chances of getting into UCI?

[a_2c+]

I am a junior. And i am curious. *copied from my yahoo answers page.*


*******
hi.

I am just wondering, at this point (2nd semester of my junior year), how am I doing in terms of getting into UCI, and I'm wondering how to improve my chances in order to get into UC Irvine.

I am aware my SAT's scores are a bit low, and my gpa took a major hit this year. I cannot express how worried/how much desire I have to get into UCI.... It's too much/too complex to say.

Here are my stats, grades 10-11 (* denotes college prep)

SOPHOMORE YEAR
AP Biology*...............................B...
Honors Algebra II*.......................C-/C-
AP European History*.................B/A-
Symphonic Band*.......................A/A
Spanish I*..................................A/A
Pre-AP English II........................B-/B

SUMMER VACATION (at community college)
Art 112 (Design I).......................A
Spanish 101(Spanish II)..............B

JUNIOR YEAR (after my school presumably implements the grade bumps....)


Leadership I A/A
AP English III* B/A
AP Physics B* D/D
Math Analysis (pre-cal)* C/C
ROP Restaurant A/A
AP US History* A/B

10-12 gpa (so far): 3.69 gpa UNWEIGHTED... 3.15 gpa
ACADEMIC (a-g requirement) weighted gpa: (10-12): 3.6 gpa
unweighted gpa: (10-12): 3.0 gpa

SAT scores, as of today, May 29, 2009:

SAT I 1750 (yes, i need at least 2000 for UCI, taking it again June)
SAT II's: US History: 680 Literature (didnt realize it was 12th grade english, uh oh 410

AP Scores: AP Euro History: 3
AP Bio: 1

as for this year's ap test grades, here's what i am expecting:
AP English III-pass, maybe a 4.
AP US History-5
AP Physics B- 2 (yea, i had to take it in order to keep my weighted grade...)

Extracurriculars: (+ indicates i am continuing that activity into next year.)

3+ years student gov't (1 year in actual class): representative 9/10th grade, class treasurer 11th grade. elected class treasurer for next year.

3+ years tennis. lettered soph/junior years.

1 year marching band.

around 60+ hours of community service @ library

NHS (National Honor Society) 2+ years

Key Club (1 year. quit cuz club started to do absolutely nothing.)


AWARDS:

elected most improved male band member, 1 year

made into county honor band 9th grade.

was part of tennis team: we won our very first league championship in school/league history.


also another award to add: I was chosen for RYLA scholarship camp, junior year.

Specials: I am first generation. Korean American


FUTUIRE PLANS: taking SAT I's this june (need 2000+), taking SAT IIs oct, nov (need 650+)

any comments, constructive criticism, advice, words are appreciated. I am the oldest of my family, my parents never went to college, so this is going to be a deep plunge on the fall of 2010.

thank you all!

****

thanks for any comments, constructive criticism, etc..
a_2c+

 

[WacArnold's]

Freshmen attending UCI have an average high school gpa of 3.72. Assuming that you get your desired score on the SAT, I'd say you have a reasonably good chance.

 

[UW_Husky88]

wth, this isn't college confidential. Google college talk, click the first hit and ask these questions over there.

 

[LuckyR]

wth, this isn't college confidential. Google college talk, click the first hit and ask these questions over there.

Go back to drinking your latte' lil dawggy. This is Odds and Ends, much much lamer threads have been started than this one.

As an Anteater alum, my question is why the specific attraction to Irvine? Oh and are you comfortable with Asian Americans?

 

[dave333]

I hope you love asians. If you do, you will love it there haha.

I'd say a decent chance. Definitely look for a higher SAT score though. If you get it above 2000 or so, you will have an extremely high chance.

 

[WacArnold's]

That's why I'd never go to a UC. I don't want to be around too many Asians even though I am one.

 

[a_2c+]

Go back to drinking your latte' lil dawggy. This is Odds and Ends, much much lamer threads have been started than this one.

As an Anteater alum, my question is why the specific attraction to Irvine? Oh and are you comfortable with Asian Americans?

yes, i am extremely comfortable with my kin. Though, for some reason, I prefer non-asian girls (caucasian, etc..)..... weird. but lol @ the asian american part lucky and dave

well, Why UC Irvine? I don't know, i feel, somehow, that i match with their environment. Plus, they have some wonderful literary programs, from what I 've heard.

Other reasons: I DO NOT want to go to UC Riverside. UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz are mainly focused on science programs, and I do not intend to pursue a major in science.

UCSD- same thing with the science focus. I wanted to go to UCLA, but i realize, given that competition for all UC's are going to be extremely fierce next year owing to the current econommic situation in California and USA, I realise my most realistic hope for a high quality education is going to be UC Irvine. Plus, it's really nice over there, etc...


I apologize if i irked some of you by posting here, but I wanted feedback from all sorts of people.

thank you,

a_2c+

**EDIT: here's the part I worry about the most: my D's in ap physics. I plan to make that class up via community college in the summer or regular school year next year. Any feedback about that?

 

[goober]

I would say you better apply to some back up schools even if you increase your SAT score. Unless you were sick or panicked, don't expect huge increases in your score.

Being Asian if anything will hurt you since UCs, especially UCI, are over represented with Asians.

 

[dave333]

The reason UC's have such a high number of asians though is because they are not allowed to take race as a factor at all, whereas other colleges in the nation (public and private) are allowed to make "diversity" part of their admissions process.

Without the whole diversity things, many more top colleges would have many more asians.

 

[AlphaCDjkr]

Heh. I wanted to go to Irvine, but I'm going to UC Santa Barbara after all. It's really just asian dominated or caucasian dominated (UCB/CAL,UCLA, UCSD,UCI,UCD are asian, UCSB and UCSC are caucasian dominated)

I don't know, it might not be more comfortable going to a place where my race is a minority, but I think it opens up the social window a little more than perpetually sticking around asians.

Oh. And affirmative action, HO!

 

[LanEvo]

the thing will all this is, ur SAT scores, dont have to be above 2000, its just reccomended, take me, i have taken the SAT 1s 2 times, and the highest of both times was a 1440/2400, got a 1380 my first time, now does it worry me, sure it does, but then again colleges do not just look at SAT scores, but everything else as well, and along with all this i am ranked Top 10 of my graduation class of over 400 ppl, and i have a weighted GPA of around 4.1, with an Unweighted of around a 3.9, as long as colleges see u take part in clubs, and extra curriculars, u should be fine, but its good to always have a back-up

 

[dave333]

Unfortunately, there are some colleges that actually do use SATs as a cut off. Though it is true that SATs aren't the only thing that will get you in (far from it), having a higher SAT score is something to work for if you want a higher chance at admissions.

In your case LanEvo, it certainly is impressive you ranked top 10 and have a 4.1 GPA, but your low SAT score indicates to colleges that your classes might not be the most rigorous ever.

 

[goober]

The reason UC's have such a high number of asians though is because they are not allowed to take race as a factor at all, whereas other colleges in the nation (public and private) are allowed to make "diversity" part of their admissions process.

Without the whole diversity things, many more top colleges would have many more asians.

Asians had a very high percentage of students at the UCs before the 1996 ban on affirmative action (prop 209). The numbers did go higher afterward, but they were high to begin with. UCI was already was the highest even back then at around 40-50%.

UC has been trying to circumvent and change things to decrease the number of Asians. Their latest attempt is to decrease the number of students guaranteed admissions based on grades and test scores and decrease the requirements for the SAT subject tests. These changes will take place in 2012.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30393117/

 

[El Diablo]

I don't think you'll have a problem when they see you pullled A's in "Restaurant."

 

[a_2c+]

I don't think you'll have a problem when they see you pullled A's in "Restaurant."

LOL. well, it's not an a-g class anyways...

to add this in: other options I have in mind include (however contradictory they are to my point of view : UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz, UC Riverside.

Then again, is it possible to get rejected from all the UC's, despite being qualified as part of the ELC? (I have doubts about the "guaranteed" part of ELC...)

thank you,
a_2c+

 

[serve and Justin]

The reason UC's have such a high number of asians though is because they are not allowed to take race as a factor at all, whereas other colleges in the nation (public and private) are allowed to make "diversity" part of their admissions process.

well that and the fact that California has more Asians than any other state...

I think if you get your SAT scores up a bit you should have a good chance...if the median gpa is 3.72 and you are in the 3.6 range with a good amount of AP classes you should be in...Just make sure you have your English teacher read over your essay...

just in case though apply to some other schools...