OP’s UC GPA is 3.1 according to her post, so most likely the UW is below 3.0. I believe she will have a hard time trying to gain an acceptance at the midtier UC’s even with that outstanding SAT score. Much will depend upon the reasons for the low grades and the strength of the essays. Anything is possible but not highly probable. She will not know unless she tries but needs solid backups to avoid being shut out.
hi...i found someone with stats similar to mine and i was just wondering what i should do extra to enhance my application. (btw this person got accepted to UCI but it was 2011 and i think its more competitive now)
03-24-2011 at 5:35 pm
“yeah i dont understand! since when did UCI get harder than UCSB and UCD??”
Haha, not exactly true. I got into UCI but waitlisted to UCD. I guess every UC has a different admissions criteria.
Flag Like Helpful Reply Share on Facebook
131
ikaros
ikaros
Posts: 33
Registered User
Junior Member
03-24-2011 at 5:53 pm
Decision: Accepted
Objective:
SAT I (breakdown): 2300 (800 CR, 750 M, 750 W)
SAT II: Math 2C (770), US History (760),
Literature (750)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 2.92
UC GPA: 3.08
Rank (percentile if rank is unavailable): 7th Decile
AP (place score in parenthesis): APUSH (5), AP Euro (4), AP Language (4), AP Literature (4), AP Macro-Economics (4), AP Psychology (4), AP Physics B (3), AP Micro-Economics (3), AP U.S. Gov’t & Politics.
Senior Year Course Load: Math Analysis, APES, World Lit, Econ/Gov, Spanish 3
Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): National Merit Semi-Finalist, AP Scholar w/ Distinction, OC Academic Decathlon 2nd Place Overall
Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Academic Decathlon Team Captain, Video Yearbook Graphics Editor, Environmental Club Publicity Commissioner
Job/Work Experience: Two-Month Summer Lab/Research Internship with undergrad college team at UCLA David Geffen, the results of which were presented at SFN Neuroscience Conference 2010
Volunteer/Community service: Cedars-Sinai Hospital, UCLA School of Dentistry
Personal Statement: Aiiiight, I guess.
Other
Applied for Financial Aid?: Yes
Intended Major: English
State (if domestic applicant): CA
School Type: Public Magnet
Ethnicity: Chinese-American
Gender: Male
Income Bracket: middle
Hooks (URM, first generation college, research, etc.): research?
Reflection
Strengths: Independent Study
Weaknesses: Lack of interest in high school classes, Got a D in Pre-Cal (lol)
Why you think you were accepted/waitlisted/rejected: Probably just for the English Program.
General Comments: Good Luck!!
@calibear123 That person had 3 SAT subject tests with high scores. It indicated that he/she mastered HS curriculum and capable to do college work. You should take 2,3 SAT subject tests (only in the subjects that you think you can do well and can get 650+. It will help if you have high scores in the subjects that you have low grades in HS).
2015 is different from 2011. I found some guy on CC admitted to UCSD with very low GPA back in 2007 but he would be rejected today.
?...this is 2015
[ size=+2][ color=green][ b]Decision: Accepted to Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
[ /b][ /color][ /size]
[ b]Objective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] SAT I (breakdown): 1850: Math 660, Reading 580, Writing 620
[ *] ACT (breakdown):
[ *] SAT II: Chemistry 660
[ *] Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.0
[ *] Weighted GPA (if available): 3.1
[ *] Rank/percentile (if available): Lower 50%
[ *] AP (place score in parenthesis): Chemistry (2) Biology (2) Environmental Science (In progress) Statistics (In progress) Literature (in progress)
[ *] IB (place score in parenthesis):
[ *] Senior Year Course Load: APES, AP Lit, AP Stats, Journalism, Economics/Government, Wieghtlifting
[ *] Major Awards (USAMO, Intel etc.): none
[ /list][ b]Subjective:[ /b][ list]
[ *] Extracurriculars (place leadership in parenthesis): Journalism (editor in chief, tech person), CMDC Dance crew (president, teach people how to dance and create choreography) Filipino Club (treasurer) Desi Club, Weightlifting
[ *] Job/Work Experience: none
[ *] Volunteer/Community service: 80 hours at a volunteer kitchen
[ *] Summer Activities: Lifting
[ *] Essays: 10/10
[ *] Teacher Recommendation: none
[ *] Counselor Rec:
[ *] Additional Rec:
[ /list][ b]Other[ /b][ list]
[ *] Applied for Financial Aid?: y
[ *] Intended Major:
[ *] State (if domestic applicant): CA
[ *] Country (if international applicant):
[ *] School Type:
[ *] Ethnicity: Asian
[ *] Gender: Male
[ *] Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.):
[ /list][ b]Reflection[ /b][ list]
[ *] Strengths: Nothing really LOL. EC’s?
[ *] Weaknesses: Everything.
[ *] Why you think you were accepted: I honestly don’t know. I got in though, so i don’t have to take the community college route. I messed up in high school, i did not know what i wanted to do with my life until senior year. So here’s to that second chance.
@Calibear this acceptance is for UCI and to be truely honest, UCI is an easier admit than UCSB. Also, the applicant may have not had much confidence in his academics, but his essays could have been very impressive along good leadership EC’s. For every low GPA acceptance, you can find several High GPA rejections or waitlisted appllicants. Just be aware of your chances and select schools where you are a solid Match/Safety along with the Reaches.
I wonder if UCSB release admission stats for 2015. I know some UCs will list the band of GPA and the percent that was admitted.
http://www.news.ucsb.edu/2015/015741/uc-santa-barbara-offers-admissions-29992-fall-2015
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe UCSB had the 3rd lowest acceptance rate among all the UC’s with UCSD trailing slightly behind at about 33%.
Here is a link to the admission rates for each UC Campus for 2014:
Yes, UCSB’s admission rate was lower than UCSD. UCI/UCD are about equal but UCI accepted about 3,000 applicants more than UCD. UCSD also accepted about 2500 less applicants than UCSB.
http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/freshman-admissions-summary
You can use this tool to see the GPA breakdown by UC campus. Unfortunately, it shows just 1% of admissions had between a 3.0 and 3.4 at UCSB last year.
It isn’t impossible but it it highly unlikely. Apply anyhow and explain your situation in a compelling manner in your essay. I hope it works out for you.
At the same time, recognize your admission to any UC straight out of high school is really unlikely due to your GPA. If you want to attend a UC, go to a CC and transfer. You are obviously bright but, circumstance didn’t favor you in high school. Bust your ass, get a 3.5 and the TAG framework to transfer in just 2 years.
If you are more open minded about the name on your degree, any CSU except SLO and probably SDSU would be happy to have you (assuming you’ve met the a-g requirements).
Good luck