Harsh chancing... & other suggestions

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Florida
1

<p>So I'm a senior this year. I was pretty depressed in 9th and 10th grade and my grades sucked. Not gonna lie. In 11th grade I turned everything around and made straight A's. Plan on keeping the straight A's this year... My previous schedules, just cores:
Freshman
English I honors
Geometry honors
World History honors
AP Biology (2, didn't care)</p>

<h2>Spanish II (took 1 in middle school)</h2>

<p>Sophomore
English II honors
Algebra 2 (took 1 in middle school)
AP US History (2, didn't care)</p>

<h2>Chemistry I honors</h2>

<p>Junior
AP Lang Comp (passed)
Financial Algebra (sucky class guidance put me in for not doing algebra hw)
AP World History (passed)
Anatomy & Physiology honors
Spanish III</p>

<h2>Chinese I (online)</h2>

<p>Senior
AP Literature
Pre-calc
AP Economics
AP Government
AP Psych
Chem II honors (school didn't offer ap chem)
Physics honors</p>

<p>So... My overall weighted GPA by graduation should only be a 3.8. 9th and 10th grade varied between 3.0~3.6 and in 11th I had a 4.2. This year with all of the AP/honors weight it will be something crazy like a 4.6 assuming I keep almost all A's. </p>

<p>I took the SAT in May and scored 1810 but I had a pretty off day and was quite ill, little math preparation, which is my weakest point, etc... I am retaking it in October and hoping to bump it up some. I'm also due to take the ACT in Oct.</p>

<p>So... Applications are coming up right around the corner here and I'm planning for a biochemistry major. UF of course is my first choice; I want to go pre-vet and they have the only veterinary school in the state (not that I'd go there, but if I wanted to, their data reveals they do indeed accept more UF undergrads than from any other school). That being said, I understand the horror stories of applying to UF. I hear they only accept the best athletes that save starving children in Africa and are in 500 clubs and carry 5.0 GPAs. Well.. Does anyone think I have a chance in going there? I will still apply of course, but if I am instantly rejected, does anyone have any other suggestions, like -- UCF or USF for pre-vet? Pros and cons? </p>

<p>For extra curricular activities..... I was in Creative Writing Club for 1 year, Anime Club for 2 years, Future Christian Athletes for 3 years and Key Club for 2 years. I am in our school's Superintendent's Diploma of Distinction program and probably will be in NHS this year. I should graduate with uh.. Over 100 community service hours (hopsital and animal shelter) which isn't a lot but it's something. I also have work experience, a strong essay, and I believe I will be able to get great recommendation letters from two teachers who are UF graduates, one from a teacher who has a PhD, and another from a teacher with a JD. If that might help, idk. T^T</p>

<p>Any insight would be extremely helpful. I know my application will be seriously sub par to the star students who will be applying; should I apply early? Or later so they just don't weed me out? Or what? Well. Anything would help. I am also extremely interested in linguistics and Asian languages/cultures and would want to double major in East Asian Studies if I could handle it (maybe that would give me some character on the app??) Ughh ty</p>

2

<p>Your application isn’t “seriously sub par”…</p>

<p>Good job with the GPA; you did all you could your junior year. Your senior grades won’t mean very much, though difficulty of your schedule will. You didn’t state what your GPA at time of application was, but I’m guessing it will be 3.6 or 3.7 at most.</p>

<p>Current freshman class had:
Mid 50% GPA: 4.1-4.5
Average GPA: 4.3
Mid 50% SAT: 1840-2100
Average SAT: 1967
Mid 50% ACT: 28-32
Average ACT: 30</p>

<p>You need to improve on your SAT/ACT as much as possible, that’s the only major thing you can do at this point which will make an impact on the decision-making process.</p>

<p>You have a chance; apply and hope for the best. But I would look into other schools as well…</p>

3

<p>Thank you Ryanx13. If it helps, I am in-state… Yes, right now it’s around a 3.67 as far as I know. I really would like to get my SAT to 1900~2000 if possible. It seems that it would help, but my GPA is what is really lacking here.</p>

4

<p>Well your ECs are ok and as long as you get a good score I would say your chances are fair…a 1810 your first time isn’t so bad.</p>

5

<p>You can’t do anything about your GPA, so let it go. If you can get your SAT over 2000, that would help a bit to compensate for your GPA.</p>

<p>UF doesn’t take recommendation letters. Make sure you have a strong essay. UF uses holistic admissions, with 50% being GPA/Test/Class rigor and 50% being EC’s/Leadership/Essay. Review your EC’s for any leadership experiences (you don’t have to have a “title”, did you lead any efforts, etc?).</p>

<p>Also, do you have a reason for your low grades in 9 and 10? Is it one you want to mention in your application? UF has a section to add “additional” information, and that could be included. UF does like to see a year to year improvement in GPA.</p>

<p>Otherwise, apply and hope. Folks with worse stats have been accepted. However, have a few safety schools lined up. Don’t forget, you can always transfer to UF after completing 60 credits and/or getting your AA (if you go to a CC). Each year, transfer students make up a significant percentage of accepted students to UF.</p>

<p>Good Luck!</p>