Fordham or USF to Berkely? How do I go about this?

<p>I am a high school student ( about to become a senior ) and really screwed up my junior year GPA (2.9) including my first ever D,which brought my cumulative down to (3.1)
2010 on my Sat (720 cr, 650 math, 640 essay)</p>

<p>My EC's are
Took a consumer finance class at my local community college
1 year football (following 1 year in football club, helped found team)
2 years golf
4 years science club ( 1 as treasurer 1 as president )
100 hours hours community service ( a breast cancer haunted house)
4 Months as a host at Olive Garden
4 years first robotics ( 2 as a lead, confounding a new team this year with 4 others)
My principal, counselor, and several teachers are willing to write letters of rec.</p>

<p>The big reason for the GPA is that my family has gone through 2 deaths and a bout of breast cancer. I have been helping to take care of my grandma (deceased grandpa) and my aunt (cancer, likely will die) which has resulted in less time put to my grades.</p>

<p>sorry about the sob story. Anyway, I am a major business major (finance) and and would like to know if Fordham or University of San Francisco are in my reach? I would love to go to Berkeley's Haas (my original target before the events) and if I could transfer there from the above schools or if they are too low on the tiers.</p>

<p>Any other good schools or good transfer destinations that I haven't thought of would be appreciated, I am prepared to work VERY hard in order to catch up to where i need to be.</p>

<p>Will you be able to write a compelling essay about the reason for your GPA dip and how you have been able to get back on track? Can you write objectively about the life lessons you are learning? Will a counselor or teacher be able to write about your circumstances and positively recommend you? Will you be about to retake the class with the D?
If yes to these, then I think that you’ve certainly got a shot at USF (great school BTW) and possibly for Fordham.</p>

<p>Be aware that to transfer into any UC - Haas or otherwise - you will need to enter at the junior level. Keep track of what the transfer requirements are, as they can be very specific. The other thing that you’ll need to know about UC transfers is that priority goes to students coming from community colleges.</p>

<p>What state are you in? How big an issue is financing your education?
Those, in addition to your GPA, are significant factors to recommending other schools.</p>

<p>I can certainly write the compelling essay, though the D was just was in the semester that just ended so I have a downward trend. My counselor and principal already want to write me letters because I’m a good student and though they are aware of the gist I would really rather not spill my family problems completely to them. I can retake the class but not until 2nd semester (after I apply to colleges)</p>

<p>If it helps at all my school is a fairly new charter school, I will be in the 3rd class that has graduated.I’m a California resident, also financially I’m in an odd situation because my parents make a lot (150k combined), but since the economy tanked we only barely squeak by. Also, being that at the level Berkeley is, is a USF to Haas transfer even realistic?</p>

<p>“Being at the level Berkeley is…?” I’m assuming you mean the level of difficulty of admission? Unfortunately, the difficulty of getting in is is not necessarily proportionate to the difficulty of the academics.</p>

<p>Academically, if we assume that you’re going to do exceptionally well wherever you complete your first two years, then you’ll certainly have a decent shot and should be well prepared for the coursework at Haas.</p>