Chance me for UCLA/NYU/USC!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>GPA: 3.8, if going by the UC system. Probably around 3.0 unweighted. Probably even LOWER without my college classes added in.
I'm really really worried about this.</p>

<p>I got a LOT of B's and C's in freshmen and sophomore year. Barely any A's. I have no "good reason" for this other than pure laziness until I got to junior year and realized that my grades actually mattered.</p>

<p>SAT: 2240</p>

<p>SAT subject:
Korean-780
Math II - 800
(planning to take Biology)</p>

<p>HONORS/AP/COLLEGE:
Honors: Chem Honors, Pre Calc Honors (10th grade)
AP: Biology AP, Music Theory AP, Environmental Science AP, Statistics AP (11-12th grade)
College: Psychology, Intro to Film, Calculus ABC, Physics (might take more later)
Units: UCLA DMA Audio/Video program, 2 units (might take more later)</p>

<p>AP TESTS:
(planning to take:)
Biology (confident in getting 5)
Music Theory (confident in getting 5)
Calculus AB
Environmental Science
Statistics</p>

<p>LEADERSHIP:
MELODY (service program that teaches music to kids in disadvantaged areas) - President
Printing Company (service program that recycles used laser printers/cell phones/etc.) - Chairperson
Art Club - Secretary/Treasurer
Chinese Yoyo Club - Activity Manager
(I'm hoping to become an officer at Tri-M, but I'm not sure of the chances...)</p>

<p>VOLUNTEER WORK:
Tri-M points
MELODY points
Interact points
(add up to maybe 150-200 hours. My school never had a comm service requirement so I really slacked off here.)</p>

<p>AWARDS:
First Place in writing contest (+$200 scholarship)
Received a trophy at an art contest (I have no clue what place it is. It's definitely not first or second).
Piano CM Testing through level 9
PSAT National Merit Scholarship Commended</p>

<p>OTHER STUFF:
Art for 4 years
Spanish for 4 years (I quit before I even got to Spanish honors... don't know if this is worth mentioning)
Piano for 10+ years
Have been teaching little kids at church
Lead singer of church youth group choir</p>

<p>I've had virtually no jobs (except a couple of baby-sitting jobs).</p>

<p>I'm still a junior, so I do have time to expand my extracurriculars... but it'd be really reassuring to know my chances with the things I have up here now.</p>

<p>Also I don't really have a close relationship with any of my teachers, so I prefer if I didn't have to turn in rec letters.</p>

<p>I'm really really hoping to get into the Art program at UCLA but my portfolio is SERIOUSLY lacking so I was wondering if I could perhaps get in Undecided and switch later.</p>

<p>Anyways, I'm looking for my chances for:
UCLA
NYU
USC</p>

<p>Sorry, i'm a MAJOR newbie on this site. Thanks for helping!!!</p>

2

<p>Everything is good except your GPA. I’d say your chances at those schools aren’t GREAT, but legitimate.</p>

3

<p>Your major weakness at this point is your GPA. Get that thing up, and your chances improve quite a bit. Apply yourself to school and really strive for straight As. Colleges will forgive a semi-low GPA if there’s a strong upwards trend. Good job with taking the extra college classes outside of school; keep that up, but not at the sake of sacrificing your grades in your actual HS. </p>

<p>SAT scores are fine. Keep them, they’re a boost.</p>

<p>Your extracurriculars are a bit random - there’s a slight focus on music…and not much else. Make music stand out - get involved in the school band/orchestra, make a music club, there’s plenty of stuff to do.</p>

<p>As for the art trophy, definetly not worth mentioning lol. Replace it with a legit and worthy-mention trophy (or a few). </p>

<p>For the spanish, you might wanna consider studying and taking the SAT II Spanish. If you get 700+ on that test, having such a good handle on two foreign languages is a huge plus. Because as it is now, having 4 years of Spanish doesn’t really count for much. Even a 650 won’t hurt (anything below that will though, so be careful). </p>

<p>As it is, you’ve still got a chance. Do some of the recommendations stated above, and you’ve got those schools in the match-range. </p>

<p>And make sure you get good recommendation letters. Now is the time to single out two teachers, do ridiculously well in their class, participate everyday, go to their classes after school with plenty of engaging questions, and otherwise act like the teachers’ pet. And get to know your counselor well (come to her with ideas of making a club, get her christmas gifts, w/e). These letters can make you stand out in a way that academics and ECs can’t.</p>

<p>YOU’VE GOT TIME. DON’T SQUANDER IT. </p>

<p>Hope my post was helpful</p>

4

<p>Gosh, thank you SO MUCH for all the advice, jew790! (and the encouragement!)
I’m just really happy that I have a chance at getting accepted into these schools.</p>

<p>i HAVE been getting straight A’s this junior year. Hopefully that makes up for my crappy gpa last year. I was just worried because I hear that an upward trend is good if you have a “good reason” (family problems, medical stuff, etc) to back it up, but I… don’t.</p>

<p>Anyways, thank youuuu! :slight_smile: i’ll go do my best. heee.</p>