Hi all, I'm a high school junior starting to research college options. I'm considering UC San Diego, and I'm wondering what GPA range they typically look for in admissions. Any insights would be appreciated!
Hello! UC San Diego (UCSD) is a part of the University of California system, and like other UC schools, it places a strong emphasis on your weighted and unweighted GPA. While UCSD doesn't have a strict GPA cutoff, you'll want to aim for a competitive GPA to maximize your chances of being admitted.
In general, for UCSD, a weighted GPA of 4.0 or higher is considered competitive, while an unweighted GPA should be around 3.85 or higher. Keep in mind these numbers are just guidelines; the average admitted student varies from year to year. UCSD is a highly selective school, and they evaluate applicants holistically, so try your best to maintain a strong GPA in a rigorous course load with a good mix of honors, AP, or IB courses, if available at your school.
You should also be aware that the UC system calculates GPA using only your grades from sophomore and junior years in A-G courses. They'll also factor in up to 8 semesters of honors, AP, or IB courses, with a maximum of 4 semesters coming from the 10th grade. When calculating your UC GPA, up to four semesters of honors courses will be given an additional weighted point; for example, an A in an honors course would receive a weight of 5, while an A in a regular course would receive a weight of 4.
Keep in mind that other factors, such as extracurricular involvement, personal insight essays, and any special circumstances, will also be considered in the admissions process. GPA is just one part of your application, so make sure to present a well-rounded profile to boost your chances at UCSD. Good luck!
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