<p>Well, I am only a sophomore and am really sucking. I got a 3.0 UC GPA first semester. I was doing a lot better second semester and then got sick and was absent for a awhile and that sunk my grades a lot. I will probably get a 3.0 UC GPA again. However, I am in an extremely good public school, and am taking precalc as a sophomore, and 4 honors classes. So, I am taking really hard classes but doing just okay.</p>
<p>Next year I plan to take.</p>
<p>-APUSH
-English H
-Virt Bus
-Stats
-Span 5/6
-Chemistry</p>
<p>I plan to get this, and should be able to.</p>
<p>-APUSH B
-English H B
-Virt Bus A
-Stats A
-Span 5/6 B
-Chemistry A</p>
<p>So, if I do that, how good of a college can I get into? And right now what can I do to boost my chances? I have been lazy and undedicated, but am now working hard. I plan to go to a UC, Cal State, or Private. </p>
<p>My PSAT was 176.</p>
<p>So what can I do now to boost my chances to get into a better college? Should I take a class during the summer at a community College? If so which one?</p>
<p>Also should I consider going to CC then transferring? I really want the dorm experience though.</p>
<p>Well, I can either take AP Calc, or stats. I got a C+ in pre calc first semester, and will probably get a low C second, I don't know it very well, nor liking it. Plus everyone says the AP Calc class teacher is insane, and that the class is very hard.</p>
<p>"I plan to go to a UC, Cal State, or Private. "</p>
<p>I'm curious to hear your other options. Anyway, you really need to do a lot better then what you predicted yourself for next year if you want to go to a top 50 college.</p>
<p>Yes, take a college class at a CC or, preferably, at a UC if one is close by. Take one (or two) this summer and one after junior year and they will all be counted in your UC GPA. And get all A's next year, or close to it so you can show a strong upward trend. Lastly, if you aren't a straight A type of kid, you probably have interests other than school that take up your time... find a way to engage in what you are passionate about - you will be a more interesting person and everyone finds that attractive (including admissions people).</p>
<p>Your junior year grades will count more, and if you do better next year, your guidance counselor's letter could call attention to that, and say that your junior year grades are better predictors of your college performance. I'd alos say yes to taking a CC course, or two, over the summer (and maybe summer after junior year, too). If you do well, that will help with admissions (you'll send colleges your CC transcript too) , and will also give you some experience as to what college will be like. If you think you can get an B in Honors English, have you thought about taking AP English? I don't know how your HS weights GPAs (at my D's school, an A in Honors is 4.5 and AP is 5, so AP makes a difference). And above all, don't give up! You have time.</p>
<p>There are quite a few wonderful Cal State schools that accept students with 3.0 GPAs. You might want to skip over to the CSU websites and take a gander at their requirements. Even UC Merced might be possible if you take the A-G requirements. And there are many private universities in California that would be happy to have you.</p>
<p>This site tends to perhaps overemphasize the top 50 schools in the nation. There are many wonderful college and universities that are nuturing environments while providing enriching educations for students just like you. I'm not saying you should continue goofing off for the next two years, but you are not ruined, there are places for you out there.</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I'll plan on owning it up junior year then and take a course during the summer this year, and probably next year. What course should I take? Should I take one I am going to take during the year next year so I can take an elective and to have an easier schedule? Or should I take some random class? Anyone have any suggestions?</p>
<p>You are not ruined, but you should pick it up. For one, never aim at a B in a class you haven't started yet. There's nothing wrong with changing your target to a B after a month in, but before the first day? Never. You can't exceed expectations if you don't even try.</p>
<p>On the other hand (and this may seem contradictory), but don't "plan on owning it up" next year. So you're not doing well this year. That doesn't mean you semi-give up and just promise you'll put all your effort into next year. I'll be blunt here; 90% of kids who think that way never actually do so. One of the best measures of future success is how you deal with adversity. Trailing by 3 touchdowns, do you just give up? Did Montana give up when 42 points in the hole? The answer, you may guess, is no.</p>
<p>Clearly you're demonstrating considerable foresight and long-term thinking. Both are great assets. But sometimes people get lost in the pie-in-the-sky future while neglecting to build the steps to get there. Gut out the rest of the year, only ~2 months away, and pick up those grades. Every ounce of effort you put in now you will thank yourself twice for in the future, because you cannot change your past scores. So even if you "own" your junior year, you'll hate this one for dragging you down. Don't let yourself open to those regrets.</p>
<p>As for your question: I would suggest a class which you would enjoy, preferably with a relatively light courseload. There's no reason to risk burning out midway through junior year because you spent the summer grinding 10-page research papers out like nobody's business.</p>
<p>It's hard to tell... there are a million factors that can come into play, but I guess start by listing all your current ECs, current W/UW GPA, etc. And keep in mind that nobody can deduce what college you'd be able to get into in 2 years, especially as admission difficulty will be peaking in or around your year, and there obviously is chance involved. Plus, I think an underrated part of an application that is almost never discussed on CC because they're difficult to objectively evaluate is the essay, which many brilliant students do poorly on as it is not their strong suit.</p>
<p>As to your question of what class to take at a CC or University during summer: take what you are interested in and know you will do well in. That is the best recipe for success. Good luck.</p>