<p>Hey everyone, I’m from California and the way things are looking for me, I’m a reach for most of the UCs here, and I’m trying to stay away from CSUs (I know they’re decent schools, but the general consensus at my school is if you go to a CSU you’re a failure, with the exception of Cal Poly SLO). I go to a pretty competitive school, if you can’t tell. One of the biggest reasons why I want to get away from California is because I want to have an alma mater that I can be proud of that has a lot of school spirit, and anywhere besides USC, UCB, and UCLA are all lacking in that respect.</p>
<p>My GPA is terrible; I was lazy my freshman and sophomore years.</p>
<p>Rank = 203/653
UW GPA = 3.4, W GPA = 3.5 (I assume tOSU only takes unweighted?)
SAT I = 1840 (I retook them last weekend, should be better)
SAT II = Math II:690, Literature:660
ECs = NHS member, 4 years of varsity baseball, FBLA member, Interact (Rotary) member, lifetime California Scholarship Member, ASB officer for junior & senior year
only about 150 hours of community service.</p>
<p>I know I qualify for the National Buckeye Scholarship, and if I get that I think my parents will let me go out of state because it would offset the cost of OOS tuition. What do you think? Should I take the ACTs? I’m a good test-taker, it’s just that I never studied for SATs. I heard that the ACT’s questions were easier, but you were alotted less time. Is this true?</p>
<p>If the mid-level UCs (Davis, Irvine and Santa Barbara) are reaches, then Ohio State will be also. Plan on top 15% of your high school class and an SAT (M+V) of no lower than 1280 (ACT 28) to have a likely chance of admission.</p>
<p>Right now, I think you’re on the fence, so you should definitely apply. Retake the SAT and take the ACT. Your high school’s rigor and competitiveness will be factored into your class rank.</p>
<p>Okay thanks for the input! Right now my SAT (no writing) is 1300, and I think it’ll be higher when I get my new scores. How much of a factor is school competitiveness? Our school’s API (Academic Performance Index) is 100 more than any other school in our district, and it’s in the top 20% of California; do non-Cali schools look at API scores and that type of thing?</p>
<p>& I say reach for UCs because their admissions are all over the place; I know people who had amazing stats and were rejected, while people with just mediocre scores got accepted. So I’m not counting on it, but I’m still going to apply.</p>
<p>How Ohio State views the competitiveness of a California high school is something that I can’t really comment upon. With Ohio schools, admissions clearly knows the schools’ reputations and what class rank really means. It’s a good question, and one that I would address directly to an admissions counselor. </p>
<p>Right now, I think you have a very good chance at admission but without rank and SAT being in the top quartile, I don’t want to say it’s a sure thing.</p>
<p>I was out of state last year from MD. I got in with a 4.0 and 27 ACT, and I didn’t submit my SATs cause I didn’t do well on them. I didn’t really take the ACTs or SATS seriously and I would have got a lot more scholarship money if I did. But I think you have a good shot. Some of my friends said they knew people from their schools (in Ohio) that they were really surprised didn’t get in, so I think it definitely helps to apply form out of state. Write a good essay and submit your app early. I heard back from them within 2-3 weeks. Good luck!</p>
<p>DS is currently a freshman at tOSU and was accepted last year as OOS with a wgpa 3.5 and 30 ACT from highly ranked high school. Received Buckeye and Provost scholarships and accepted into Scholars program. The Ohio State Alumni clubs in Southern California also provide scholarship money for California high school students.</p>