>UCs don’t superscore the SATs, so you’ll either have to retake the test or go with the scores from the 1st sitting</p>

10

<p>Your SAT scores are perfectly fine for Berkeley, UCLA, and UCSD. The math score (1st sitting) is more than fine. (“Fine” in this case means “falling within the mid 50% of first-year students.”) </p>

<p>Now… your rank. I understand that’s the important thing for UCs. It looks like you pretty much have to be in the top 10% of your graduating class to get into any of the schools you’re shooting for. </p>

<p>I don’t know how much ECs affect admissions in the UC system. Yours aren’t spectacular–at least by CC standards, which aren’t realistic standards in the context of all college admissions. You might be perfectly fine for the UCs. </p>

<p>Best wishes. :)</p>

11

<p>Thank you all for your opinions. Have a good summer!</p>

12

<p>You have accomplished a lot for soneome your age. You should be proud of yourself no matter where you go.</p>