Typical summer before senior year angst! I need some help answering these questions.

Applying to College
1

I have the typical summer before senior year angst and I have a few questions bubbling around in my head, and I’m hoping someone has the answers!

(Before I ask the questions, I live in CA and I plan to go to school in CA (I’m going to apply to Howard, however I’m pretty sure I’m staying in CA to go to school.)

  1. I went through a really rough time my first semester of freshman year (I'm not making excuses.) I managed a C grade in Algebra (worst subject, I was really proud!) We took the final and he dropped my grade to failing, I bombed the test. (Typical test ridden anxiety teen. Topped with 4 finals in one day. It's a lot mentally.) When I asked my teacher what happened, he said basically "that's the way the cookie crumbles." I was devastated. I left the school before second semester. In sophomore year, I redid Algebra and did Pre-Algebra at the same time, to make up for those last credits. My question is: Will admission officers find this commendable? I know It won't make things much better, but I realized my mistakes and did everything I could to reverse them. And I hope this would show. I'm now doing a lot better in math, after relearning the basics.
  2. In senior year, I plan to be taking some CC classes. Does this affect college admissions in any way? I know I won't be considered (In the UC and CSU systems) a transferable student, but how would doing a year of CC affect my schooling/transcripts/gpa.
  3. I go to a VERY (like 50 students, the actual "school" is really tiny, it's in the same building as a foot doctor, kind of small.) small charter school. They don't have anything extra like AP and things of that nature. I was wondering if I self studied AP books, and passed the test if this would affect my college admissons/gpa. I would most likely do them before college app time.

I know it’s better to go to CC then transfer, but I’m making sure I’m doing everything I can to give me the most options. I also am not going to be doing AP and CC + high school, as that would be setting me up for failure, however I want to see what would be the best option, and weigh the pros and cons.

(Also, if anyone has any tips or links that might help me figure out the college thing, that would help a lot. I’m kind of figuring out things by myself.)

2

If you take CC classes while you are a high school student, it is considered “dual enrollment” and you can still enter as a freshman to a four year college (not sure how that works if you intend to do the CC route and transfer to a UC). Given your rocky start in HS, you might be well advised to go that route. That said, I believe that some schools don’t consider freshman grades, so you might be okay. How are your stats (e.g., GPA, standardized tests?)

As for how schools consider classes taken at CCs, it’s up to your HS whether dual enrollment grades figure into your GPA or not and/or whether or not they will fulfill your graduation requirements. You need to talk to your GC.

3

Cal states and UC’s do not consider Freshman grades in their GPA calculation but will check to make sure you passed the a-g courses in 9th grade. Calculate your CSU/UC GPA: https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

What are your test scores? EC’s?
Being an in-state CA applicant gives your priority to your local Cal state so lower requirements than the general applicant pool.
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/onestopkiosk/documents/CSULocalAdmission-ServiceAreas.pdf

Each HS will have a different way of handling dual enrollment CCC classes but your Senior grades will not be considered in your CSU/UC GPA calculation but for private schools they could boost your GPA. Some HS’s will post CCC class grades on their transcripts while for others you would have to get an official trancript from the college. If you check assist.org, you can see which CCC classes are transferable to a UC/CSU and these can be used to fulfill your transfer requirements later if you plan to pursue the CCC to CSU/UC route. CA CCC’s have a strong pathway for transfers using TAG or AS-T agreements to the CSU/UC’s.

http://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/transfer/guarantee/

http://www.calstate.edu/transfer/degrees/AAAS-TDegreeRequirements.shtml

4

My GPA is 3.00 currently. I haven’t taken any honor courses or any advanced courses like that. I’m taking the ACT in September, as well as October, and I’m now wondering if taking the SAT is a good option to consider as well. With my practice test (my last one being in June) I usually get a solid 27-29. I hope to get 30 or better, which I think is possible. I did most of my EC’s when I was homeschooled. (Freshman through Junior year.). I was on the debate team, newspaper club, book club. I helped run a social media account for a non profit bully prevention place. I volunteered with the Honor Guard quiet frequently. I’m in the process of getting a job, and I just started volunteering at a family shelter last week. I plan to focus on volunteering more this year, because I enjoy that a lot more than doing clubs.

5

1 Question: How much can your parents afford to pay $$ each year?

Senior grades will be considered by privates, not the CSU’s and UC’s. UC’s and CSU’s use Senior grades to maintain your provisional admission.

SAT/ACT testing needs to be completed by November for some CSU’s and by December for the rest of theCSU’s and UC’s. This late in the admission’s game, I would concentrate on the ACT.

CSU’s have affordable tuition especially if you commute. If you are in need of financial aid, depending upon parents income, you could qualify for Federal and state aid which may cover enough for you to live on campus vs. commuting.

CSU admissions are based on your CSU GPA (if 3.0?) and your ACT or SAT score. You are then ranked according to your Eligibility index and major: (CSU GPA x200) + (ACT composite x10) or (CSU GPA x800) + (SAT Math+ CR)

For example: If your CSU GPA is 3.0 and ACT is 29, then your EI is 890. Your EI is competitive for the majority of the CSU’s except for CSU Long Beach, Fullerton, Cal Poly SLO and Pomona (depending upon Major) and San Diego State. You get priority at your local CSU, so you can a lower EI threshold than out of area applicants. This leaves you with about 18 CSU’s to consider.

UC’s would be a stretch since the minimum to apply is a GPA of 3.0, which might get you into UC Merced.
Depending upon your financial situation, some privates such as Whittier College, Univ of Redland or University of La Verne may be possible.

What is your intended major? Many CSU’s are impacted along with specific majors, which will have higher requirements for admission.

Taking CCC courses that are CSU/UC transferable will help you shorten your time in college along with adding extra rigor to your HS resume. (CSU’s/UC’s consider HS rigor very important).

EC’s are not considered in CSU admissions, but will have an impact with the UC’s if you plan to pursue these schools.

With your GPA currently, your best options would be CSU’s or a CCC with the intent to transfer. Finances may or may not be a consideration since you did not state if you need FA. You will get an excellent education either way and are lucky to live in a state with so many options.

Good Luck.