What are my chances for USC, UCLA, CSUN, and UC Berkeley?

Archive State Forums
1

GPA: 3.4
SAT: 1040 (new)

EC:
Singer, Actor and Dancer
Moved to LA to pursue a career in ^
ASB leader
Intern with a lawyer
Opened my own dog walking Business
LGBT Activist (my mom is lesbian)

Classes:
No AP because school doesn’t have them but I am doing dual enrollment at a community college during senior year and have received good grades in those classes.

Essays:
My common app essay was about how I had to have 2 spinal fusion surgeries due to scoliosis which caused complications close to death, etc. I talked about how the complications made me miss a ton of school and how I had to graduate a year late as a result. I also talked about how it made me a stronger person and how a setback caused me to learn perserverance on a deeper level and how I conquered these challenges.

My “Why USC” essay:
I talked in depth about how USC was my dream school and why I specifically wanted to attend Dornsife in the major of International Relations and Global Business due to my passion in politics and business. I talked about how I attended a USC tour and how I fell in love with the school and the little details about it.

My UC supplements:
In the one about a subject in school, I talked about how my economics class inspired me to open up my own business.
In one about failure or something (I can’t really remember), I talked about my back surgeries again.
In one about leadership in school, I talked about how I was selected (the only one ever for my school) to speak in front of the LAUSD school board and petition for a charter renewal.
I can’t remember the last one but it was good.

2

Your GPA will make USC and any of the UCs a tough admit. CSUN, however, is likely to accept you. A couple of others to consider, Chico, Sac, SF and for most majors, SJ.
Good luck.

3

For UCB, UCLA or USC, you might want to consider the community college route. It is a little easier to transfer than to be admitted directly from high school.

4

I suggest the community college route. If a top school is where you want to go, don’t settle. Enroll in community college and do well so you can transfer.

5

I will post some statistical data which will show that CSUN will be your only option.

Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCB: 2%
UCLA: 3%
UCSD: 6%
UCD: 15%
UCSB: 14%
UCI: 13%
UCSC: 59%
UCR: 78%
UCM: 92%

25th - 75th percentiles for SAT:

UCB: 1280-1490

UCLA: 1280-1500
UCSD: 1250-1470
UCSB: 1210- 1450
UCD: 1190-1430
UCI: 1190-1420
UCSC: 1170-1380
UCR: 1090-1310
UCM: 1020-1230

USC 2017 Fall Admit Data:

16.0% admitted
Middle 50% (unweighted 4.0 scale) GPA: 3.77 – 4.00

Middle 50% SAT Reading/Writing: 670 – 740
Middle 50% SAT Math: 680 – 780
Middle 50% SAT composite: 1350-1500

Although you have a compelling reason for your GPA, your test scores are also below the averages for these competitive schools. I agree the CC route would be a better option unless CSUN is somewhere you woukd want to go. Hopefully you applied to more than these 4 schools. Best of luck.