This is going to sound really really nitpicky

<p>Short and sweet: Can I still get into Berkeley if I have one C junior year, and all the rest of my grades are As? My UCA gpa thus far comes out to about 4.26 because of it. I'm applying next year...</p>

<p>I know there are all of the other factors like ECs, SATs, awards, etc. Assuming I'm set on those, how much would a C set me back? My friend laughed at me and said "even kids with Bs can't get into Berkeley" and that worries me.</p>

<p>Enlighten me with your knowledge, I hope to be joining some of you in two years. :) :) :)</p>

<p>well junior year is HUGE for the UCs, and colleges in general. But it really depends. If it was a tough AP class, say AP Calc or AP Chem, etc., you MIGHT be able to get away with it. But it's really hard to judge w/o the other stuff, like SATs, ECs, essays, etc. Grades are simply not the only factor. So I mean, yes, you can still get in, but you will be competing with people who have straight-As, excellent everythings, so you will be at a disadvantage. Hope that helped, and good luck!</p>

<p>PS..colleges luv upward grade trend. So get that up to a B/A next semester!</p>

<p>Short and sweet: I know plenty of kids who get accepted with your gpa and have reviewed the transcripts of people with that gpa who also have a C on their record.</p>

<p>I agree with vc08. It's not good, but it's not the end.</p>

<p>i personally had a c in sophomore honors english first semester (no honors credit though and for the record i had exactly a 79.5%, but the teacher wouldnt bump me up) and i had a c for ap calc junior year first semester. i ended up getting a b for the second semester of both classses, but they were though....i got a 5 in calc ab and it was the easiest thing ever, but still a b in the class. (no i wasnt a lazy student who didnt do homework). my gpa was maybe a 3.8w. im not totally sure cause i never did the calculation, but thats my guess. ECs were good, eesay i believed was good. SATs were a tad above average. sat 2 was pretty good. and i had no difficulties in life(ie poverty, divorce) and i ended up getting spring admittance.</p>

<p>Thank you all for the reassurance. :)
Especially Bessie!</p>

<p>I have one more question: Does it hurt me that my school has a system of 7 courses per year? (as opposed to the standard 5 or so)...I heard that it ultimately reduces my UC GPA, but I want to verify this.</p>

<p>Yes, it does reduce your UC GPA, but college will take into account the 7 courses vs the standard "6", so don't worry.</p>

<p>ONE C won't hurt you that much, since your UC GPA is ~4.26 (high enough). However, if you are applying to a the College of Engineering, for example, you'll face a lot more punishment for the C.</p>

<p>if you're from california you should be fine. if you're from out of state you're probably screwed.</p>

<p>
[quote]
if you're from california you should be fine. if you're from out of state you're probably screwed.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Comments like this are really getting tiresome.</p>

<p>No, simply because one is in-state does not make it easy (which is what you're implying). In-state admission is extremely difficult, the hardest of any public school (in-state or otherwise). Out-of-state admission is just even harder.</p>

<p>So being in-state with a C doesn't make it okay. Berkeley has a very high standard even for in-state students (I think the average UW GPA is a 3.9).</p>

<p>i was never saying that getting into Berkeley from in state is easy, i just meant that it's MUCH HARDER from out of state. That being said, i don't think someone with otherwise great stats and all A's except for one C in something they're probably not going to major in has totally lost all chances of acceptance because of that C. Berkeley is the number one public school in america, i wasn't bashing on it at all.</p>

<p>I wasn't saying you were bashing on it. But to say "you should be fine [because you're in-state]" when the grade is a C is misleading. While I agree that your chances aren't *completely *lost because of a C, I won't ignore the fact that a C is going to hurt your chances, in-state or out-of-state.</p>

<p>that's true, any bad grade will hurt your chances</p>

<p>this topic is so typical of college confidential. i love it. every time, someone says: (biting nails) my gpa dipped, you guys. i have a 4.3 gpa now. I"VE FAILED MISERABLY.</p>

<p>and then people have to come around and be reassuring. </p>

<p>it's ok IvyRomantic, i totally hear you on that, though. i'm poking a bit of fun now, but i was one of those ppl in h.s. too. i just think it's funny that everyone here is stellar and still worries. but, hey, who doesn't!???</p>

<p>We have higher standards. jK, kinda.</p>