Going to a good UC school...

<p>well..it was nice posting a new threads up here in CC !!
this is actually the first time i've use this website.
however..i found this really useful and i hope i can get some advices from all.</p>

<p>so..i am a current Junior in High school !
i was wondering if anyone can share what they did in high school that provide them a higher chance to get into good UC schools such as Berkeley, LA, and SD ! (or anything that they feel could help me to get into one !! )</p>

<p>it will be great to hear response from everyone ...</p>

<p>h2g2c: As the dad of two kids who have applied in the past and one who is now applying to UC's, and with a niece and various other kids I know at Berkeley and UCLA, I can tell you that there's really just one thing which overwhelmingly affects your chances at those schools: high school grades. Take the most rigorous courses available at your school, and get A's in them. That's pretty much it. For the UC's, everything else is so far behind your high school GPA that that it's not even worth talking about.</p>

<p>GPA is very important, as is the rigor of course load, but for Berkeley essays are as important as GPA (I think the same can be said of UCLA). In addition, scores, ECs, personal qualities, talent, work experience, and volunteer work are all considered "important." No one factor will get you in, so you'll need to work on all of them.</p>