Hello , I am a junior in high school in California.
I am scared if I will get into a college with the GPA i have . Since in california, I am thinking of either California State Universities or University of California colleges. These colleges only look from sophomore year and junior year and somewhat senior year. So my sophomore grades were the same 3.16 gpa and so is also my first semester of my junior year. During my sophomore year , i took one honors class and for junior year , I am taking 2 AP classes. This semester I’m trying to aim for a high GPA but i’m also wondering if it is too late for me to show my full potential to colleges. My parents believe that I won’t be accepted to any UC colleges and I am starting to think of that is to be true. I am taking my SAT in March. So please I am wondering if it is too late to show what I can do in my second semester of Junior year.Is it too late to show that I can prove that I can be better? This semester i’m trying to aim for all A’s and since they take weighted GPA it will be shown as around 4.3, any help if my chances are still alive. Thank you
You are correct that the Cal States and UC’s only use 10-11th grades in their GPA calculation (Not 9th or 12th).
CSU/UC’s also weight any UC approved Honors and AP classes taken during 10-11th grades so you can raise your GPA by doing well 2nd semester with the extra weighting. You cannot use your HS weighting since they have their own weighting scale. Capped weighted UC GPA is 8 semesters of those approved courses and not all Honors courses are weighted. You can look up your CA HS courses and see which ones will be weighted in the CSU/UC calculation at this link:
https://hs-articulation.ucop.edu/agcourselist#/list/search/institution
UC’s are always tough and if your CSU/UC GPA is between 3.0-3.39, your chances are not great at most of the UC’s but UC Merced and UC Riverside are definitely possible especially if you have solid SAT/ACT scores. Here are some admit rates based on UC capped weighted GPA:
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.00-3.39
UCB/UCLA/UCSD: 1%
UCI/UCSB: 2%
UCD: 4%
UCSC: 18%
UCR: 38%
UCM: 67%
Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.40-3.79:
UCB: 2%
UCLA: 3%
UCSD: 6%
UCD: 15%
UCSB: 14%
UCI: 13%
UCSC: 59%
UCR: 78%
UCM: 92%
For the Cal States, they admit by eligibility index and major. Having a high SAT/ACT score can compensate for a lower than average CSU/UC GPA.
EI= (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math + EBRW) or (CSU GPA x200) + (ACT composite x10).
There are 23 Cal States and many of the Non-impacted campuses such as Dominguez Hills, Stanislaus, Bakersfield, East Bay will accept a Freshman with a minimum EI of 2900 for SAT and 694 for ACT so you should have a large choice of schools in which to apply.
Continue to do well and strive for higher grades. Prep for the SAT/ACT and then figure out where you stand at the end of Junior year.
CSU/UC GPA calculator (capped weighted): https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
Community college especially in CA is an excellent backup since the CSU’s and UC’s have articulation agreements with all these schools so if you are not happy with your HS performance and college choices as an Entering Freshman, the CC route is another proven option.
Best of luck.
If you can really raise your GPA, and keep it like that during senior year, it will only help you. Don’t worry about that, just show them your full potential and score high in SATs.
thank you rigidselector and gumbymom