Your application will be reviewed in the context of your HS but any GPA below a 4.0 will make UCLA and UCB super Reaches. Your SAT also does not help your chances.
2019 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 1%
UCLA: 2%
2020 Data:
25th - 75th percentiles for SAT totals:
UCB: 1320-1560
UCLA: 1350-1550
**2020 UC capped weighted GPA averages along with 25th-75th percentile range: **
UCB: 4.22 (4.13-4.30)
UCLA: 4.25 (4.18-4.31)
@kiyotaka …based on your post, I do not know if Texas A&M is a school you are seriously considering or just one on your list. Nevertheless, my response is specific to A&M if you decide to apply.
The admission rate to Texas A&M can be a bit misleading. Doing a Google search on the school’s admission rate makes it seem like a safety when in reality it is more likely a match (or even a reach for some applicants). A&M is a safety for students who are in-state and who are in the top 10% of their class (an auto-admit). If you are out-of-state, or if you are not in the top 10% of your class, you are considered a “review admit”. Applying to a very competitive major (engineering or business, for instance) could also affect your chances of admission even though you have a strong GPA and SAT score…i.e. you might be admitted to the university but NOT admitted into the business or engineering school.
Your stats are impressive, and I think you are very competitive for admission. However, many students make the mistake of thinking they are guaranteed admission and do not put the time and effort into their applications. Texas A&M requires multiple essays, and even things like specific engineering short-answer prompts. A&M will also consider resumes and letters of recommendations. All of these “extras” can have a direct effect on admission for a “review admit”.
Keep in mind there will LITERALLY be thousands of applicants to A&M with stats just as impressive, or even more impressive than yours. If you want to get a real idea of your chances, go to the Texas A&M Class of 2025 admission thread here on CC. You can get more of an idea of where you stand with your stats.
This idea of SAT being optional is really more for low income disadvantaged kids. Not sending an SAT for any other reason is a red flag and will hurt you. I would add a couple of safety schools to that list. SMU, UT Dallas, and A&M are the only ones on that list you should feel comfortable about. If you are full pay, you may squeak into one of the other schools on the list. Good luck.
Maybe under normal circumstances, but not this year. Many students have had 4-5 registered SAT dates cancelled on them with ZERO opportunity to take them anywhere else. This is a very valid reason to not submit scores. UCs are not accepting test scores this year at all. I do believe that if you have a great score it will help you. OPs score is not in that range though (for many schools.)
Curious, which schools on that list other than Northeastern are need aware? The last 7 listed US ones are all need blind, not sure about the Canadian or Texas schools.
Direct admission to business, engineering, or CS at the University of Washington will be tough with your stats. I would spend a lot of time on crafting your essays to boost your chances.
I suggest the University of Maryland, College Park. Sergey Brin is an alumus of their CS department. Engineering and CS have decent rankings. Deadlines for early application and regular decision are 11/1 and 1/20, respectively.
