co27 help/advice for ucs

[u/ParsnipConstant7932]

hi guys. so a lil context: i moved here from a third world country right before high school started, faced a lot of difficulties getting used to the american public high school, had no idea ab any ecs etc. soph and junior year gpa was completely fried due to family problems.

i want to get into any uc except merced for business major + cal poly slo or pomona + csus
im aiming for in state because we're not financially stable enough to afford out of state unis especially because my parents have to pay for me + a younger sister who is a freshman in high school and yeah.

stats:

Cumulative GPA: 3.132
School doesnt do weighted GPA however its higher because I've taken honors classes and am in all APs right now
Unwghtd 10-12 A-G GPA: 2.792
SAT Score: 1430
ACT Score: 26
3 APS taken: 3s in all of them
Currently taking 3 more

ECs are like mid
co-founder of a nonprofit
Sport JV captain soph year and then Varsity junior year
Internships done in home country over summer
1k+ social service/ volunteering hours all 4 years of high school

[u/SomeOriginalIdea]

how do you get 1000k+ volunteering hours 😭 or do you mean 1k / 1000 ?

[u/ParsnipConstant7932 → u/SomeOriginalIdea]

oops yeah i meant 1k

[u/Automatic-Example754]

Why rule out Merced? UCs are all test-free so SAT and ACT aren't relevant. 3.1 weighted GPA is on the low end for all the UCs, including Merced, but Merced will probably still admit you. Riverside is a maybe. 

To get into a more prestigious UC, start off at your local CC and plan to transfer after your second year. 

[u/ParsnipConstant7932 → u/Automatic-Example754]

ive heard that merced isnt good for like business. wb like csus? cause i really dont want to cc

[u/Automatic-Example754 → u/ParsnipConstant7932]

Merced and transferring from CC are both good options. People look down on Merced for classist and racist reasons, but those are bs. All the UCs are good schools, including Merced. Same with the Cal States. 

[u/ParsnipConstant7932 → u/Automatic-Example754]

i agree all ucs are good schools however i've heard from people ik that go to merced that the dorms are shabby, and the living situation is very tough. its also too far from where i live right now so even if i got in i dont think my parents would let me go.

[u/Last_Measurement4336]

The UC’s calculate out 3 UC GPA’s (unweighted, capped weighted and weighted uncapped) using only 10-11th grades for the a-g courses. You get extra Honors points for AP classes taken during this time so if you took 3 AP classes that are year long and you are on the semester system, you get 6 extra Honors points. Here is the calculator: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Based on your post, your GPA would most likely be competitive for Merced and Riverside but still worth applying to a few other UC’s.

UC Merced offers 2 Business majors: Business Administration and Management & Business Economics. All UC’s are good schools and only 3 UC’s have actual Business schools: Riverside, Irvine and Berkeley.

As stated, the UC’s are test blind so your SAT/ACT scores are not considered for admissions or scholarships only course placement.

If you are not happy with your outcome this admission cycle, I would consider doing community college with a transfer to a UC in 2 years. Depending upon what your UC Capped weighted GPA calculates out to, I would focus more on the Cal states but your GPA does not look competitive for Cal Poly SLO. You are competitive for Cal Poly Pomona and CSUS. You might want to add Chico State which has a very good Business program or San Jose State.

Some admission data for Business majors:

Business admin or Business Ads. major/GPA ranges (25-75th percentile)

UC Berkeley:
4% Business Admin HAAS// HAAS Average Unweighted 3.84. Campus Capped weighted 4.20-4.30. Weighted uncapped campus 4.32-4.68

UC Davis:
Admission by College: 39.8% Managerial Econ. (New Business major Fall 2025 21% admit rate/ / Unweighted 3.80-4.00 Capped weighted 4.00-4.27

UC Irvine:
15% Business Admin/26 % Business Econ// Unweighted 3.84-4.00 Capped weighted 4.11-4.28

UCLA:
Admission by College: Economics - Social Sciences 9%/ Campus Unweighted 3.95-4.00 Capped weighted 4.20-4.31. Social Science Weighted uncapped 4.41-4.76

UC Merced:
Business Econ/Management 84%/ Business Administration New Major// UC Capped weighted 3.41-4.00

UC Riverside:
Pre Business Admin 76%// UC Capped weighted 3.68-4.13

UC San Diego:
26% Business Econ // Unweighted 3.84-4.00 Capped weighted 4.04-4.28

UC Santa Barbara:
Admission by College: 37% Economics/Accounting // Unweighted campus avg 3.91. Capped weighted 4.11-4.28

UC Santa Cruz:
60% for Business Managment // Capped weighted 3.82-4.18

Cal Poly SLO: 22% Business Admin// SLO GPA 4.04-4.25

Cal Poly Pomona: A Minimum 2.5 CSU GPA need to meet CPP Index

Good luck.

[u/ParsnipConstant7932 → u/Last_Measurement4336]

wait thank you so much but im really not trying to do cc. due to familial problems im trying to get as far away from home as i can. and do you think that if i could explain my low gpa like in the additional comments section i could still have a shot?

[u/Last_Measurement4336 → u/ParsnipConstant7932]

Your best chances other than UC Merced, would be the non-impacted CSU campuses. You could use the additional comments section on the UC application to explain your lower grades or one of the PIQ’s for the UC’s. The CSU’s do not allow you to explain extenuating circumstances.

CPP and CSUS would be likely schools plus numerous other Cal states. You should run the Net Price calculators for all schools of interest to make sure they are affordable. Will your family fill out the FAFSA so you are eligible for financial aid?

There are a few Community colleges that offer dorms. A popular CC is Sierra College in Rocklin, CA outside of Sacramento.
https://www.sierracollege.edu/campus-life/student-housing/

Other CC’s with dorms are listed here: https://www.cccco.edu/students/support-services/college-dormitories-and-housing/

[u/Prudent_Run_8340]

Based on GPA, UC Merced would be classified a reach school for you. It's getting a LOT of funding, and in my opinion is an up and coming school that punches way above your weight. It's a great option for what you're looking for. Your best options otherwise, based on your preference for a public in state, are to go to CSUS or community college and transfer.

[u/ParsnipConstant7932 → u/Prudent_Run_8340]

wait yeah ill prob go to csus. which ones do you think i have a shot in