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I definitely don't have the extraordinary achievements that most of the people on these boards do and I realize that. I'm certainly not thinking about Ivy League schools either.

However, I do want to attend UCSD and am applying from out-of-state. My father is a California resident and claims me as a dependent for tax purposes, so supposedly (does anyone know otherwise?) I am exempt from out-of-state tuition.

-3.8/4.0+ GPA (unweighted/weighted)
-rank: 60/532
-SAT: 620 M, 710 V
-SAT IIs: 640 Math IC, 680 Writing, 750 Literature
-ACT
comp: 31
eng: 30
math: 28
science: 29
reading: 35
-5 AP courses, tons of Pre AP
11th
-AP Comp Sci I
-AP U.S. Government
12th
-AP English IV
-AP Comp Sci II
-AP U.S. History

-AP Tests
-Govt & Politics -5
-plan on taking English, Comp Sci A, and U.S.
tests in May

Extracurriculars
-National Art Honor Society (11th)
-FCCLA (12th)
-cooperative education program (12th)
-a little community service (12th)
-work (30+/week from 4/2001, will end 6/2003)
-I know they're lacking, but I've spent most
of my time working

Also, my personal statement is excellent, just in case that matters.

-Do you think I can get into UCSD? Other alternatives are USD and SDSU but I'm not too worried about those.

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 10:42 pm: Edit

I would say yes, UCSD is selective but not AS selective as UCLA or Berkeley. Their acceptance rate for fall 2002 was 41%, I think you'd make it.

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 10:43 pm: Edit

By the way, what do you want to major in and which of the 6 colleges have you selected as your UCSD college?

By fireflower on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 10:55 pm: Edit

Well I put Biochemistry down because my father insisted I pick a major for this school (now that I think of it, why did I listen to him?) but I’m sure I’ll change it later if accepted. Was that a bad thing to do? I chose Revelle as #1 because I like their philosophy and requirements. Will that hurt me?

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:09 pm: Edit

You don't have to pick a major, major is not considered at the UC's because like you say, students frequently change their minds once or twice during their tenure at the undergraduate university, on average. You can change your major on your Statement of Intent to Register, not to mention change your college if you decide not to go to Revelle, but if you don't take advantage of that opportunity then if you want to change either of those, it will be difficult to do those later. Whatever college you chose, Revelle or Muir or Roosevelt, it doesn't make a difference and it most certainly would not hurt you.

By fireflower on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:10 pm: Edit

Do you go to UCSD? Is it likely I'll get into the college of my first choice if accepted?

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:20 pm: Edit

Yes, I do go to UCSD. Yes, it's very likely you would get into your first choice. It's very rare that you wouldn't

By question on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:23 pm: Edit

What do you know about Sixth College? I'm kinda curious how it is run, being the 1st year and all.

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:31 pm: Edit

Well, I am from Roosevelt College, but I do know that Sixth College is very technology-oriented. It only has about 200 or so students this year because it is after all new; all 5 other colleges have around 3,000-4,000. Sixth College's philosophy focuses on using technology to better our lives. For example, you might have lectures through broadcasts or whatever, you should check out the website www.ucsd.edu for more details.

By fireflower on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:37 pm: Edit

I just visited the campus today (for the second time). I'm not too fond of the architecture (I like SDSU's better.) Also, I read somewhere that the average applicant who was accepted's high school GPA was a 3.99 but the average GPA after their freshman year is only a 2.75. It's a difficult school academically, right?

By UCSD on Monday, December 23, 2002 - 11:42 pm: Edit

Of course, but once the burden of getting into college is off, they tend to slack off. But they pick it back up as they near graduation.

By fireflower on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 12:04 am: Edit

I know this sounds ridiculous but I really want a 4.0 in college (I've hardly had to work at all for a 3.8 in high school, so I figure if I actually work hard in college, I'll be able to do it.) I want to go to a great medical school, which is one of the reasons for this. Is a 4.0 nearly impossible?

By UCSD on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 03:02 am: Edit

Of course, it isn't impossible. But remember to study, don't slack off because of your new independence. Anyone who slacks off now, to put it bluntly, is screwing their own future, that especially applies to people who want to get to grad school, med or law school.

By fireflower on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 03:20 am: Edit

Thanks for the advice. I have a cliché question: what were your stats from high school? I'd like to hear about a real student instead of reading averages and ranges.

By UCSD on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 12:18 pm: Edit

Well...

I had 1,350 SAT I (700 Verbal, 650 Math)
SAT II: 750 Writing, 650 Math IIC, 670 Literature
I took all AP courses,
my GPA was 3.7 unweighted.
Class Rank 15 of 556

By fireflower on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 11:19 pm: Edit

Those are pretty good. I really don't like SAT math because I can never remember the basic geometric concepts (I know I should have studied.) My math scores are sort of pathetic since I have the highest grade in my trig class (101) and hardly study at all. As for Writing, I was idiotic and didn't read the instructions for the essay until the last minute... so maybe I deserve what I got. The only standardized test score I was pleased with was my 35 Reading on the ACT. My high school is very competitive and I screwed around too much the end of sophomore year, which hurt me. But I doubt I'll get into to UCSD from out of state. Oh well. *sighs* I wish they would hurry up and reject me.

By UCSD on Tuesday, December 24, 2002 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Thanks, I hated how long you had to wait to get an answer from the UC's - don't you wish they offered early admission or whatever? It is quite hard to get into a UC from out of state - the minimum GPA requirement is 3.4? as opposed to 2.8 for California residents, I think. Best of luck.

By fireflower on Wednesday, December 25, 2002 - 02:23 am: Edit

Yeah, I won't find out until early March, if that soon, and it's driving me crazy, you know, because I'm obsessive about planning my college career and can't be too sure where I'm going yet. Maybe I'll see you there.

By bump on Tuesday, December 31, 2002 - 01:14 am: Edit

bump

By fireflower on Wednesday, January 08, 2003 - 09:05 pm: Edit

Can anyone else offer advice?

By sexyplexiglass on Friday, February 07, 2003 - 10:16 pm: Edit

Yeah Sure...
I'm a student at UCSD 6th College, and I find it easier that if you don't worry about your High School stats, you won't be as stressed... Like My High School Stats were:
3.57/4.0 GPA (unweighted/weighted)
22/624
1180 SAT (610 M 570 V)
SAT IIs
- 670 Writing
- 660 Chem
- 650 Math IIc
APs
- Chem 2
- Stats 4
- Calc AB 4
- Calc BC 1
- Physics Mech (1), E&M (2)
- US History 2
A whole mess of Honors courses
Extracurriculars
- Hip Hop Dance Team
- Church Youth Group
- Asian American Club

so you see, as weak as my high school life was, i didn't stress out or panic or anything like that... I still believe that I got into UCSD due to Affirmative Action... But still it is a great school. If you like creating your own college life, it would be best to go to 6th because it offers so much since it is barely starting out.. and yes you'll probably change your major, I have from Comp Eng to ICAM... so yeh hope this info is useful...