Hey, I was wondering what were my chances of getting into a college based off of times, etc. Thanks.

if you can't get into ucla with your academics alone, then please, cry.

Pictures would be appropriate in determining whether or not you are accepted. Right now it's up in the air....

How did you manage to get higher than the maximum allowable score on the SAT (1600)? You must be hella smart!

Just kidding, you are dumb.

I'm a little behind the curve with the new SAT scores, but did you get a 2240 out of 2400? If so, that is outstanding. Also, if your grades are based on a 4.0 scale, then your grades are also very good. Admissions board people will not have a problem with you having a hard semester. You are learning and growing, and that's okay.

I'm not an expert, but your 1600 time especially is very good. I'll bet you're also capable of running a faster 3200 time than the 11:01 you've posted so far. What's your highest place in a state meet?

UCLA and Berkeley don't have the best teams, and it seems to me you have an excellent chance to go to these schools based on your academic achievement and your running performance. It would be worth contacting the coaches at the respective schools if you have not already been contacted by them.

I'm just curious what your high school training is like. What is your weekly mileage? How does your coach train you? Are you the best girl on your distance squad?

Also, do you know your class rank? Are you in the top 10% or your class. Ask your high school counselor for this information if you do not know it. It will only take them a second to look it up for you.

Are you considering any other schools? You could go a lot of places. Your high school times are comparable to many girls who make Ivy League squads.

Princeton's Elisabeth Molen (Alabama h.s.) ran 5:01 and 10:47, and Brooke Russell (Santa Clarity, California hs) ruan 4:59 and 2:17 for the 800. You could also check Dyestat to compare how you're doing against other girls. Look at their times and the schools they got into. That can give you an idea. Also, look at the average SAT scores for the freshmen they admitted last year (at UCLA and Berkeley), and you can see how your score stacks up.

Thanks for the advice. Yes, I got 2240/2400 (the new SAT is out of 2400).

My times have improved a lot from last year because I put in around 50-55 miles per week and my times started dropping immensely. I haven't run in a state final yet because in most sections in California, if you want to make state you usually need to at least be under 11 or under 5:00 or so (though a 5:00 might get you to state trials). I'm hoping to at least get to state trials this year (or at least sectional finals), and I also improved from last year so that will make a difference as well.

Like I said above, for the past year I've been consistently putting in about 50-55 miles per week. This includes long runs, tempo runs, easy runs, and then more specifically for track season, interval sessions. I am currently the best girl on the distance team, though last year I wasn't.

I'm not sure of my class rank because I don't think our school does the class rank system (but I can always ask the counselor to make sure).

Ever since I came to high school or even in middle school, a school like Berkeley/UCLA was one of my top choices. I've seen the campus and I like both schools (from what I have seen). I don't really want to go to the east coast as much (Haha, I like California), though if I got into an Ivy league/had a possible chance at going there then I would definitely consider it.

I think my SAT score is above average for UCLA/Berkeley though my GPA is around average (and the unweighted GPA is a little lower than the average I think). Academics is more of a priority to me than running, but I would like to be part of a good team and get faster in college as well.

I will definitely contact the coaches then, I was just wondering if it was realistic for me to set my goals on these schools. I appreciate all the advice that's been given so far/other peoples' experiences/stories regarding the schools, so thanks for all the help so far :).

That's a good SAT score. I took the old one but my brother is a junior and got 1800 and doesn't want to retake it even though I keep telling him he's smart enough to get a better score. He's taking AP calculus and a few other APs too.

The coaches should be able to hook you up with a scholarship of some sort at UCLA or Berkeley with those scores. You could probably get really good scholarships if you look at other schools on the west coast too. You might want to look at the University of Portland or Washington. Good luck.

The UCLA women's distance program is the most under-achieving program in the country. I think they got last in cross country last fall. And they are doing terrible in track so far. My cousin runs on the men's team at UCLA, and he tells me that the women's distance coach is always yelling and screaming at the distance girls. He told me that things will only get worse with the UCLA distance runners. Cal-Berkeley is a much better school. Their academics and athletics are very good. Cal would be a great fit for you.

Have you no decency?

There are two more pieces of advice I would like to give.

First, have you decided on a major? What do you want to study? Make sure that whichever school you pick has a good program in your major. And, going deeper than that, try to examine yourself as to why you want to go to the school you do. If you were a little kid and wanted to go to UCLA, you could examine yourself (your goals, what you are hoping to get out of your college experience). Sometimes your expectations can change, and what you wanted as a younger person is no longer valid. Only YOU can decide what it is that YOU want.

Secondly, always try to find out about the coach, what their philosophy is, and always talk to athletes who are on the team now. That's very important. Is the coach a screamer, or is he/she more laid back? What is the tone on the team? Do the runners all get along and help each other, or is it more competetive--competetive even at practices? Don't attend college blindly. You should understand going in what your role will be. If you end up being 9th woman, say, on your cross country team, will you get to travel to away meets, that sort of thing? Sometimes there are pecking orders on teams. It can be discouraging to be on the second tier in the pecking order, watching all the first tier women getting all the perks, when you're used to being at or near the top. Having some idea of what your adjustment will be once you get there will help you decide and then to be successful once you're there. You may not make varsity your freshman year, but could be on varsity by your sophomore year.

Your mileage and training seems very good for high school. Realize you will probably train harder in college than you are now, and that will be an adjustment too.

I can understand you not necessarily wanting to go east (for Ivy League or whatever). A runner like Sara (Bei) Hall would probably have struggled if she had gone east because she doesn't like cold weather. I just wanted you to see that you are right in there with many of the girls that make those teams (not at the top, but in a good position to be accepted to those schools and make those teams).

Keep academics at the forefront when considering prospective schools. When you apply, if you can convince the admissions people that you can take advantage of what they offer at their particular school, that will improve your chances of getting in.

SomeonesDad wrote:

I can understand you not necessarily wanting to go east (for Ivy League or whatever). A runner like Sara (Bei) Hall would probably have struggled if she had gone east because she doesn't like cold weather. I just wanted you to see that you are right in there with many of the girls that make those teams (not at the top, but in a good position to be accepted to those schools and make those teams).

Keep academics at the forefront when considering prospective schools.

I know runners (i.e. women) who attended Ivy League schools who didn't have your academics/SATs. With your current times, you would be very competitive in that league.

Again, academics should be the first priority.

Honestly.. wrote:

How did you manage to get higher than the maximum allowable score on the SAT (1600)? You must be hella smart!

Just kidding, you are dumb.

__________________________________________

New SAT scoring system since 2004. Now who's dumb?

I just wanted to clarify:

When I said "You are right in there with many of the girls that make those teams (not at the top, but in a good position to be accepted to those schools and make those teams)" I was referring to your running. You academics are excellent. You could handle Ivy League academically, if you chose to go there. There are many girls who had times about where yours are and made varsity their freshman years.

The second thing, "convince the admissions people that you can take advantage of what they offer at their particular school," means you could probably be successful anywhere, but one school will be a better fit for the goals you have. Maybe you're into physics and the school has a particle accelerator or something that nobody else has--You decide why going to your choice of school is a good decision for you.

Good luck making your choices, and with the rest of this track season. If I was your dad, I'd be very proud.

Thanks a lot for the good answers. I'm not yet sure what I want to major in, but I've liked engineering, etc. Obviously this would make Berkeley a very good school for this major.

In terms of contacting the coach, should I just email him and tell him that I'm interested in attending the school/running on the team? Thanks.

RedsoxFAN wrote:

Honestly.. wrote:

How did you manage to get higher than the maximum allowable score on the SAT (1600)? You must be hella smart!

Just kidding, you are dumb.

__________________________________________

New SAT scoring system since 2004. Now who's dumb?

It was introduced in 2005 actually, first class to take it was '06. Now who's dumb?

Sorry. I didn't see your reply before now.

I am not sure about NCAA rules as you are still a junior right now, correct? I think it is okay for you to contact the coach, but not for him to contact you until you are a senior (or something). There are a lot of other people at LetsRun who know the rules better than me.

Can you ask your h.s. coach to contact the Berkeley coach for you?

Otherwise, you could try contacting the NCAA (phone or e-mail) and asking them if it's permissible for you to contact a college coach as a junior. I'm pretty sure it's okay, but it's probably best to be sure.

You know, being just a junior, your times are very good. You'll probably be getting a lot of mail next year once cross country season gets rolling.

Like you said, your GPA is on the low end for many top colleges, but your SAT score is outstanding and your running times would definitely help with admission. You should get into Cal and UCLA easily, but really you could go just about anywhere. If your family is wealthy and will have to pay the full price than a UC is probably a good choice, but if you're going to get a lot of financial aid I would look into private schools. If you don't want to go to the east coast Stanford might be a good choice. Stanford would probably be a stretch for you to get in on academics alone, but I'm pretty sure your running would put you over the top. Good luck.

Also, I had a 1360 old SAT, 3.9 GPA (4.45 weighted) and ran 15:29 at Mt. SAC. I got in everywhere I applied including Cal and UCLA but decided to go the D3 route since my running was nothing spectacular.

Hurrah, another, "Where do YOU go to school" thread!

By the way, both of those schools (Cal and UCLA) have running clubs if you can't make the team your first year.

What are you talking about, I recommended Stanford? I obviously don't go there since I said I chose to go D3.