<p>Hi everyone. I recently came back from a visit at Cal Poly and found out their gpa is calculated freshman year - junior year 
and i did really poorly freshman year. Do they consider upward trends/ improvements ? pleasee chance me and let me know where i need improvement!! im really nervous lol heres my info: </p>
<p>Major: Arch.E Alt: Civil Engineering
Weighted Cal Poly GPA: 3.86
SAT 1: 1330 /1600 CR:590 math: 740 im retaking and hopefully increasing both scores
ACT: taking in september ( ive scored 30 on first practice test and 33 on second without essay)
EC: 200 hours of internship
about 20 hours at library
Brahma Tech program
Black belt in Tae kwon do
officer of minor club and member of another
7 AP classes
Junior year
AP Chem-4
AP Calc AB-4
AP U.S History-3
Senior Year
AP Econ.
AP Psychology
AP Calc BC
AP Rhetoric (Language and Composition)</p>
<p>1 more weighted class junior year (English 3 Honors)</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Please reply!!</p>
<p>Your math SAT score is good, so work on your CR score. If you get a 30+ on the real ACT, that would be good. It is hard to say if your GPA will be enough for the two very popular majors you are interested in. if you really love Cal Poly, I would suggest Early Decision where your chances may be better for being accepted. You have plenty of EC’s and AP classes. They hardly count EC’s. Just a couple of questions about work experience and activities having to do with your major. Most people have to answer (no) You don’t need the essay for the ACT at state schools, but you do for UC’s. </p>
<p>I am not sure that they look at upward trends because it is a formula and some people say it is all done by computers. Good for you to show such improvement though. You would have no chance if you hadn’t gotten more serious. Just do your best on the tests and give it a shot! Be sure to have some backup schools too. Good luck!</p>
<p>If you have taken algebra 1 during the 8th grade, include that in your app. And try the ACT, cal poly prefers it.</p>
<p>Cal Poly also weights the intensity of your class selections. They give points to students based on the number of CSU core classes taken the the types taken (math is valued the most). And, this admission scoring INCLUDES PLANNED 12th GRADE CLASSES. See quote below from admission criteria list. My suggestion is to make sure your 12th grade schedule is filled with CSU core classes. You can get credit for up to 45 (if i remember right) on your application. This is a way you can leap ahead of other applicants who might have better test scores. It is something you can still do that will affect your admission. A key point though, if you are admitted you must take your planned classes. They will want your transcripts at the end of both 12th grade semesters to verify you took the classes you said you would take.</p>
<p>“CSU required coursework taken during 9th to 11th grades and in progress or planned during 12th grade.”</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for your replies :] </p>
<p>@momofmv yea im going to apply for early decision, some say its easier and some say its harder. Whats your opinion?</p>
<p>@socal70 I took algebra 1 in 7th grade, can i still put it on the app? </p>
<p>@mariner116 are the csu required coursework just the a-g courses?</p>
<p>Yes, the a-g courses. Get as close to 45 as you can.</p>
<p>thanks mariner116. are the courses counted by semester or year?</p>
<p>I know that if you are not a strong candidate they will defer you to regular decision. They have an idea of what scores/grades applicants of a particular major will have based on the years prior. But they truly will not know how many applicants they will have until the regular application deadline is past. You would have a better chance in ED if you are a strong applicant, but perhaps not at the top of the applicant pool. Once regular decision comes, they can take the top students. Not sure if this makes complete sense, but if Cal Poly is your number one choice, I would go for ED. Some students were accepted ED, but students with somilar stats were not accepted in RD.</p>
<p>Listen to the advice above and stick to your senior schedule. It looks rigorous. They do look at the types of classes you took. </p>
<p>I hope you get in. It is a great school!</p>
<p>Thanks for you advice haha :] however I do have 1 question regrading ED. If im planning on taking my SATs in November will i still be able to send in those scores, or is the deadline october ?</p>