So I’m currently a junior and the online high school I go to does not offer AP classes. I moved states this summer and went to a traditional high school for a little more than the first quarter. However, some family issues came up and I had to take online school. I’m scared that this will hurt my chances of going to a UC (which is also out of state for me).
I was thinking of going back to traditional school next school year but I actually really like how flexible online school is. I think I will switch to another online school that offers AP classes instead (I couldn’t enroll to this online high school in the of the semester; I could’ve enrolled for the Spring semester but though it would be a waste since I wouldn’t be able to learn the first sem curriculum of the AP classes I wanted to take.).
I barely have any extracurricular and club experience besides being forced to go to Red Cross meetings and going to one “event” (literally just eating at Panda Express bc a % of the proceeds will go to the club, so I’m sure this event doesn’t matter). I also have zero community service hours. It’s even harder for me now to join a club and gain service hours because of online school.
I plan on getting more involved senior year but will colleges even care at that point? What should I do? Is it best for me to do community college first?
A flexible online school should make it easier not harder to get involved in things. EC activities don’t have to be at a school, they can be done anywhere. Find things in your community that interest you – there are likely ways to volunteer in a hospital, a non-profit, church, library etc. especially since you can be flexible with your timing. Start now – no reason to wait until senior year.
Yes, I understand but I can’t be involved at the moment for the same reason why I had to stop going to a traditional school. Also, I can’t get my license until May of next year. I will definitely try to start volunteering the summer I get my license.
If AP’s are not available, then your UC application will be reviewed based on what type of classes that are available Although EC’s are important for many of the UC’s, starting something Senior year will not help much but better late than never. As stated in the above post, there are EC’s you can do now so I would get started.
Lastly, make sure as an OOS applicant that you and your family can afford to pay for the UC’s which give no financial aid to OOS students. Expect to be full pay at $60K/year at least.
If you’re OOS for a UC and don’t have AP classes, your UCGPA simply won’t be competitive except at UCM/UCR/UCSC (depending on what it is); in addition, there are no scholarships, no financial aid, you’re supposed to fund the 60K entirely, each year. Can your family really do that?
What state are you in?
Can you change online high schools? (FLVS has AP classes, for instance)
Thank you guys for letting me know about UC costs. I obviously haven’t done enough research. I wanted to go to UCSD- would SDSU be realistic? If not, then my options would probably be starting with community college then going to either ASU or NAU or going to ASU or NAU right after high school.
Also, yes, I can change online schools but I plan to do it on my senior year since starting an AP class during the second semester would make no sense.
SDSU is around $35-40K/year with no financial aid for OOS students also so if you cannot afford full pay, these will unaffordable also.
The UC capped weighted GPA (8 semesters of honors points)= CSU GPA so no weighted Honors courses can also impact your chances at any of the CSU’s. Other than Cal poly SLO, the CSU’s admit by eligibility index and major.
You need to calculate your CSU GPA and then plug it into the following calculations:
(CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math + EBRW) or (CSU GPA x 200) + (ACT composite x10).
The higher the EI the better your chances. For SDSU, an SAT EI of 4100+ and ACT EI of 1050+ can be competitive.