Rising Junior - Chances & Advice Please (UCs)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>UCSC is one of the colleges that I would like to attend.</p>

<p>I am currently a sophomore at a great public school.</p>

<p>Sophmore Year:</p>

<p>World History Honors: B / A
Spanish Year 2 Honors: B / C
Physics Honors*: B / B
Math Analysis (Pre Calculus): C / C
English Honors: B / B</p>

<ul>
<li>= UC Weighted</li>
</ul>

<p>I took a rather rigorous course load and got a bout a 3.0 UC GPA. This is what I am planning to take next year.</p>

<p>AP Chemistry*
English Honors*
Statistics
U.S. History
Graphic Design
Virtual Business</p>

<ul>
<li>= UC Weighted</li>
</ul>

<p>This schedule will be probably even easier than my sophomore year. I am taking easy classes to raise my GPA. I'll probably get a UC GPA of 4.0-4.333. It can get me an upward trend.</p>

<p>AP Chem is considered one of the easiest APs at our school.</p>

<p>English Honors is also pretty easy because most of the A and B kids in honors this year are going into AP.</p>

<p>I had terrible teachers in Spanish, and there is no way I could do a third year.</p>

<p>Our school only offers AP Calc, which is known to be ridiculously hard, and Stats, which is known to be easy. I'm thinking about maybe taking Calc later at Community College.</p>

<p>With barely studying at the beginning of this year I got a 176 on the PSAT. I can probably raise that a couple hundred points if I study and prepare for it, which I will have time for with an easy schedule. I also want an easy schedule so I can play lots of tennis, I am pretty sure I will make varsity.</p>

<p>Varsity Tennis</p>

<p>70 Hours Community Service
40 of those hours are in another country.</p>

<p>In State</p>

<p>So, what will be my chances for SC if I graduate in '10. Also, can I get some recommendations and advice for how I could change my schedule or anything that could increase my admissions chances. I still have lots of time. Am I on track and making the right choices? Tips for how I can improve chances for SC and other UCs and other colleges?</p>

<p>Responses would be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>What are my chances for UCs and other colleges.</p>

2

<p>I'm not sure what I am doing is smart. Would the UCs look down upon me taking easy classes and owning them, or would they really like the 4.0, and upward trend?</p>

<p>It's not like I am taking all normal classes, I am taking an AP and an honors, but still, just making sure.</p>

3

<p>ur soph grades arent too great. most schools would rather see u own classes. what is uc weighted? get 2000 on the sats</p>

4

<p>Alright, thanks.</p>

<p>Can I get some more input.</p>

<p>Also, for UCs my schedule is good now, because I am just aiming for the highest UC GPA I can get. But for other colleges will taking not that hard of a course load really matter? Am I being smart? Also what are my chances for UCs if I do that. </p>

<p>Also, I was thinking about taking US Honors, I kind of like the teacher, and would be interested in the class, but its known to be ridiculously hard, almost as hard at our AP, so I am just going to take normal there. All the kids in honors now recommend to take AP or normal, so I am going normal I guess.</p>

<p>More input would be appreciated.</p>

5

<p>If you can for sure get an A in regular and are positive that you can't get any higher than a B- in AP, then go for regular, but I think you'd be better off challenging yourself and getting a few B's (which will be weighted as A's) than taking all easy classes - any decently bright adcom will see right through that. AP Chem is impressive, though. Be sure to do well on your SATs (2000+ would be good) and raise that GPA a bit, and you won't have anything to worry about.</p>

6

<p>If your goal is UCSC I would definitely go a bit easier and get good grades. A 3rd year of spanish, though, would certainly be helpful if you could pull an A...</p>

7

<p>I'd rather not do APUSH. It's the second hardest AP at our school, and I would fear that I would might get a C, or that it would lower my GPA because it would be so much work.</p>

<p>If I took Spanish year 3, there would be a good chance I got a C.</p>

<p>More advice is always appreciated.</p>

8

<p>More advice and feedback would be appreciated.</p>

9

<p>i heard UCSC isnt that hard to get in. just try hard.</p>

10

<p>ok, so i should get into ucsc if i get a 4.0 uc gpa next year? what bout uc d , sb , or i maybe?</p>

<p>any more advice would be nice.</p>

11

<p>I was in the same position last year, my sophmore grades were nothing to brag about, and I just worked my ****ing ass off, and I was able to raise my cumulative UC GPA about .4 in a year. I suggest doing the same thing, nothing like hard work. A lot of prep would be good for the SAT and a +2000 score would almost guarantee you a spot at SC. As far as classes for next year, stop worrying about what other people say about them. Take the classes that interest you because those are the classes you will do best in.</p>

<p>The mid tier UCs are hard to get into, but try your best and that's all you can do</p>

<p>good luck</p>

12

<p>alright, thanks. i think i can get a uc gpa of 4.0 jr year rasing my uc gpa like .5, and probably get 1900 - 2000 on sat</p>

<p>any more?</p>

13

<p>bump more chances / help?</p>