Can I get into a good college? Finished 1st Sem Jr. Yr & got 3.5, but Soph Yr = 2.8

Applying to College
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<p>So can I still get into a good college?</p>

<p>During Freshmen year, I took normal classes, except for honors English, and advanced algebra, which is a year ahead in math.</p>

<p>-I got 3.4 / 3.6, so that would be like a 3.65 / 3.85 weighted about.</p>

<p>During Sophomore I really screwed up. I took really hard classes. 4 honors classes & pre-calculus (hard).</p>

<p>-I got a 2.8 / 2.8, so that would be like a 3.5 / 3.5 weighted, however only one class was "UC Approved" weighted, so UC GPA would be 3.0 / 3.0. I felt terrible for taking those hard classes, and just now figured they were not "UC Weighted"</p>

<p>I just got my grades back from Jr. year. I am taking easier classes. I am taking 1 AP, & 1 honors class. (Both UC Approved) However, I didn't take Spanish 5/6 (Year 3, goes by semester), because Spanish was my C last year and I hated it. My mom speaks Spanish, and I am going to maybe start tutoring privately with her. Would that be okay of an explanation on my apps if I did tutoring with my mom, who is fluent to learn Spanish? Or should I suffer and take the recommended 3 years and take Span 5/6 next year? The Span teachers suck at my school and it's hard. I also took statistics instead of Calc, because our school only offers AP Calc, which is pretty hard. So my schedule wasn't that hard compared to last year. I took normal history, but with a teacher definitely harder than the honors, but I worked super hard and pulled the A and learned a lot, which is what's important. But it kind of ****es me off that my friends in honors got weighted As working 1/4 as hard as me. I know this because we have way more tests than them, and there class and every test is on a curve. haha We read 2 lessons a day, they read one. But the class and teacher are awesome, so I'm going to stick with it. I also took 2 electives to make it 6 classes. </p>

<p>-Anyways, first semester I got a 3.5. A 3.833 weighted, both UC and normal weighted.</p>

<p>So, how much will my sophomore year hurt me? Would I be better off applying to privates than UCs, because privates would look at freshmen year, and weight all of those honors classes that UCs wouldn't? Also my ECs are rather good, lots of foreign travel community work, and some sports and stuff.</p>

<p>My PSAT was 176. I am prepping a bit and going to take the SAT in March. </p>

<p>So, how can I still make a good college? I am finally motivated. At least I have an upward trend, and I will try to get an even better GPA 2nd semester of Jr. year. I think I'll get an upward trend award for increasing +.5 by last semester haha.</p>

<p>So, my questions are:</p>

<p>-How much will soph. year hurt me?
-How can I improve and still make a pretty good college?
-Will I be better off at privates, than like UCs, for reasons listed above in my post?
-What courses should I take Sr. year. (regarding what math I should take. I got Cs in pre-calc soph year. Stats is pretty easy this year. But next year I can only do AP Calc, or redo pre-calc (which would suck, I actually know material decently well, got 79s both semesters), or no math, or math at community college) (also regarding Span, which I talked about earlier.</p>

<p>Any other suggestions or comments would be nice too. Thanks for the long read and any help. ;)</p>

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<p>I would definetly take the third year of Spanish, maybe your mom can help.</p>

<p>It look like you would still get into a UC or two and sure, add in some private colleges. What do you want to study?</p>

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<p>Thanks, I was thinking of majoring in Business.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I probably will take Spanish next year. It will be tough, and the teacher really sucks, but I might as well do it. </p>

<p>But I think I will learn better, and enjoy it more if I just had my mom teach me. Is there anyway that's possible because that would be a lot better! Spanish at my school sucks! Hard, Super Boring, & Terrible Teachers!!</p>

<p>Also, for business, only UCR & UCB have business right? I won't get into B, and R doesn't interest me. ...</p>

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<p>Irvine has business now but would be a reach. Maybe SDSU?</p>

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<p>Luke:</p>

<p>Sure, Soph year will hurt somewhat, but colleges will like the Junior year trend.</p>

<p>The only UCs will biz are Cal (high reach), UCI and Riverside. Spanish would ony be necessary for Cal, but that is a high reach to begin with. Assuming you have a strong second semester, Riverside is a safety for you. The other UCs would prefer a third year of Spanish, but not necessary. However, since your mom is fluent, there is no reason for you not to take it and earn an A, Young Skywalker.</p>

<p>With C's in precalc, Calc is probably not gonna be your strong suit. BUT, calc is required for biz, so you are gonna have to take it some time, and it's probably better in HS than in college. Does your school offer AB? If so, take that one since it's much slower paced than BC. Or, how about College Algebra, which is kinda advanced Alg II?</p>

<p>Plenty of good Cal States with biz programs. SDSU is strong, but, it's an impacted campus, so the odds are not great unless you live in SD's catchment area. Cal Poly SLO is also great and offers a real college experience bcos it has fewer commuters than other Cal States. Of course, SLO is also competititive. Other SoCal Cal States with strong biz include Long Beach & Fullerton. (Dunno much about those in NorCal.)</p>

<p>One private I like is Pacific, which also has undergrad biz. As a city, Stockton ain't much, but the campus is quite nice, and provides a great undergrad experience. Personally, I'd take Pacific over every Cal State but SLO, which would a tough decision. And, there are plenty of other privates in Calif that offer undergrad biz, where you would be competitive.</p>

<p>Besides instate, you should also consider the 'Zonas, both ASU and UA. If you apply early in September, they frequently give OOS applicants a 'scholarship' which covers most of the OOS fees. Of course that money is limited, so its first come-first served.</p>

<p>Last suggestion: also consider the ACT -- it might be more to your liking.</p>

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<p>Based on last year admission results, my daugther has a friend that screwed up her sophomore year but got a total of 4.25 UC GPA and still got into UCLA. Try to put in your best effort this year is my suggestion. Her SAT I is in the 2100+ range. She has one focus EC. Do apply to some private colleges because some do give merit aid, great financial aid, etc.. UCs are for the upper middle class. FAFSA does not count the equity of your home.
CSUF is a really good business school. Not all UC schools are good for business.</p>

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<p>How can you screw up soph year and get a 4.25? That's about the average at UCLA and those kids had good soph and junior years. The OP seems to be looking at about a 3.4 if she does the same this term as last.</p>

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<p>It is mathematically impossible to screw up Sophomore year and end up with a 4+ UC gpa, unless that Sophomore year consisted of only one class.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>So would going to SLO be better than like UCSC Bus Econ? </p>

<p>What exactly is Bus-Econ, is that just mainly econ with a few business classes? I think I would rather get the normal business.</p>

<p>SO SLO is good and I could maybe get in there. Cool.</p>

<p>What about other privates, like:
USD
Pepperdine
Chapman
Redlands
Santa Clara
LMU</p>

<p>anything like that could I be a match for?</p>

<p>Thanks, yeah, I guess I probably will take Spanish year 3 next year. Also, yeah they have AP Calc AB. But it's pretty hard at our school. I was also planning to take the 2 APs that everyone said at my school should take, because their the easier APs. Adding calc would be hard especially plus Spanish. Hmmm... But good point that I have to take it sometime anyway..</p>

<p>Hmm...</p>

<p>Thanks everyone!</p>

<p>Any other comments / suggestions?</p>

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<p>You should be extremely competitive for all those privates that you list.</p>

<p>Biz-econ is yes, econ with some biz courses, like Accounting. Personally, as a finance guy, I think econ is a much stronger undergrad degree topped off with an MBA. But in general, econ (which is a quantitative liberal arts degree) is more difficult than undergrad biz.</p>

<p>SLO vs. UCSB: both great schools, but I'd recommend the more marketable biz-econ. But, if you hate econ (or its too quantitative for you), SLO biz is the way to go.</p>

<p>Take Calc AB -- it's only half a calc course and it goes all year. For example, a standard calc text might have ~16 chapters, but AB only covers ~7 of 'em from Sept to June. My D, who is taking BC, finished Chapter 7 this past month just in time for finals.</p>

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<p>I'm a little more cautious about schools like Pepperdine, SC, UCSB and Cal Poly mostly because the OP backed off from taking challenging classes junior year. All of these schools are pretty darn competitive these days and we're looking at a weighted 3.4 and a 1760--significantly below median at these schools.</p>

<p>You would be in a much better position with 200 more SAT points, I would make that a priority.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys!</p>

<p>I probably will take AP Calc then. But, how would that compare to taking Calculus 1 at community college?</p>

<p>Well, that 176, was sophomore PSAT. Jr. PSAT I got a 175, but I wasn't feeling that well. haha. But both of those were with no prep. I have actually been prepping now, and am doing better. I plan on taking the SAT 3 times, and my goal is to pass 2000, but hopefully I'll at least get into the 1900 range. I am taking AP chem this year, and honors English, and then easy classes, so yeah, I think that will hurt me. But at least it's going to raise my GPA a lot, and I plan on taking hard courses, like AP Calc, Spanish year 3, and maybe another AP or two Sr. year. </p>

<p>Is econ more math? Yeah, I think my main goal is to get an MBA. An I was thinking about maybe something finance. Or maybe just a general business degree. Maybe business econ, or just econ would be fine. But, I would still probably prefer normal business administration. I'm still confused how they all compare.</p>

<p>Also, I've never heard much about Cal SLO business. I've heard how SDSU is good. How good is Cal SLO, who can it be compared to where is it ranked? I would like a residential campus for sure, not a commuter, so Cal SLO sounds like a good option for a Cal State. I've heard good stuff about it.</p>

<p>Thanks so much everyone! All feedback is appreciated.</p>

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<p>Cal Poly business would be about the same level as SDSU.</p>

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<p>-How much will soph. year hurt me?: Soph year is definitely going to hurt at least a little bit but it is not going to destroy your application. Being that soph year is over and that you cannot do anything about those grades, I would just focus on junior/senior year grade and like said aim for an upward trend.
-How can I improve and still make a pretty good college? Colleges do not necessarily look for applicants that take all rigorous classes; you should find a subject you really enjoy and challenge yourself in that subject. Go above and beyond to demonstrate passion. However, I do not mean to say that you should not challenge yourself in other classes though. Don't take classes that you know you won't do good in, but don't be afraid to challenge yourself. As for clubs, the same thing applies. Find one or two clubs and become very active.
-Will I be better off at privates, than like UCs, for reasons listed above in my post? If you mean UC as in University of Cali's then it may be pretty difficult to get in especially if you are out of state. However, if you really want to attend UC then you should apply. Theres nothing to lose for trying. As for private schools, especially the top private schools, they tend to look at application more holistically than say public school so you probably have a better shot at them especially since you said you have good extrcurric activities and etc.
-What courses should I take Sr. year. (regarding what math I should take. I got Cs in pre-calc soph year. Stats is pretty easy this year. But next year I can only do AP Calc, or redo pre-calc (which would suck, I actually know material decently well, got 79s both semesters), or no math, or math at community college) (also regarding Span, which I talked about earlier.: You should never retake a class. I would just take AP Calc and show colleges you are willing to challenge yourself and if you can manage to do good you might even impress them because like you said you got a C in soph year in pre calc. If your spanish, I dont think it really helps that much to take a familiar language so i would just take a different class in place of that class.</p>

<p>Hope this helps</p>