I’m not a Linguistics expert by any means, but my impression is that, say, San Diego also has a well-regarded department, and I can actually see in NCES data it is a relatively popular major there.
And then maybe not quite as much as San Diego, but at least Davis and Santa Barbara also seem to have reputable departments with a popular major.
So just to clarify, if the OP could get admitted to UCs like those, would you still suggest they go to a CC instead, as a way of trying to hold out for Cal or UCLA?
As others have said, UIUC and UW are not guaranteed. If you don’t mind Merced, then if there are available spots, then maybe it’s “guaranteed .” But are you top 9%? See GumbyMom’s post.
Safeties would be suggested since reaches are always reaches and the UCs are not safeties.
Class of '25 parent here. This has to be wildly untrue. As a credentialed public health nurse who was employed by Santa Clara County in the first of its kind mass Covid vaccine rollout, there is NO WAY the California DPH authorized something like this over 2.5 years as you say. Additionally, I cast a lot of doubt that you “hired gov’t staff” for vaccination administration. I was one of these vaccinators and the process did not at all work like this. The amount of overhead and oversight that was required with just ONE of our vaccination sites (I was at the County Fairgrounds) could absolutely NOT be “presented to city hall and the state CA covid branch” and have them give the green light. As someone upthread mentioned, this description would certainly turn heads in an AO read, especially in a California school because this is not at all how the vaccine or testing rollout worked here.
I’m going to echo the other advice you received here: you need a more balanced list, your GPA alone might not pass the first round app glance at your Reaches and therefore your Hooks and Main EC’s may never get looked at and impact a “holistic review.” And this questionable experience of “spearheading and running an entire Covid testing and vaccine drive for 2.5 years” is not something a high school student could ever do.
Hi! I taught myself BC over a 4 day weekend over COVID because of I was bored. I’ve been advanced for a long time and learned super fast… My teacher showed me the LOR and she talks about how my mathematical performance outperforms virtually every stdudent she has ever encountered. Topology ofc took a longer time, I’ve been studying that with my ap stats teacher’s help (She has a masters in mathematics) for 2 years-ish now? It’s really my GA I’m sorried about. I don’t really have any issues with UCM either, worst casee I transfer
I totally get your point. I go into much more depth in my essays, but at a higher level that truly is what happened. I have a rec letter from the mayor (who worked with me closely during the drive) discussing, in detail, my essential central role throughout the process, as well as the leading of dozens of citywide events. been featured in papers a few times for my work, and I’ve worked with him a LOT. I understand it might sound like a stretch but let me be clear, I’ve been working with my city hall for a very long time now. With all of the work and all I was spent most of my summer within the planning committees, etc. I toned down my impacts on my activities section and I’m relying on that LOR from the mayor to detail my indespensible influence as a leader in my community. Hope that helps!
I’m having trouble reconciling someone who didn’t do well in HS level science because of poor teaching during Covid who is able to self study an entire year of Calc BC over a weekend. Why not self-study Chem and Bio while you’re at it??? And why study Topology if you were struggling in physics- why not just buckle down and learn physics?
Nevertheless, I’m going to take on faith that you’ve done the things you say you’ve done. If it were me, I’d edit down the EC list-- even if you did all these things, you start to lose focus as a human being when the list is so long and somewhat unrelated. So I’d be focused on “I’m an athlete who has done a lot of work in the community” (Eagle Scout, the vaccination thing).
If you are able to strike a humble tone in your essays, I think you’ve got a good shot at one of your reaches- maybe more. And if you’re OK with Merced than anything else is gravy!
I don’t know what it is about science, but motivation has been an all time low with it. I just never developed a love for it, partially because of the bad teachers. At one point I was considering leaving mathematics (thank god I didn’t) because I went to low income schools without accelerated programs. Khanacademy and a bunch of online university courses have carried my journey. But science has never clicked until ap right now.
I did confirm I am ELC in my school with the 3.83; There are many students who are not academically inclined at my school; There really isn’t an “average” student at my school, either kids get straight A’s or straight Cs. Not really many in my situation (10-20 students MAX)
Thank you for this sm! I was alr toning down some of my achievements (I don’t even mention the extent to which I learned, I just mention in my Stanford math tournament essay that “I taught myself calculus over summer of freshman year.” I really want my LORs to do all the bragging for me. Everyone’s advice has been so useful for me, and I’m truly blessed to have such a community.
I’m OK with going to UCM/UCR; Depending on the scholarship packages I will definitely consider CC if it is easier (Just worried about running out of math courses as someone upthread stated) but I’ll finish my geneds and transfer out. Best case I can transfer into a dream school, worst case TAG guarenteees a UC. I really go appreciate everyone’s help and I really think it has benefitted me. TYSM!!
Totally forgot, here is the full list of colleges:
Harvard, MIT, Stanford, CMU, Cornell, Columbia, UIUC, University of Washington. I have auto-acceptances from UoP and ASU with 90-95% scholarship but will probably still choose a UC.
Honestly, I don’t think any of the schools on your list would admit a student without looking at their GPA.
(Just personal opinion.)
I teach APCSA and other programming courses in a Texas public high school. Every year I see students who would pour their hearts out on one thing and set everything else aside. I tell them that those Bs and Cs reflect not only their knowledge and skill levels but also their attitude towards school and learning. Having Bs in one subject means they are not that interested in it, which is ok; however, having a lot of As but several Bs in multiple subjects (in our school) means they are not serious about school work, which is not ok for a student, especially a capable one. (Having all Cs is a different story though.) It’s like me as a teacher explains all the topics clearly and effectively from multiple viewpoints to students with different learning styles; however, I don’t do my lunch or bus duty, don’t go to students’ games, don’t celebrate them getting driver’s licenses, don’t care if my hallway neighbors need help, because those things are not of my interest. If that, I’m still a very good subject expert, but I’m not a good teacher, and no principal would want me on their team.
Did you take the Calc BC AP Exam and if so, what was your score?
I don’t think being “self taught” is as exciting for an Adcom as you believe. Initiative is great. Intellectual passion is great. A desire to learn more is great. But these pesky grades, scores, etc. are the “norming” mechanisms.
If you are a nice humble person IRL and you convey that in your essays and in the teacher recommendations, then this could all read as “Wow, we need this kid on our campus”. If there’s a hint of over-confidence or arrogance, then your grades start to come in to play. No way to predict.
U Chicago for example (I don’t remember- is it on your list?) They have moved away from their “intellectually quirky” brand, but they will “get you”. And it’s a great place for the mathy-kids.
OP should check but you might not have to apply to UC Merced on the UC application to get the ELC guarantee that the top 9% of students get. If you get rejected from the UCs you applied to then UC might tell you that you are accepted to UC Merced for your ELC. But like I said, OP should research this and understand it.
not 240k in the bank (that would be absurd lol) but between scholarships, save, job currently, investment portfolio, parents contr. and expected school job I’m set for around that much.
