Freshman in high school who is in need of some advice

Pre-College Issues High School Life
1

I am a freshman in high school who is very concerned about college. I live in California, and I am aiming to get admission into a UC. I have read on the “applyingtocollege” subreddit that it is important to maintain good grades, have extracurricular’s, and do well on the SAT or ACT.

First semester has ended, but I maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout it. I am taking a Physical Education course, a 5-credits required course, Geometry, Chemistry, Spanish 1, and an Advanced English course. Next year, I intend on increasing the workload. I will have to take another year of Physical Education, Spanish 2, another Advanced English course, AP World History, Algebra 2, and Biology. I am wondering if these classes sound challenging enough, or if there is more that I should be doing. I will continue taking AP courses in junior and senior year, of course.

I am working on increasing my list of extracurriculars. I am in the summer program Girls Inc. I am in two clubs; Book Club, and Black Student Union (I intend on trying out another club, or perhaps two, next year - I want to try out the Robotics Club and my school’s Key Club if I have time.) I will be doing track this year, and if I like it, I’ll continue it throughout high school. I am set to attend a Model UN meeting to learn more about their program and see if I’d like to join. I am looking into different causes to volunteer for, and I am looking for more science/public speaking based EC’s.

As for the SAT’s and ACT’s, I intend on studying for them either this summer, or next summer. I will take the PSAT next year. I can’t decide whether to study for the SAT/ACT (I think I’d prefer taking the SAT test, as I know that it is slower-paced,) after taking Algebra 2, or after I’ve completed Geometry this year. Does anyone have advice for me on that?

I’m generally just wondering if I sound like I’d be a good UC candidate, and if anyone has suggestions for me. Am I thinking about this a little too much? Am I thinking about it too little? What would you have done differently in your freshman and sophomore years if you had the choice?

2

It is great that are thinking ahead, but do not focus on any particular colleges and embrace your time as a High School student.

HS is a great time to explore your interests academically along with participating in extra curricular activities that you enjoy (not to just look good for college admissions).

Being a CA HS student gives you an advantage since the CA HS’s derive their curriculum to prepare you for the UC and Cal state academic requirements.

The UC’s and CSU’s have a set a minimum course requirements that need to be fulfilled for admission purposes so familiarize yourself with the requirements:

1) History / Social Science (2 years) “A”
Two years of history/social science, including one year of world history, cultures and geography; and one year of US history, or one-half year of US history AND one-half year of American government.
2) English (4 years) “B”
Four years of college-preparatory English. If taking ESL-type classes, only the highest year can be counted towards this requirement.
3) Math (3 years required; 4 years recommended) “C”
Three years of college preparatory mathematics; the minimum pattern is Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Math courses taken in the 7th and 8th grades that the student’s high school accepts as equivalent to its own may be used to fulfill a part of this requirement.
4) Laboratory Science (2 years required; 3 years recommended) “D”
Two years of laboratory science in at least two of these three subjects: biology, chemistry, and physics.
5) Language Other than English (2 years required; 3 years recommended) “E”
Two years of the same language other than English. Courses taken in the 7th and 8th grades may be used to fulfill part of this requirement if the student’s high school accepts them as equivalent to its own courses.
6) Visual and Performing Arts (1 year) “F”
A single yearlong visual or performing arts class such as dance, drama, music, or visual art (drawing, painting, etc.).
College Preparatory Elective (1 year) “G”
7) One year chosen from additional “A-F” courses beyond those used to satisfy the requirements above, or courses that have been approved elective classes.

The UC’s look for a variety of student types so there is no special formula to get into a UC. Also as a CA HS student, do not discount the Cal States and the many great Private schools in California.

Below is the 14 areas of criteria that the UC’s/CSU’s use for their application review: https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/how-to-apply/applying-as-a-freshman/how-applications-are-reviewed.html

The UC’s tend to be more GPA focused vs. test focused when it comes to academics so you want to challenge yourself in your HS courses but not at the expense your grades. That said, good test scores are especially important for the top UC’s so you want to be an overall academically competitive applicant.

In regards to EC’s, you should get involved in something you enjoy and show consistency. Do not join a bunch of clubs, but focus on one or two and aim to show leadership in whatever you do.

The UC’s/CSU’s also only use 10-11th grades in their GPA calculation so at the end of Junior year, you can calculate the 3 UC GPA’s and see where you stand.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Enjoy your time in HS since it will be over before you know it.

Best of luck.

3

What options do you have for the language, science and math courses you listed? Are the regular and honors versions? Course rigor is looked at along with grades, and I believe the CA schools calculate a modified GPA factoring in honors classes as well as AP classes.

You should challenge yourself in your course selection, but keeping at a level where you can be successful.

4

UC approved Honors courses (for in-state CA HS’s), AP/IB and DE courses are given the extra weighting in the UC GPA calculation. A challenging HS schedule is important but as pointed out in the above the post, you want to do well along with having the HS course rigor.

Once you have settled on a HS, your can look up the UC approved Honors, AP and IB courses available using this link:

https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist

5

You’re doing great. It’s good that you’re exploring a lot of EC possibilities, but don’t spread yourself too thin - choose a few things that you can pursue at a meaningful level of commitment.

If you like track in the spring, consider doing cross country in the fall. (Or anything else you would enjoy.) You may not need another PE class if you do two sports - check on your school’s specific requirements. That PE block might be an opportunity to take a visual or performing arts class instead. You’ll need one of those for UC’s, and if you take it sooner rather than later, you’ll have the option to keep pursuing it if you enjoy it. The Algebra II class should be “accelerated” or “honors” or however they designate the version that students who are on track to take calculus take. Also choose the honors version of biology if that option exists.

Load the Khan Academy SAT prep app onto your phone, and make a habit of using it for 10-15 minutes a day during a small chunk of downtime that you already have. You’ll make great strides without having to make a huge project of cramming for the PSAT. It’s the junior year PSAT that counts for National Merit Semifinalist status, so see how you do sophomore year and if you seem to be within reach of the NMSF cutoff, make sure to take it again in 11th grade.

Think about how you’re going to spend your summers. Consider applying to do a COSMOS program on a UC campus https://cosmos-ucop.ucdavis.edu/app/main/page/campuses-and-clusters The application for this summer opens next Monday and closes February 7th. (That’s just one example of a worthwhile summer program, but not all are open to rising sophomores, as COSMOS is. Another option could be a Spanish immersion program, such as Middlebury Interactive https://www.summerlanguageacademy.com/summer-language-academy/summer-language-immersion-teens - it’s a bit expensive but there’s financial need available if you qualify, and you could likely skip ahead a year in Spanish very comfortably after the program.) You’re probably not old enough for gainful employment yet this year, so it can be a good time to get a nice enrichment experience under your belt.

Plan well, stay on top of your grades, and pursue EC’s that reflect your interests and values - but don’t get too strung out or feel like any tiny blemish in your record is going to ruin your college prospects. Keep your commitments at a level that you can actually enjoy - you’re only young once :slight_smile:

6

Thank you for this! How can I guarantee that I do well on the SAT/ACT?

7

As a freshman in CA, we are not allowed to take AP courses. At my school, we have a class named “EXP English” which is essentially an Advanced English class that I am taking, but we cannot take AP courses. The only approved AP courses for sophomore year are two Studio Art courses, and an AP History class (which I intend on taking.) In junior year, the possibilities become greater :slight_smile: We only have “regular” versions for the courses I listed.

I intend on “upping” the AP courses I take as I continue on throughout high school. Next year, I’m going to take my first ever AP class: AP History. I will take another AP History course in junior year, alongside AP English (if I take Pre-Calc in the summer, I might also be taking AP Calc BC at that point.)

8

Many HS will limit students on when and what AP classes are available. Also do not think you need to take every AP class at your school. Take the classes that interest you and you will be successful.

My son’s HS offered no AP’s Freshman year and 2 Sophomore year. As long as you show you are taking a challenging/rigorous HS schedule, you will be fine.

9

There are no guarantees, but you can try a released old SAT and ACT (under test conditions with time limits) and see which one you do better at. Then, for that test, determine which types of questions you had the most trouble with and focus preparation on those types of questions.

But note that some questions do have dependency on advancing through the high school curriculum (e.g. knowledge of more advanced math). 11th grade is a typical time to take the SAT or ACT (or both) so that you have a score when you start making the application list, and have time for retries if you want. For a few colleges, SAT subject tests may be desired; if you take these, the June SAT date in the year you are finishing the associated high school course is the best time to take such a test.

The PSAT is similar to the SAT, and the PSAT you take in 11th grade is the National Merit qualifier that can lead to scholarships at some colleges.

10

Note that the a-g requirements are the minimum for eligibility for UC admission (requirements for CSU are similar, but with some small differences).

However, many applicants will have more than the minimum, such as math through precalculus or calculus (looks like you are on track to reach calculus in 12th grade), foreign language to year 4 or AP, three or four years of history/social studies and/or science, etc., particularly for the most competitive UC campuses.

11

At my school, we can take the PSAT in 10th grade, which I hope to do :slight_smile: I want to take the SAT Chemistry subject test.
Thank you for the recommendations!

12

I admit that I don’t want to take foreign language up to year 4/AP. I don’t enjoy my Spanish courses too much. I will take 3/4 years of History/Social Studies. I’m in Chemistry this year, will take Biology next year, AP Bio as a junior, and AP Chem as a senior.

13

Cal States require 2 years along with the UC’s but the UC’s recommend 3 years. Unless you plan to apply to highly selective/elite schools, 3 years should be sufficient for the UC’s and Cal States.

14

If you want to minimize foreign language time at your school, consider taking the third level for college credit in the summer after you finish Spanish II. You’ll save a year of HS Spanish classes, and you’ll get a semester of college credit without having to get to the level required for the AP test.

15

Physics?

Be aware that UCs may have foreign language graduation requirements, depending on the division or major. These are often higher than the admission requirements / recommendations. So stopping foreign language at the minimum admission requirement may result in having to take (more) foreign language in college.