Here is my story:
Freshman and sophomore year were not great in terms of GPA. Freshman year I got a 3.57 and then a 3.73 weighted GPA leaving me at about a 3.65 cumulative at end of freshman year. However, my lowest point occurred in first semester of sophomore year when I got a 3.61 weighted GPA and my first “C range” grade (C+). Second semester sophomore year I started to work much harder and I got a 4.24 weighted GPA. My grades really improved my junior year as I earned a 4.67 weighted GPA. I am working to get a 4.75 this semester and a 4.75-4.8 first semester senior year. For more detail I will give a list of my classes and grades up until this point of my high school career:
Freshman (Both Semesters) : English 1: A-, B; Spanish 1: A-, A-; Algebra 1: A-, A; Honors Geometry: B+, A-; Physics: B+, B; Health/PE: B+, B
Sophomore (Both Semesters): Honors English 2: C+, B-; Digital Photography: A, A+; Spanish 2: A, A-; Honors Algebra 2: B, A; Chemistry: B-, A; AP World History: B+, A+
Junior (One Semester Completed so far): Honors Pre-Calculus: A; AP English Language: A; AP Studio Art: A; Spanish 3: A; AP US History: A; AP Environmental Science: A-
My Senior Year course load should consist of AP Calculus BC, AP Literature, AP Economics, AP Physics C, AP Computer Science (A or Principles)
If I reach my GPA goals for the next two semesters I should finish with around a 4.2 weighted GPA. (I currently have a 3.9735)
In terms of testing I have taken the SAT once. I got a 1420 with a 790 on the math and a 630 in English. I plan on studying very hard this summer to increase my reading score and overall SAT score.
Also, I plan on majoring in either business or some branch of engineering (mechanical engineering or computer science).
FYI I go to a pretty challenging school and colleges are definitely aware of my schools rigor. We get about 35-40 kids into USC each year and last year we got 19 out of 54 applicants into Notre Dame.
Does anyone think I have a chance of being admitted to upper level schools such as USC, U Michigan, UCLA, UCB, Notre Dame, or Boston College.
Will my upward grade trend be valued by these top tier colleges? Could a strong SAT score along with my upward grade trend help present me as a strong applicant and show how my freshman and first semester sophomore year grades are not a true representation of the student I am?
Also, I am a Hispanic applicant (does this make me an underrepresented minority URM?) I was awarded the National Hispanic Scholar award for my PSAT score and I will officially be awarded it this year.
If I got a 1550 or higher on the SAT do you think I could have a serious chance of admission for any of these schools?
Please let me know. All feedback is helpful.