<p>Hey guys. I'm a Senior in high school. I've had a very difficult life and upbringing and have dealt with a lot growing up, which really had an affect on my school grades. My overall unweighted GPA is 2.6. I initially wanted to attend UC Riverside straight out of high school but I've realized that it'd be very hard to do, and I'm not really in the situation to do to so at this moment. I've decided to attend community college and transfer to a UC. UCR, UCI, UCSB, UCLA. I'm ready to stop slacking off and work on my education. Do you guys think I have the potential to do it? And I wanted to transfer in 1, 1 1/2 years max. Can I? Should I skip my last semester of high school and just go straight to CC? I'm looking for help, I'm really stuck and don't know what to do. Thanks</p>
<p>If you’re focused now you could definitely transfer to one of those schools. I wouldn’t get my hopes up on doing it in a year, but you could for sure try and if it doesn’t work out that way, just transfer after 2 years like most people. You mention skipping the last semester of high school…do you mean you are able to graduate without the last semester, or that you would just drop out? If it’s the first one, sure why not. But if you mean drop out, don’t do that, stay and finish. </p>
<p>Just make sure you don’t start college until you are really ready to commit to it, because it’s a lot harder to undo bad grades in college than it is in high school–believe me I know lol. Make sure you are doing it for yourself, not out of pressure of seeing everyone going off to college. A lot of people (like myself) just go to school because they think they have to right away, and then end up getting bad grades because their heart is not in it. It wasn’t until a few years out of high school that I really got focused, and since then I’ve had great grades. But I had to jump through a lot of loops to undo the first year of bad grades I got right out of high school when I was not ready. </p>
<p>I’m not trying to make community college sound super hard, because it’s not. I’m just sharing the mistakes that I made. But if you are ready, go for it, you can for sure get to where you want to be very quickly. One thing I would recommend is taking some online classes. Many community colleges offer them, and for me they were much easier because I could do them on my own time. Plus they count for regular credits just like normal classes and generally transfer to UC. There’s a cc called Foothill College that offers hundreds of them. After screwing up at cc twice, I started taking classes at Foothill, and now I have great grades and am applying to the UCs.</p>
<p>Anyway, good luck. If you believe in yourself, you will have no problem transferring to a great university.</p>
<p>How many AP credits have you accumulated? In order to transfer to the UC’s, you need at least 90 quarter units (60 semester) by the end of your 2nd year in college. If you want to achieve that goal in one year, AP credits can help you immensely. You must also pick your major ASAP, which might feel a bit rushed since you are only a high school student…but this is important so you know what requisite courses you need to knock out for a successful transfer. Do some research on the TAG program which guarantees you admission to UCR, UCI, and UCSB if you meet certain requirements. My suggestion is to graduate from high school first…you never know when your plans might fall apart and you may regret not getting that diploma. Around March or so, start signing up for community college summer school courses to get a head start.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys. And another question, do you think I have a shot at UCR with the 2.6 If I score high enough on my SAT? What would I have to score? And would I be able to get in if I’m missing 1 A-G requirement somehow?</p>
<p>@Motivation1995</p>
<p>1600-1700 should be a good score for UCR, but considering your GPA is on the lower side, you’re going to need a pretty high score. </p>
<p>If you want to ease up the transition into community college, start doing your research NOW. Look into classes, plan out schedules, and get yourself prepared. Maybe even consider taking a course online/in-person for the Spring semester. Always keep your options open and have back-ups. Especially since you’re in high school where admission is so difficult since you’re low priority, it’s always good to have alternatives in mind.</p>
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No, I don’t, and I’ll tell you why. </p>
<p>To succeed in school you don’t need to be a genius. If you have a decent level of intelligence then the key to learning is persistence. The opposite of slacking. Its spending 5-10 hours per week studying for your class, doing the homework, doing extra problems in classes like math or physics until you can do them without looking back at solved problems. So the real root of success in school is a willingness to accept delayed gratification. You give up things that are fun to do now for a future reward. </p>
<p>When I read your words above I don’t think you’re ready to do this. Your grades, I’m willing to bet, are more a reflection of your unwillingness to spend enough time studying than anything else. About transferring: as I’m sure you’re aware, UCs only accept frosh or juniors as new students. When you say you want to enroll in 1 year, 1.5 max, I see 2 things. First, a belief that somehow you’ll magically change from a so-so student to one of the best your CC has ever seen. A super student able to finish two regular years of college in one!! Second, and more critical, it sure sounds to me like you are still not really willing to delay gratification. Most students, whether at a CC or a 4-year, expect to take 2 years to reach junior status. But you’re only willing to wait 1, or 1.5 max. With that mindset my expectations for your future are unfortunately not very hopeful.</p>
<p>I obviously wrote up their that I was going through a lot of family issues and that Is why I didn’t do well in high school, not because I slacked off. You don’t know me, so don’t assume you do. If you’re going to reply to me with a bitter remark like that, don’t bother. I don’t need you’re advice.</p>
<p>And how high Osiq? Thanks</p>
<p>
Well, you stated just that in your original post…</p>
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<p>Wowww don’t let haterz like mikemac get you down. I effed up in high school and community college my first two tries, and now I have a 4.0. You can for sure get back on track, I believe in you. He is right that you probably won’t be able to transfer after just one year though.</p>
<p>As far as trying to get into Irvine right now, if you really want to try do it, but here’s my advice. I would really recommend going the transfer route instead, and here’s why. Community college is a great transition into a 4-year university. It will give you a chance to practice good study habits, in a less competitive atmosphere. Plus, if you get good grades, you will be able to get into a better school (unless Irvine is your dream school, like I said). Finally, if you mess up ( like I did my first few tries) you still have a chance to use academic renewal to start over. If you mess up at UC, that’s pretty much it for you. I’m not trying to scare you, just telling you how it is. I know you probably just want to be at a real university right now because a lot of your friends are going and others expect you to and it sounds like fun. I felt the same way, but now I’m really glad I waited, because I have a chance to get into much better schools and I really feel like I’m actually prepared. If you really want to go to Irvine, I hope you get in, but just consider what I said. I hope it all works out for you.</p>
<p>Btw, I’m going to choose to believe that mikemac said all that to motivate you. He has over 6,000 posts, so I’m guessing he’s not just here to make people feel bad. He is right that the willingness to delay gratification is a very important characteristic to succeed. It took me a while to learn that, but since then school has come much easier.</p>
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Wow! Why don’t you read thru your post #1 up there and look for the word “slack” in it. I see it. Can’t you?</p>
<p>I thought you wanted to know what people thought, because that’s what the words you typed said. If you were really just looking for pats on the back, reassurance, and encouragement, perhaps that’s what you should have asked for.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you couldn’t be bothered to spend a few minutes online looking at the requirements to transfer to a UC, or if you did but decided that you’ll just become an incredible student and finish 2 years of college in 1 so you could “transfer in 1, 1 1/2 years max.” Either is not a good omen. Anyone who lets you believe there is any possibility of attending a UC in a year is not doing you any favors. Simply not going to happen, period.</p>
<p>There IS a path for you to get to a UC. It’s the same one hundred of thousands of others have done. Spend 2 years at a CC, get a solid education, then transfer. It takes time, dedication, and effort. Even though you now deny using the word “slacker” it does actually appear in the words someone claiming to be you typed into post #1, and most people who are slackers have a problem putting off fun things today to study. </p>
<p>More troubling is your bristling response to anything you don’t want to hear. Its like you’ve decided how the world should be and are angry at anyone who tells you that you’ve got it wrong. Good luck with that.</p>
<p>I was a 2.90 student in high school. Took AP classes and passed the tests, did okay enough on the SAT (1810) but the general vibe I got from teachers was “smart kid who never really applies himself”. By the time I got to graduation, I had ended up only getting a tentative acceptance to CSU East Bay based.</p>
<p>And that got rescinded a week before school started.</p>
<p>I’ve been going to the local CC for the past two years and reevaluating my situation. I have always enjoyed learning, and I knew I could do a lot better than a 2.9. So I took classes and gave it my all. I currently have a 3.8 GPA, am taking 6 classes (one at UC Berkeley), and tutoring in accounting for my community college. I’m hoping to do a double major in Economics and Political Science. I am going to be applying this fall to Berkeley and several other UCs. </p>
<p>The point of my abridged autobiography is this: transferring from community college in 1/1.5 years is optimistic at best. It is better to take a average load of classes, do great work and transfer in two than to kill yourself trying to go in one. Community college may get a lot of flack from people for being “High School 2.0”; I used to think that way myself. But what you get out of CC is what you put into it. I’ve put my heart and soul, spent my summer here taking 3 classes so I could have the opportunity to achieve my goals. And I think I have gotten more out of the CC than I could have from CSU East Bay. A job tutoring, though part time, can speak a lot more about a student than a 4.0 GPA.</p>
<p>Plan your path, put your all into it, and take the two years. You won’t regret it.</p>
<p>@Motivation1995</p>
<p>There isn’t a clear cut answer to that, but I think if you hit a 2000+ score and write a damn good essay about how your family issues affected you, you’ll have a good shot.</p>
<p>With regards to posts from others in this thread, all they are trying to say is that the CC route isn’t a bad option given your circumstances.</p>
<p>If you keep your head on straight and really reach for your goal, no one can stop you. Goodluck</p>