<p>My accumulative gpa is a measly 2.5 and I doubt I have any chance at all getting admitted into a UC. I don't participate in any extracurricular activites and my SAT score is mediocre (1820). My counselor suggested that I retake certain classes to raise my GPA, but I thought it'd be a lot safer to just attend a 2-year CC and transfer to a UC from there. I was just wondering how the whole process works and if I should retake my classes or just redeem myself in a CC. I am now a senior in HS and I have room to retake 2 classes tops in my schedule. I don't think retaking 2 classes will put me above a 3.0, or that it'd help me get into a UC, but I don't want to argue with my counselor as I've been told they know what's best for you in a situation like mine.
I also have a question regarding AP classes: Would I benefit from taking 2 AP classes this year if I'm not planning to apply to a UC straight out of HS? Will the credits I receive from passing the class go towards my college credits as well?</p>
<p>Screw your counselor (no offense, Sean’s counselor). Go to CC. I highly, highly recommend it, as I’m sure will everyone else on this forum. You will save money, and have a chance to get into the schools that only the kids at the top of your class were accepted to. It’s like a shot at redemption. Make it your goal to get as close to a 4.0 as you can, and you should be able to get into whichever UC you want.</p>
<p>Yes, you can use AP credit even if you end up going the transfer route.</p>
<p>^ I will second that excellent answer. </p>
<p>CC is a great route, just make sure you have a solid plan to work from. CA CCs are very crowded, so see if you can find a way to get priority registration so you get the classes you want/need. You may need to join the Honors program or EOPS, or something, or take an online class so that you have some units (depending on how the school allows people to register).</p>
<p>Go see your local CC counselor and do not pass go. :)</p>
<p>Save a ton of money, hit the CC hard, get your 4.0, or close to it, then go to any 4-year University you want! Good luck to you. You’ve got the advantage of a clean slate once you graduate HS, so take advantage of your CC and make it count. :)</p>
<p>@Sean310 I urge you to go to a CC. The possibilities are endless and will have a lifelong impact. I cannot tell you how many kids I know who tanked in hs, pulled it together at CC and got into a UC. Almost everyone on the uc transfer thread here who got in this fall was in your boat. My daughter told me the CC was easier than her high school. The key is to focus, study and do it. Do not get distracted by people who aren’t performing. And learn study habits. There are so many kids my daughter knew who went to a sub-par college because that’s just what they did. My daughter got into UCLA and nothing near this would have happened straight outta hs. Your counselor is giving you wrong advice. Totally wrong advice. </p>
<p>Plus no SATs!!!</p>
<p>I agree with @music1990. Screw your counselor.</p>
<p>I had a ~2.1 GPA in high school by the time I graduated. I went to CC and turned everything around. You can too!</p>
<p>And SAT scores are worthless once you go to CC. Don’t worry about them. Just do your best in CC and you’ll have a shot at any UC you wish to transfer to. Good luck!</p>
<p>@cayton should know. He’s at UCLA, baby! Plus, also admitted to UCB, right?</p>
<p>@lindyk8 </p>
<p>Yep. Kind of surprised that I got into Berkeley, but I did! :D</p>
<p>HS counselors are often evaluated by the % of kids they can send off to 4 years. At least mine was. Go to a JC and save yourself some money! </p>
<p>I didn’t realize that @Zalrons . Interesting. And sometimes a real disservice.</p>
<p>@lindyk8, I went to a private school so that might be why. </p>
<p>Thank you all so much for your replies! </p>
<p>It’s unanimous. </p>