<p>I used to attend homestead high school in cupertion, CA, which is in the top 400th something school in America, and has a good overall reputation. Next year, which will be my junior year, I will be attending a new school, specifically Aliso Niguel High School in (south) CA. My new school is not even in the top 1200 schools in America in terms of API. Will this significantly hurt my chances at being admitted to a school like Berkley? At my old school I recieved 2 B's and the rest A's, with one honors class my soph year. BTW my freshman year I had 6 classes then 7 classes in my soph year. Should I really be worried about this change?</p>
<p>Where you went to school does not have a huge factor on your admission chances if at all. Colleges are more interested in what you can bring to the campus (as far as diversity, leadership, experience, etc.) and how you have proven yourself. To give you a personal perspective, I spent my freshman and sophomore year at one high school in OR and my junior and senior years at a high school in WA. I also took 6 classes my freshman year and then 7 classes my sophomore year, ending with 3 B's and the rest A's. </p>
<p>I would not worry about the change if you adjust well to new school and community. It was a slow transition for me at first, but once I committed to taking advantage of the new challenges, I ended up doing really well at my new school. Both of my high schools were good schools; I don't know where they ranked, but I got into most of the colleges I wanted to (including UCLA, Marquette, and the University of Washington). If you want to get into Berkeley, your grades and SAT scores will be important in building your profile. But you'll also want to make sure that you have a well-rounded education with a good balance of EC's and volunteer service.</p>
<p>If I could offer you a piece of advice from my experience, I'd encourage you to really take this new opportunity as a challenge to see where you can make a difference in your school and impact your community. Continue to work hard on your grades but also spend time participating in EC's and volunteer service. Even though you'll be at a new school, I'd say be open-minded and know that you can make a huge difference if you put the energy into it. In my two years at my new school, I started a Model UN club and ended up serving with business and community leaders on a city-wide executive board as the (youngest ever) Vice Chairman for the city's World Affairs Council. I ended up being able to write about those experiences in my college and scholarship applications, so be thinking ahead of how you can use your new opportunities in the next two years for your future plans. I'd be glad to offer any more help or advice so feel free to send me a private message. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thank you very much for the reply.</p>
<p>I understand that I have to keep on working hard and do a lot EC's. The problem is I am a bit discouraged at my lack of EC's and my two B's in my freshman and soph year. The problem at a new school is that it is hard to do EC's because you are unfamiliar with the environment, especially during my junior when my classes will be all H or AP. I guess I just have to work harder. As for specific EC's, at the new school I will hopefully be on the basketball team and will start the club Interact at the new school since they do not have it. I think that will look very good if I do that because interact is sponsored by a international organization.</p>
<p>Question: is Interact club similar to Amnesty International?</p>
<p>Idk, we dont have amnesty international at my old school. Damn it, I should have made that club over there. But interact is simply a group of volunteers that go to events helping the community.</p>
<p>cool--we already have an amnesty international, and i want to found a club, but it can't be too similar to an existing club.</p>
<p>anyway, i don't think moving high schools will be held against you--it's usually not something you can control.</p>