<p>During my freshman year I homeschooled and got a bad 3.0 gpa, my sophomore(current) year 1st semester at a very large public school i got a 4.4 weighted and 4.0 unweighted gpa. I might go to a very small private school next year for a couple reasons. I want to go to a UC preferably UCLA and I was wondering if it is bad to switch schools almost every year?</p>
<p>My honest opinion...being a person who switched schools during Sophomore year of HS... is this (sorry about the length):</p>
<p>The fact that you began as a home-schooled student and transferred into a large public university and excelled shows me two things:</p>
<p>1) You challenged yourself academically
2) And most importantly you challenged yourself socially.</p>
<p>Switching from home-schooling to a public high school is extremely difficult. Socially, you are prone to things that you were never vulnerable to before. You have much more freedom and many more choices... both positive and negative paths YOU have the option of choosing. You also have to adapt to new people, learning styles and situations which is quite a challege! The fact that you made this switch AND increased your GPA shows me something very important about the student, and most importantly, the person you are... VERY IMPRESSIVE. (Note: I would write this is one of your essays... let them know what you've overcome and how it has defined you)</p>
<p>Switching to a private school on your own shows me that you are willing to do that all over again for a more distinguished education and that you're not afraid to explore within your education and life... Mature and again very impressive. These are all obstacles you are tackling... overcoming them can only have a positive impact on you and how you look to a college admissions officer.</p>
<p>All in all, your ability to overcome change, to take it head on with ambition and excel within all the aspects of these changes shows something that is hard to see with just a GPA, SAT score, and activities... Don't sweat your freshmen year grades... this transfer and your excellent improvement under the conditions at hand is going to do you WAY more help than that 3.0 will do you harm.</p>
<p>I definitely don't see it as hurting you... if anything it will help you!</p>
<p>One piece of advice, coming from someone that just did all his apps... Take out UCLA's app from this year or print it.... and make sure you can fill out every section of it to your complete satisfaction by the end of Junior year. Make that your goal, you've impressed me greatly thus far... make it happen! I think you will be posting in here a few years from now saying I DID IT! Keep it up, you are definitely going in the right direction.</p>
<p>Good luck, and again sorry about the length!</p>
<p>Ry</p>
<p>UCs heavily weigh GPAs without a lot of regard to where they come from. It's way easier to get a 4.0 at a typical CA public than at a private school if it's a good one. So if you really want a UC, you may just want to stay put for jr. year.</p>
<p>I agree with that completely...</p>
<p>I interpreted the question as more directed to if the switching was looked at negatively. I must have misunderstood... whoops ;p</p>
<p>Either way... good luck!
Ry</p>