So I'm taking the SAT tomorrow, and i'm probably going to get somewhere between 1900-2000. I'm a junior so I can probably take it more times in case. I just wanted to know if anyone here had knowledge or experiences about admission to the UC System. Keep in mind that I am primarily aiming at UCSD or better.
Here is some background. I have taken the following AP Classes, and gotten a 5 on them all
AP Comp Sci
AP Chemistry
AP Calc AB
This year I am taking AP Calc BC and AP Biology, as well as AP Chinese, which I hopefully don't drop. Next year I will probably be taking 2-3 APs too.
I have already taken 2 SAT Subject tests, 770 on Chemistry and 800 in Math Level II.
I have no community service, extracurricular activity apart from JV Tennis freshman and sophmore year and (hopefully) Varsity Tennis this year.
I've gotten A's in practically all my classes, but I don't know my latest GPA, however it is definitely somewhere 4.1-4.3. At my school we take up to 8 classes a year because of 4x4 schedule, however I only take 7 because of tennis.
So am I on track to make it into UCSD? My parents tell me that admission isn't as easy as I imagine it being and I have been a little worried because some people I know take 4-5 APs a year, while I only take 2 usually. They are probably aiming at MIT, but still they might not because of financial problems. Anyhow, tell me if you have any insight, but only if you have some experience to back it up.
EDIT: also I know my grades and stuff definitely do stack up if you compare them to the statistics, however my parents keep telling me that the statistics are offset by the quota of first-generation, financial aid, type students that they have to let in.
You have a school counselor, these are questions you ask him/her.
ask your school counselor, they should all that stuff.
[editline]11:05PM[/editline]
ninja'd
[QUOTE=infinitywrai;25312296]So I'm taking the SAT tomorrow, and i'm probably going to get somewhere between 1900-2000. I'm a junior so I can probably take it more times in case. I just wanted to know if anyone here had knowledge or experiences about admission to the UC System. Keep in mind that I am primarily aiming at UCSD or better.
Here is some background. I have taken the following AP Classes, and gotten a 5 on them all
AP Comp Sci
AP Chemistry
AP Calc AB
This year I am taking AP Calc BC and AP Biology, as well as AP Chinese, which I hopefully don't drop. Next year I will probably be taking 2-3 APs too.
I have already taken 2 SAT Subject tests, 770 on Chemistry and 800 in Math Level II.
I have no community service, extracurricular activity apart from JV Tennis freshman and sophmore year and (hopefully) Varsity Tennis this year.
I've gotten A's in practically all my classes, but I don't know my latest GPA, however it is definitely somewhere 4.1-4.3. At my school we take up to 8 classes a year because of 4x4 schedule, however I only take 7 because of tennis.
So am I on track to make it into UCSD? My parents tell me that admission isn't as easy as I imagine it being and I have been a little worried because some people I know take 4-5 APs a year, while I only take 2 usually. They are probably aiming at MIT, but still they might not because of financial problems. Anyhow, tell me if you have any insight, but only if you have some experience to back it up.
EDIT: also I know my grades and stuff definitely do stack up if you compare them to the statistics, however my parents keep telling me that the statistics are offset by the quota of first-generation, financial aid, type students that they have to let in.[/QUOTE]
I did much worse than you and got into UCSD so you should be fine. Actually you should probably work on getting leadership skills, a job, and extracurriculars. They're not as important but they're still useful to have.
Hahaha with an 800 on the Math II what the fuck are you worried about
You're a shoe in
Start finding community service/volunteer work/a job now and try to get two of those three by the end of the semester. The UC app asks for all three of those, and the more you have the better your application is going to look. Try to join a club or too as well, or find some other extracurricular to add to tennis. Your grades/test scores are more than enough to be eligible, but the UC system reviews each application holistically, going through each application one by one and considering each aspect. None of the UC schools are going to put each part of the application into different amounts of worth, and say that your GPA is worth more "points" for admission than your SAT II scores. Speaking of SAT II, if you're a junior now, you didn't need to take them. Next year they're getting rid of those for being required/recommended for UC/CSU apps.
The trick is balancing those extracurriculars/community service/jobs with your schoolwork to maintain those high grades. When you only have A's, there's only one way to go. I know the pressure; I'm a senior now and I only have like one B on my entire transcript. I started filling out my UC/CSU apps on October 1st as soon as they became available.
Don't start worrying about it yet and just work your best in all areas to make yourself more well-rounded when next year comes along and you're asked to fill out applications, write over-the-top personal statements, and start looking for scholarships on top of everything you're responsible for this year (grades, community service, etc.). If you plan on going into any high-ranked UC, it's going to take a lot of hard work and commitment. If you're so eager about UCSD specifically, visit the school at least 2 times to get your name floating around in the admissions office. Prospective students serious about going to a specific university, and who prove it by going out of the way to show the university, look more appealing to admit than someone who sends in an application and has never proven that he/she considers the college to be a top-choice relative to the others he/she is applying to.
Oh yeah, pro-tip: Begin working on your personal statement in the summer and try to have at least a rough draft done for each response before your senior school year starts. It'll make things a lot easier for your to focus on how you want to respond and try to make your application deviate from the thousands of others they're going to be reading.
[QUOTE=infinitywrai;25312296]
I have no community service,
[/QUOTE]
That could very well be your undoing, so I would recommend finding work ASAP.
19-2000, shoot for Stanford or something
[QUOTE=Sputn!k;25312745]19-2000, shoot for Stanford or something[/QUOTE]
Actually, more like 2-2500+
And also, NHS. National Honor Society. You get tons of service hours.
As people have said, get some community service, leadership, and if you can find an opportunity, maybe even a little more music or something performing-based to get you really diversified. Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, or something of that nature...even an internship somewhere, if you're really good...will look really good if you are going to be an engineering or science applicant. If you're in-state, I think you're already golden, though out of state is harder...I'm going to UCB from out-of-state, and my SAT score was only a little higher (2100-ish), though I had a lot more in the way of diverse extracurriculars.
Good luck, anyway.
I'm at UCSD, scored a 2200 on the SAT, 32 on ACT. Neither one's particularly hard, just study and understand it.
[editline]11:12AM[/editline]
I should point out that I was homeschooled and so I had NO in school activities, no awards, and only one thing of community service. I did, however, have excellent references. I suggest that. Also, write fantastic essays. They help too.
For Stanford you need to have 2300+ to be competitive, since they focus in admitting more legacies rather than new people
Apply for the CSU's, CAL Poly SLO rocks!
[quote=kontradaz;25316742]apply for the csu's, cal poly slo rocks![/quote]
yessssssss
I finally got into UCLA this year after doing some community college courses and volunteer work some local businesses/government. For some reason, UCLA is actually quite welcoming but you have to have that high SAT scores and stuff in order to be even considered for admission. But then again UCLA is also one of the most expensive. I'd stay at UCSD if I were you if you have any financial woes about it.
What is your major? There are much better UCs if you are looking for something in math, science or computer fields.
When you apply to a college like UCSD, do they ask what major you plan on going into? You may notice that i'm very heavy on the sciences and light on the humanities side, would that help me get into a science-related major?
Also, would tutoring be a good way to get community service? If you tutor in a school club, does some kind of supervisor sign a paper for your community service hours, or how does it work?
My parents and I both think just getting a normal job is a waste of time, because you're not getting anything out of it really.
You're definitely on your way academically speaking. However, you should want to look into community service, a job, and/or other extra curricular activities, colleges eat those up.
Every college asks for your major when you apply. Also, if you apply for an engineering or science major, you are more likely to get in, because less people enroll in those.
Tutoring is good, and basically any types of extra curricular activity. Jobs maybe. I don't think any college would care if you had a job at Mc Donalds during high school.
Also, I am a San Diego resident so that's why UCSD would work nicely for me.
my sat score?
2020, didn't study
:cool:
[QUOTE=pyrofiliac;25321006]my sat score?
2020, didn't study
:cool:[/QUOTE]
And what college did you get into?
To you guys who got into UCSD, what were your GPA's like?
OP makes me feel inadequate for high school now. Now I'm afraid I won't get into either of the colleges I applied at.
[QUOTE=UserDirk580;25321070]To you guys who got into UCSD, what were your GPA's like?[/QUOTE]
3.51 on a scale of 4.3. Most of the classes were APs/honors level
[QUOTE=5killer;25320973]Every college asks for your major when you apply. [b]Also, if you apply for an engineering or science major, you are more likely to get in, because less people enroll in those. [/b]
Tutoring is good, and basically any types of extra curricular activity. Jobs maybe. I don't think any college would care if you had a job at Mc Donalds during high school.[/QUOTE]
UCLA, UCSD, and Cal (UCB) are all impacted universities for all types of engineering majors, or at least most of them. Cal Poly SBO is also highly impacted in Engineering.
[QUOTE=darkrei9n;25321152]OP makes me feel inadequate for high school now. Now I'm afraid I won't get into either of the colleges I applied at.[/QUOTE]
Students are recommended to apply to at least 5 colleges due to how impacted the majority of universities are nowadays (for reasons I can't say I'm quite fond of). There's also nothing wrong with a junior college route, since transfer rates for incoming Juniors at 4-year universities are pretty high.
[QUOTE=markfu;25321204]3.51 on a scale of 4.3. Most of the classes were APs/honors level[/QUOTE]
That doesn't make sense. A GPA is not on a "scale" to my knowledge, apart from 1-5, what do you mean by this? You got 3.51 or 4.3?
[QUOTE=DSG;25322428]UCLA, UCSD, and Cal (UCB) are all impacted universities for all types of engineering majors, or at least most of them. Cal Poly SBO is also highly impacted in Engineering.[/QUOTE]
I'm having trouble understanding what you mean by "impacted". Does this mean their engineering departments have been cutting down on admissions? Not that I really plan on going into engineering, but it's a possibility.
Yeah, as far as impacted majors, it's the most difficult in Cal engineering to get in as an undeclared engineer or EECS major. And overall it's harder to get in to the College of Engineering than Letters and Sciences.
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