I believe I’m a very gifted student on average but one class freshman is giving me a hard time. My gpa is only a 3.85 but my act is a 34. Dedicated extracurriculars. My gpa is really holding me back. Furthermore I live in georgia. UGA definitely isn’t for me and tech is really my only option. My parents income is also in the 60000s. Where can I apply? I don’t know what to do. I want to go to UCs but I can’t afford. Help…
Sorry for the weird wording on some parts. It’s been a long day and this has been on my mind forever
How much can your parents afford?
With your stats, you will get merit aid at some schools. Tulane and GW are two that come to mind
Your GPA is NOT holding you back. Stop thinking like that.
Did you take all three of bio, chem, physics? Foreign Language up to level 4 or AP? Math up to precalculus (honors) or calculus (AB or BC, no difference)? Then your GPA is competitive for any school.
Are you a boy or a girl?
Are your parents okay with your going out of state?
What’s your parents’ budget?
Do you want a tight-knit community and small, interactive classes? Are you more into spectator sports with a D1 winning team, playing yourself (intramurals), or totally indifferent to sports?
Is “dressing up for class” something you find cool or would you rather go to class in cutoffs or flip flops?
Is something really important in your life that you’d like to continue (choral singing, dancing, chess, fencing, MUN…?)
An easy possibility is UAlabama Honors. Easily in the top 10 best honors colleges in the country. With your stats, if you apply now, you’re guaranteed a full tuition scholarship, admission to the honors college, and honors dorm. If you major in engineering or CS, you also get $2,500/year stipend. You can also apply to one of two honors-within-honors programs, CBHP and University Fellows. Look them up. Lots of opportunities there.
Don’t discount UGA - their honors college is quite good. Apply before October 15 to have a shot at the best scholarships.
Those two are likely safeties for you.
Now, answer the questions above and we’ll suggest some colleges 
I took AP Bio in 9th grade and got a 60 first semester (no 10 points added). The workload was a huge shock to me but I studied my butt off second semester and got a 77 lol.
Foreign language, my school made an error and I didn’t get to take French 1 as a freshman so had to start sophomore year. Otherwise I’d be in AP French right now.
I took gifted chemistry as a sophomore and it is definitely one of the easiest classes I’ve ever taken despite having to teach myself the classes.
Ap physics 1 junior year and I’m currently in Ap physics C. Without a doubt my strongest subject.
Progression of math classes from freshman year: Accelerated Algebra, Accelerated Geometry, Accelerated Precal, and now I’m in Calc BC.
I’m an Asian male.
My parents are ok with me going OOS as long as they can afford it.
I’d prefer a mid sized community but I’m a little indifferent. For sports the only sport I like watching is soccer. I’m not amazing by any means but I enjoy playing it with my friends.
By dressing up I’m assuming you mean trying to impress someone… I would wear whatever is comfortable but not too bummish. Just a t shirt, shorts, and comfortable shoes. A jacket and pants for the winter.
I’m currently in the highest orchestra class offered at my school and I will continue music in general for the rest of my life. Beta club is also really important to me. Community service is a huge part of my application. I have a lack of strong leadership although I do have some influential roles in my extracurriculars.
Thanks so much. @MYOS1634
If it helps I plan to major in mechanical engineering.
So you have all three of bio/chem/physics, and 3 Ap science classes; French up to level 3 (not 4); and calc BC.
Your GPA is FINE. Except for that missing year in foreign language (and one can argue the course rigor in science makes up for it), you have all the markers needed for a very selective major such as mechanical engineering and everything a selective college looks at.
So, UGA and GTech + UAlabama Engineering are your priorities - deadline Oct 15 is almost there for UGA + GTech, then UAlabama to get the good news and relax a bit.
Look into Olin (very, very good school near Boston, hands-on curriculum - your last year you are actually contracted with a team project for a real company); Cooper Union; Rose Hulman; Case Western Reserve (your GPA/course rigor/ACT should result in nice merit!); Northeastern (if you’re interested in co-ops); URochester; WPI; RPI; RIT; NYU Tandon (depending on FA - NYU’s bad, but the school of engineering used to have good FA policies, so…??)
HarveyMudd if your extracurriculars are very good and your essays also are - reach for everyone but a top school for engineering, plus one of your best chances to continue with music while studying engineering.
GT is an absolutely fabulous in-state option for Mech. Bama is another great safety. Don’t count on good FA from NYU. My understanding is that NYU FA policies have replaced those of NY Poly that used to apply.