<p>I am currently in my junior year of high school and barely have a weighted GPA of 3.0. I haven't taken the SAT or ACT but will this spring. I'm really starting to dread not focusing on my classes and getting A's because I'd like to enroll into a good college for Computer Science, UC Berkeley (out-of-state) being my first choice on the list. </p>
<p>My schedule for next year will consist of AP Physics C (Mech.), AP Calculus BC, AP Studio Art 2D, AP Statistics, and four elective courses. As for extracurricular activities, an am in boy scouts, very passionate in music, and take classes in photography and graphic design in school. In addition to the four AP classes listed above, I'll try to self study four or five more: AP Psychology, AP Computer Science, AP Japanese, and AP Physics C (Electricity/Magnetism). Yes, I'm really dedicated to making up for my imperfect GPA. If I find that getting a 4 or 5 on all of them is unlikely I'll scrap one.</p>
<p>After graduation, I'd like to take a gap year and do a lot of volunteering (preferably some internationally), self study, take a job over the summer, and do some crazy project in my free time to show that I'm unique and/or passionate for learning. I'm unsure how the application process will work, though.
Would this be enough to get me into a prestigious university? Any advice or encouragement?
Thank you.</p>
<p>This isn’t going to come across as encouragement … but please interpret it in that vein.</p>
<p>Look - a 3.0 ain’t gonna get you into Cal… gap year or not. There is virtually nothing you can do (short of curing cancer in your free time) that’s going to open that door out of high school. Seriously, a perfect SAT and a bunch of self study AP isn’t going to do it. About 1% of accepted freshmen at UCB have below 3.0 GPA. That handful was scholarship athletes or otherwise truly exceptional (cured cancer as a 12 year old). I’d suggest you lighten yout senior schedule, set your sights elsewhere and enjoy your last year of high school.</p>
<p>There are probaly 1000 schools in the US you are eligible for - start exploring more options.</p>
<p>If you just gotta go to Cal - you can go to a CC and transfer but, that’s not a picnic either. The school is equally selective with transfers.</p>
<p>Good luck! </p>
<p>You’re perfectly capable of getting into a good college. Are you capable of getting into UC Berkeley? I’m sorry, darlin’, but I doubt it. </p>
<p>My recommendation? </p>
<ul>
<li><p>Calm down that senior schedule a bit, or at least try not to self-study so many AP courses. For one, colleges don’t put too much stock into AP scores; unless there’s a massive difference between scores and class grades, they’re mostly used to determine credit and nothing more. You don’t want to sink your GPA any more because you’re taking too many rigorous courses, and hell, you don’t want to be miserable.</p></li>
<li><p>Take the gap year if you’d like to. I’m sure that you could still get into a good school without it, but as you mentioned, it might look unique.</p></li>
<li><p>Look into other schools that are less selective. With good SAT scores, extracurriculars, and essays, I’m almost certain that you can get into a good state school (ie. Alabama or South Carolina, the two I’m most familiar with). </p></li>
</ul>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>So it’s too late and there’s nothing to do to get into a well known school? Even with an excuse for why my grades suffered in high school? So much for the “holistic” admissions…</p>
<p>So what colleges am I capable in getting into? I really want to go to the best college for computer science possible.</p>
<p>Even with holistic admissions, top colleges get plenty of applicants with 4.0s and perfect SAT/ACTs. Are colleges going to reject these applicants in favor of you?</p>
<p>I don’t know where you live, but in Pennsylvania (where I live), I’ve heard that Penn State Behrend is strong in computer science. I have two friends going there next year with that major.</p>
<p>Let me share my insight. ^^
My first two years of high school I had a pretty lax schedule and a high GPA (3.7). I thought I needed to make myself seem more impressive by taking a bunch of AP classes and being involved in more activities. It was WAY more than I could handle and at the end of high school my GPA plummeted. </p>
<p>Just because you take hard classes doesn’t necessarily mean that your grades will skyrocket. If I were you, I’d focus more on building up your résumé while taking average classes. If you really focus in class, your GPA will raise a few points and even though it’s not a 4.0 you’ll have a bunch of volunteer work/activities to back you up. </p>
<p>And, if you do take a gap year, make sure it has something to do with your future course of study. For example, I might take a gap year studying abroad (IF I get the scholarship) and I want to study foreign languages. Gap years can look impressive to colleges depending on what you DO (don’t just bum around for a year :P)</p>
<p>There are also plenty of schools out there with AMAZING computer science programs! Focus more on the departments rather than a specific school. </p>
<p>UC Berkley is a tough school to get into and if you did happen to get in, how are you going to pay for it? Your grades in high school and your SAT/ACT scores determine your scholarship availability. Unless you’re some sort of secret millionaire…</p>