Chances w/ a screwed up GPA

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hullo everyone.
My gpa took a harsh dive starting in my freshman year, and pulled up gradually. I know most people would say that it is generally my fault, but I've been having tough family issues and problems with my dad. Just so you get a feel for my schedule through the years...</p>

<p>Freshman Year
AP Calculus BC: C/B
AP Physics C : D/C
Biology : B/B
Computer Programming Java : B/C
English Literature : B/B
French 1 : B/B</p>

<p>Sophomore Year
AP Calculus BC : C/B
Chemistry Honors : B/B
World Literature : B/C
World History : B/B
French 2 : B/B
Art 1 : B/D</p>

<p>Summer btwn soph/junior
Astronomy @ UC Berkeley : A</p>

<p>Junior Year
AP Biology : C/B
American Literature Honors : B/C
French 4 Honors : B/B
US History : B/B
Law : B/C</p>

<p>Senior Year
English AP : B
Environmental Science AP : A
Drama : A
TV/Film/Video : A
Government/Economics : A</p>

<p>Those grades are off the top of my head as I don't have a transcript on myself at the moment. But I do know that my gpa unweighted is at about a 2.7 and weighted it is about 3.2 or 3.3.</p>

<p>I have three passions which I'd like to see through in college
1. Astronomy/Cosmology - been in love with the cosmos since 1st grade
2. Acting - Been acting since about 4th grade, I'd love to perfect the art
3. Politics - I've been drawn towards the political area of the world. I've learned a lot of politics through my own personal studies and have been motivated to learn even more due to the current election and my status as an African American.</p>

<p>I'm retaking my SAT this Oct 4th, 2008 and taking the SAT II's in November. My scores for it at the moment are CR - 550 and Math - 650. So as you can see I'm obviously retaking it with the intent of scoring 700+ and have been studying for quite awhile in order to ensure this will happen. </p>

<p>I've got many extracurriculars under my belt and have done many community service activities from tutoring and teaching classes to helping my city.</p>

<p>Can anyone comment on my chances of getting into:
1. Occidental College
2. Boston University
3. Ithaca College
4. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
5. CSU Chico
6. Any UC (would admission by exception work?)
7. SUNY Binghamton
8. Cal Poly SLO</p>

<p>I've always wanted to go to Columbia University, but I know that my actions and failures in high school have prevented me from being able to apply there. But my goal is to attend one school for 1 or 2 years and then transfer out to Columbia. What do you think of this idea and if possible could you also recommend colleges/universities that may fit my interests.</p>

<p>Sorry for the long post but thanks for taking the time to read it.</p>

2

<p>First I forgot to mention that I had to retake AP Calc BC in my soph. year because the school has a requirement that students need 3 years of a math class to graduate. In 8th grade I took PreCalc, 9th I took AP Calc BC, and in 10th grade I had to retake AP Calc BC because it was the only class that fit my level.</p>

<p>Secondly I also forgot to mention that I've been taking math classes outside of school. I have taken Elementary Probability & Statistics and Multi-Variable Calculus at my local community college and have gotten an A in both courses.</p>

3

<p>well let me tell you that I think its really impressive that you even attempted Calc BC and Physics C your freshman year.</p>

4

<p>Thanks.
Despite the fact that my mum and dad are immigrants from Africa, they are both accomplished mathematicians. They tutored me a lot during my middle school years in order to get me ahead in math. </p>

<p>I definitely could have done better. But at the time I was incredibly shy and intimidated by the seniors and juniors in my class. It was also my first year in high school so that was a pretty big shift for me too. But in the end I guess colleges don't really care about excuses.</p>

5

<p>so u're african american! URM should help alot. here let me chance u </p>

<ol>
<li>Occidental College- not sure about this college</li>
<li>Boston University- reach</li>
<li>Ithaca College-high match/match</li>
<li>University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign- low reach</li>
<li>CSU Chico- IDK about this college</li>
<li>Any UC (would admission by exception work?)- UC Davis, Irvine maybe</li>
<li>SUNY Binghamton- IDK about this college</li>
<li>Cal Poly SLO- in</li>
</ol>

6

<ol>
<li>Occidental College- Possible. Write a very strong essay showing passion for something and if there's a short answer where you can explain your GPA, use it to explain why you did poorly in some areas.</li>
<li>Boston University- reach</li>
<li>Ithaca College-high match/match</li>
<li>University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign- low reach</li>
<li>CSU Chico-You will get in here.</li>
<li>Any UC (would admission by exception work?)- You will most probably not get into UC Davis, maybe Riverside or Merced.</li>
<li>SUNY Binghamton-Possible</li>
<li>Cal Poly SLO- No.</li>
</ol>

7

<p>you should ed to columbia.</p>

<p>i read a newsweek and it mentioned a black who got into columbia with a 29 act, so yeah, you got a shot, no offense im not racist</p>