<p>Hey, I was wondering my chances at certain colleges. My main problem is my very low GPA (though huge upward trend), and because of this I don't know if I even have a chance (or an EXTREMELY slim chance) =/. </p>
<p>Both 10th and 11th grade I took the hardest courses available</p>
<p>GPA:</p>
<p>9th grade both semesters 3.7 (no honors/AP so nothing weighted.. can't take any typically in 9th grade)</p>
<p>10th 1st semester: 2.83/3.33 UC weighted: 3.17
10th 2nd semester: 3.29/3.71 UC weighted: 3.57 (UC weighted only counts 2 honors classes 10th grade? I took 3)</p>
<p>11th 1st semester: 4.0/4.5
11th 2nd semester: 4.0/4.5</p>
<p>Overall: 3.53/4.01 UC weighted: 3.935 (this is not counting 9th grade)</p>
<p>12th I am taking a lot of APs (still a rigorous course load)</p>
<p>APs taken (including 12th):
AP Calculus B/C
AP Physics
AP Biology
AP US History
AP Government/Econ
AP Statistics</p>
<ul>
<li>many more honors courses. </li>
</ul>
<p>In the summer between 10th and 11th and now between 11th and 12th, I've taken/going to take 3 courses at the local community college (I took Calculus A to prepare me for B/C, and then between 11th and 12th I'm taking Chemistry and JAVA).</p>
<p>SAT: 2250 </p>
<p>I don't know my class rank, but that can be misleading because it takes unweighted GPAs so someone who takes really easy courses would do better in class rank (GPA would be higher).</p>
<p>Extracurriculars: </p>
<p>2 years officer of a club
2 years varsity cross country/track (I could probably run for most schools though as a "walk on" for the better ones, not recruited)
3 years community service like food drives/book drives/magazine editor for non profit organization</p>
<p>Colleges I'm thinking about (not 100% sure yet.. there may be other colleges but I don't know yet.. I'm not really sure about everywhere I want to apply):</p>
<p>UC Berkeley
UCLA
UCSD
UC Irvine
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
University of Washington (Seattle)
University of Colorado (Boulder)
University of Michigan
University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill)</p>
<p>Obviously some of these schools (Berkeley, UCLA, NC etc) are kind of reaches because my GPA is really on the low side.. =/. However, if I wrote really really good essays etc is it possible that I might be able to have a decent shot? A school like Berkeley/UCLA is one that I would really love to go to (I'm a CA resident), could I possibly make a good essay out of that (though I'd do my best to make it sound completely sincere).. or would the admission officers just find that to be "sucking up" or something? Thanks a lot for any help/chances :).</p>