Current Junior in High School, wanting to know her chances and if I need to worry a lot?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I am a junior girl attending high school in California and i’ve been freaking out over colleges considering how crucial this year is for colleges/universities.
GPA FRESHMAN YEAR: 3.0 (English Honors)
GPA SOPHOMORE YEAR: 3.98
GPA JUNIOR YEAR (1st semester): 4.125 (AP Art History, AP Environmental Science, AP Language and Composition)
SENIOR YEAR: hoping to take AP Psychology, AP Biology(?), AP Gov/Econ (?), AP Lit

Class Rank: 42/698 [top 7%]
Extracurriculars: LEO International Service Club (400+ hours), Boys’ Federation (Leadership Club that plans events at school), MESA (Math Engineering Science Achievement Club, our sponsor is USC), ACA (Cancer Awareness Club), and CSF (California Scholarship Federation).

SAT: taking it in march, but I went to Elite SAT Academy and scored 1400-1600 on the tests they produce, but when they gave us a college board approved SAT, i scored 1800+

ACT: not yet taken, but I will

SAT Subjects: Planning to take Math I and Math II

I am also afraid of the AP tests coming and is wondering if i should only take them if i know I’m certain ill get a 3 or higher, how bad would a 2 look on the test?

I come from a very low income family (12,000-13,000 a year with only one parent working), and I’m afraid of how colleges will see that? Would they like a student from a low income family because it shows drive and that they can push through financial issues and maintain themselves, or would they rather have someone who is of high income because of the money they can get from them?

Right now, I have my eyes on UCI, UCR, UCSD, UCSB.

UCI is the one i really want to get into, but I’m stressing over it because I feel like my grades aren’t good enough. I’ve had people tell me that people with a 3.2 and 1600 SAT can get into UCI and that its not as hard as I think it is, but It still makes me worry. I’m also afraid because I didn’t do so well my freshman year and I am afraid of how that will affect my cumulative GPA for when I apply to colleges. Someone please tell me my chances and console of my worries.

2

GPA is looking good – you’ve kept improving it while taking harder courses, and that’s all you can do – keep at it. Your top 7% ranking is great. Yes, take the AP exams, as you won’t know how well you’ll do till you actually take them, and you could get college credit that way. Keep practicing for the SAT and ACT. Here are the scores you need to try to match or beat for UCI: http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/irvine/freshman-profile/

Here are the stats of some students just admitted or denied:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/university-california-irvine/1740612-uc-irvine-class-of-2019-applicant-discussion.html#latest

3

For AP exams it’s definitely worth it to take them especially if they can help you fulfill some of your gen ed requirements. You get to choose what scores you submit so it’s better to take the test, see how you do andthen decide if you should submit them or not. Colleges also like to see an upward trend in grades so if your grades are better sophomore year and on then it shouldn’t hurt you too much. (:

chance me back? http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1741518-chance-me-please-ill-chance-back.html

4

Colleges may appreciate the upward trend in your GPA. Also, make sure to work on your SAT score because a 1800+ score would really help for UCI! You really don’t need to worry much for UCR. Also, AP test scores don’t affect your chances of college admissions, unless you get a 5, I believe. Getting a 2 wouldn’t hurt your chances at all. All in all, you’re not in any red zones and cut down on the worrying. Good luck with the rest of your junior year! :slight_smile:

Please chance me for Cal Poly SLO:
http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cal-poly-san-luis-obispo/1741840-chance-me.html