So this year instead of taking an AP science, I chose physiology, and I had to take pre-calculus honors before I can take AP Calculus next year. I hate US history, and know that I would not do well if I had to take an AP on it. I’m taking AP Bio, AP Calculus, and AP Comp Gov next year, and taking the AP French exam, and AP Psychology over the summer. I’m not expecting to get into an Ivy League, but it would be nice to get into somewhere like UCLA or UC Davis. My GPA (weighted) is 3.9 and unweighted is a 3.89. I take the SAT this Saturday, so that’s not certain yet. Do I have a shot?
Do you live in California?
Yeah
Then you should have good chances for the UC schools. Check with your GC about your senior schedule.
UCs look at 10-11 grades, so the lack of honors/AP might be a concern, especially for UCLA.
UC’s only consider 10-11th grades in their GPA calculation so not having or only have a few weighted courses 10-11th grades will impact your chances along with your UC GPA since they do consider HS course rigor. If the classes were not available for you to take in 11th, this will be taken into consideration however if AP classes were available and you chose not take them it will impact your chances negatively. Showing good HS course rigor will be noted in the application review but 12th grades are not considered in the admissions review.
Below a 4.0 UC capped weighted GPA will make most of the UC’s a tough admit.
https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/
2018 Freshman admit rates for UC GPA of 3.80-4.19 capped weighted and not major specific:
UCB: 10%
UCLA: 9%
UCSD: 34%
UCSB: 38%
UCD: 41%
UCI: 38%
UCSC: 70%
UCR: 84%
UCM: 95%
2018 UC capped weighted GPA averages:
UCB: 4.23
UCLA: 4.23
UCSD: 4.16
UCSB: 4.13
UCI: 4.13
UCD: 4.11
UCSC: 3.96
UCR: 3.81
UCM: 3.71
@gumbymom, would a summer class (or two) at a community college this summer count toward @abbafah’s 10-11 grade GPA and give him/her a grade bump?
Yes, taking a CC class would give a grade bump if it is UC transferable and meets one of the a-g course requirements. I caution all HS students to be aware that any CC courses go on your permanent college record so make sure you do well in the CC classes especially if considering Grad school, Medical school, Law school etc.
Is there a way to take any classes online to get that same GPA boost? I’m hoping to take Biology/Psychology/Chemistry over the summer but am doing a lot of traveling and craziness
Is there a way to take any classes online to get that same GPA boost? I’m hoping to take Biology/Psychology/Chemistry over the summer but am doing a lot of traveling and craziness
Sorry not sure why that posted twice
You can use the UCOP website for UC approved On-line courses that could give you the extra weighting. Psychology would probably be the best course to take on-line, since Biology and Chemistry are laboratory based courses.
Select Institutions from the link and then school type for On-line
And another concern is that you are taking your first SAT this Saturday. Your peers have already taken an SAT or 2 by now and have a score set to go.
Right now, your target UC is UCR. Apply in July to secure a place.
Taking 5 APs after not taking any before is a recipe for disaster. I wouldn’t take more than 2 (AP calc, AP Bio.) Getting a D WILL get you rescinded. Loading up on APs for senior year is VERY risky.
If you’re fluent in French you can register for the AP exam (now in November).
Summer classes are very intense -2 is a full load (equivalent to 6hours of HW/day). You should limit yourself to one, especially if you’re traveling or doing something else. Psychology would be a good one since it fulfills a gen ed requirement regardless of where you end up going for College, and it’s not a lab science.
If thought UCR had a special July application?
@MYOS1634: That was discontinued 4 years ago much to the dismay of my niece whom was applying that year.
The thing about the AP’s is I’m taking classes I’m interested in. Junior year my schedule was:
French 3
Precalculus Honours
Choir 3
Physiology
English 3
Choir 4
US History
I couldn’t take an AP math since I had to take precalc, and I went for physio since that’s the class I’m passionate about and know I can do well in. I figured that I could take 3 AP’s: AP Comp Gov, AP Bio, and AP Calc that I’m interested in taking and see how they are in the beginning of the year. UC Riverside is a good school, and I’m not freaking out too much about college admissions considering. I’m taking tests for AP psych and AP french because why not? I already know about these classes and if I feel I can do well, why not give it a shot? I’ll do what I can to take a summer class since that’ll be great for keeping me busy to fight of that seasonal depression and a GPA boost is really enticing