Hey everyone,
My dream school is Berkeley or Stanford, where I want to major in computer science or analytics. Freshman year, I kind’ve screwed up,
I ended with a 3.43/4.0 UW GPA (B+ in Algebra II, B+ in English, B in Bio, B+ in Spanish, A- in History, A in Band, and A in gym). I also took highest level possible in every class .
Sophomore year, however, I really pushed my self and ended with an around a 3.9/4.0 UW GPA. (A- Pre-Calc, A in AP Gov, A in World Lit, A in Programming, A in Chemistry, A+ in Spanish). Again, I took the highest level for every class.
Next year, I will be taking all AP and/or college-level courses. I am also dropping my lunch for another elective. I go to an above average public high school (we were blue ribbon two years ago) and some of my extra curriculars are founding the stock market club, FBLA, robotics (went two states twice, joined another team to go to worlds), and I am on the student government as an MRA representative. I have been on JV Indoor Track (2 years) and Varsity Tennis (2 Years and states one year). I also plan on starting a business of my own this summer (online) and perhaps writing an article.
My question is, do I still have a decent chance of making it into either Berkeley or Stanford? I know I didn’t do that great Freshman year but if I perform well Junior and senior year too, and get above a 1450 on the SATs, how do my chances look?
Note: My school counts an A as 3.9 and A+ as 4.0. Also, I’m Asian and our household income is considered upper middle class
Thanks!
I think you’re doing just fine. Low freshman grades are expected and the UC system cuts them out of your GPA consideration entirely.
And yo! One high schooler to another, don’t drop your lunch for an elective (unless you really actually love it). Spend more time strengthening your ECs if anything. Your admissions decisions will not depend on one elective.
Best of luck 
UC’s do not consider + or - for grades. UC GPA is 10-11th only. Stanford also does not consider Freshman grades so continue working hard. Remember grades are only a small but important part of your application as a whole. You need to be outstanding overall.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Are you in state or out of state for UCs? If OOS then only AP/IB/DE classes count towards weighted GPA.
Stanford does not consider freshman grades per Gumbymom, so do your best now, which it looks like you are. For a potential CompSci major you should definitely get some more programming related ECs.
Now is a good time to prep for standardized tests. Since you mentioned that you just finished your sophomore year, did you take the PSAT 10? Since you are considering a competitive major, make sure your SAT is closer to 1550+. 1450 will not cut it for CompSci/Analytics. Make sure you are enrolled in AP Physics, AP CompSci, and at least AP Calculus AB to be competitive. Also the tests are not mandatory, but if possible take at least 2 SAT Subject tests (Math 2 and one of either Chemistry or Physics).
Include a few match/safety schools as well.
While the above posters are correct in that Stanford and the UCs do not use your freshman year grades in the calculated GPA they do look at them and are a part of the overall picture. Keep working hard to build the best app you can. Stanford is a reach for everyone. Even a 4.0UW and 4.68 W couldn’t help me. Enjoy high school!
I hate to break it to you, but Stanford has a 4.8% acceptance rate. Nobody has a decent chance of getting in lol.
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Guess what? Berkeley is too.
Great choices though. Yes, they are both possibilities. Keep going.
Well Berkeley is a 17% acceptance rate vs 5, different sort of reach lol
soph + junior are very important for UCs