<p>I'm a Sophomore right now. I'm thinking of applying to Pitzer (#1), UCLA, Occidental, Pomona, Claremont McKenna, and Whittier college. I'm a California resident. I'm still in the middle of my college search so this is my basic list. I'm looking to major in Psychology, with either a minor in visual arts or Gender studies. I'm just wondering if I'm on the right track to getting into these colleges.</p>
<ul>
<li>GPA: 3.8 this year.</li>
<li>PSAT: 220</li>
<li>Going to take: SAT II US History, Spanish with Listening, and maybe Chemistry.</li>
<li>My school doesn't have any AP courses.</li>
<li>Ethnicity: Hispanic</li>
</ul>
<p>Extracurriculars:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I work at a Helpline - I answer calls, write emails, and go to other schools to do motivational speaking. Commitment is minimum five hours a week, though I usually put in more than 25 hours a month. I've been nominated for KABC's Cool Kids, and am getting an interview next week.</p></li>
<li><p>Art - I do drawing and water colors, and am applying for an intensive art program over the summer. I'm going to enter the Scholastic art award next year.</p></li>
<li><p>Writing - I've submitted poems on a few sites (the sites don't give out awards or anything), though I've recently started submitting works to TeenInk. I'm also about to join LA Youth and submit writings there as well. LA Youth is going to publish my work, and I'm trying to get published by TeenInk.</p></li>
<li><p>Etc.: In the process of joining my local Youth council. Also applying to the Summer@Brown program (Leadership Institute).</p></li>
</ol>
<p>The thing I'm worried about is that I have an F on my transcript from Freshman year. It was just a big mistake and a bad teacher. I've retaken the class (and got an A) but it was at a different school so it's still on my transcript. Are all of these stats good enough to balance that F out?</p>
<p>Any comments? Am I on the right track to having a chance? Also, any other colleges in Southern California that I should apply to? Thanks!</p>
<p>I think your stats are good enough to balance that F out. When you apply to colleges, have your counselor mention the F and explain why you got it, if you have a good reason.</p>
<p>How competitive is your school? If it’s pretty competitive then it’s fine not having any APs. But if your school isn’t very rigorous, you should try to self-study some APs, or take classes at a community college.</p>
<p>I don’t think my school is very rigorous. However, it’s a one-on-one school so the rigor of each class is different per student. I’m one of the top students though, so maybe it’s somewhat rigorous.</p>
<p>Looking great so far for some of the schools on your list. You also are most likely going to qualify for National Merit (Semifinalist hopefully --my son was with a 228 and he had a 208 sophamore year, so betting your junior PSAT will be higher even). USC offers 1/2 tutition covered to NMF, so may want to take the advice of the other poster and add that to list. Whittier offers $12,000 a year potentially for art majors (have to send in portfolio to be considered). Basically, I think you have a LOT going for you. Talent! By the way, be careful about where you post your poetry/writing/art. You can also submit poetry to Scholastic --keep track of the deadlines, because the poetry is due at a different time than the Photography/art submissions (son got a Silver key for Photo). Look into local competitions as well. </p>
<p>It sounds like you are a gifted writer – can you apply to a summer enrichment on a college campus (Kenyon College and U. of Virginia have young writers workshops during the summer --applications due Mar. 1). </p>
<p>Also, it may be possible to actually remove that F since you retook the course, even if it’s from a previous High School. Our school system will actually remove them if you write a letter and have the new course grade/transcript sent in (they present it to a board and usually they remove it). It is possible, so look into it; talk to your couseling office at school. Last bit of advice, take a class at your local community college the next two summers. Since your school doesn’t offer AP’s, it’s a great way to show them you are capable of doing college level work and mature enough enroll yourself in a couple courses! They really don’t care that it’s a community college --it looks good on the college application. </p>
<p>Good luck to you, you are on the right track. Also, know that there are lots of schools that don’t even use your freshman grades to factor into the decision making, so if that grade can’t be removed ultimately, take the advice of the other poster and mention it in your applications and about how you’ve grown and matured…worked hard to improve…etc…</p>
<p>go to your counselor now and explain the problem. see if there’s anything that can be done. if not, explain that it’s crucial for her to explain in her recommendation why the f exists. that’s essential. if there’s no explanation, i don’t think you have a shot. but if there is, then i think you do.</p>