<p>I'm sure that most of you guys on here have seen this topic pop up one time or another. If you have, I'm sorry that you have to read this...haha, but I'd appreciate if you help me. :) </p>
<p>I'm currently a junior in the second semester. Today our college counselor visited our Ap Lang/comp class and I honestly feel like I cannot get into any UC/ "good" private school now. I really want honest answers about this. None of the pitty answers because I'm pretty serious about this.... The summer before 10th grade I transferred to another high school that is more rigourous and challenging than the one I attended in 9th grade. The transfer was harder on me than I expected. What's weird is I had everything there socially, but I failed to think about what the transfer would do to me academically. I wish I could go back and change my grades, but I have to accept that I can't. From 6th grade to 9th grade I received almost straight A's (except a B in math...), however, 10th grade my gpa dropped DRASTICALLY. I don't want to boast about myself, I really don't so please don't take this the wrong way...but I know that I am smart...I know that I am capable of much more than what my current overall gpa is...transferring...ugh, I almost regret it really. I got into the school I'm in now 2 weeks before school started because I was on open enrollment, meaning I had to be picked out (like a lottery) before I knew I could go there. That means, all the AP summer assignments that were required for this school would have to completed within 2 weeks when everyone else had the whole summer. However, I don't want this to be my excuse...cause I think it would be bad just to blame it on that alone. </p>
<p>(I've excluded the -, + on the grades since UC schools don't count them...and I don't think privates care either...right?)
9th grade:
H. English 9 A, A
Orchestra A, A
H. Alg. II/Trig. B, B
PE A, A
Spanish 1 A, A
H. Marine Biology A, A
Marching Dynamics (one sem.) A</p>
<p>10th grade: </p>
<p>AP World C, C<br>
H. Math Anal./Calc A. C, C
PE A (I know this doesn't even count...)
Spanish 2 A, A
H. English 10 C, B
H. Chemistry B, B</p>
<p>11th grade (first sem. only):
H. US B (...i had an 89 in this class...but that doesn't matter :( )
AP Calc. AB B
H. Physics B (A all semester, B on the final...89 in the class, yep..yet again)
AP Lang/Comp C
Spanish 3 B (A all sem. then I had an 89.4 end of the semester, so B for me...)
Ap Psychology C</p>
<p>Seriously guys, these teachers cut no slack. I'm not lying about all those 89's because I want an honest answer about what my chances are of getting into a good UC. But I also know that I can't just say I had "hard" teachers...etc. </p>
<p>I take the SAT's this coming saturday...I'm hoping my final score on the SAT's will be at LEAST over 2000. I'm shooting for 2100? For sat II's I already did one, but I got a horrible score for the world test...I need to take at least three more if I want to do what is recommended. I'll most likely do Math 2C, Spanish, and US. </p>
<p>EC's:
-Piano for 10 years now; won 7 competitions
-Volunteering at the community center
-Staff/leadership member of my youth group for 2 years now (this process was not me getting myself involved...i was chosen out of specific requirements)
-worship team member since 8th grade
-training k9 unit dogs with my dad (this is a hobby...does this count?)</p>
<p>I don't know how much ec's help. I heard UC's have a very formulaic approach to applications because they get so many. If i don't have the required gpa (if you calculuate the UW and W gpa it's still low), then what are my chances of getting accepted? </p>
<p>I'm thinking of (in no specific order): UCSB, UCSD, UCLA (out of the question probably...), USC, Westmont, Pepperdine, Biola, Azusa Pacific, UCSF, and CSU's for safeties. I heard that I already have a guaranteed spot at tier 3 UC schools such as Merced, Santa Cruz, and Riverside as long as I have a 3.0 and higher maintained. But realistically... I don't want to go to those schools. And my "safety" schools shuold be universities I'd actually want to go to. The college counselor said she's seen too many kids apply to safety schools they don't want to go to and then end up going there because they have no choice if they get rejected from all their other schools. </p>
<p>I know I have a lot of reach schools because of my gpa. But I take school seriously. I'm passionate about learning. I just hope colleges can see past my gpa and take into account the amount of determination and perseverance I have. I want to get into a decent college more than anything...but I still know that I need to have realistic expectations. I'm going to continue to work hard this semester and hopefully pull more A's in there. Senior year I will not slack off...I need to prove to uni. that I can be in their school. Thanks for your help...sorry this was so long.</p>