Hi, I am a high school junior and I am wondering about my chances of getting into a UC based on my grades and Extracurriculars. I would like to know 1. What UCs I would be potentially be lined up for and 2. How I would go about getting myself in a UC potential position with my current grade problem (currently have a D in AP Calculus AB). Thanks.
Background info:
Attending a California public school
Average a 3.7 GPA
Current junior year semester 1 courses:
AP Chem - A
Psychology - B
AP Calculus - D
U.S. History - B
AP Language - B
Yearbook - A
Extracurriculars/Achievements:
3 Years Varsity Field Hockey
3 Years Varsity Soccer
2 Years Varsity Badminton
1st-Team All-League Field Hockey 2015
3 Semesters CSF
Secretary of Cancer Awareness Club
Member of Link Crew, Red Cross
Yearbook Editor
I am on track to complete all my a-g credits with the exception of math because I am unsure of what do to about my current calculus grade if I get a D. Thanks!
With a 3.7 GPA, you’re on track for the lower 3 UCs: Santa Cruz, Riverside, and Merced. UC requires 3 years of math, so if you’re already taking AP Calculus as a junior, you should have easily met that requirement already (Algebra, Geometry, Alg/Trig, and Pre-Calc).
As @goldenbear2020 states you have met the math course requirements for the UC’s but having a D on your transcript for Junior year will impact your chances along with your UC GPA which is only 10-11th grades. You will need to retake the exact class to replace that D on your transcript or you will be looking at UCR/UCM and UCSC as your only UC options (if they overlook your D??) Your EC’s are good and you will need to focus on bumping up your Calculus grade, prepping for the SAT and/or ACT and working on your essays.
A good ACT or SAT score will help you tremendously for the UCs
Your GPA, which I assume is weighted, is not that stellar, but should be good for the lower UCs.
For the higher UCs, like UCLA and UC Berkeley, you’ll need to try to bump up your grades and prep well for the SAT.
I see that your ECs are centered on sports–I can’t be sure the extent of how that may affect your application since I do not know much about the UC’s sports programs, but you can definitely increase your chance if they want you on their sports team(s)
If you can, spend less time on AP Chem and spend more time on Calc so both of those grades will be B’s. If possible get US History and Psycology to an A. Since these are not weighted courses they should not be that hard to get an A. Whatever you do avoid a C or lower on your transcript at all costs. One C and 6 of the UC’s might reject you. In my opinion you should drop varsity badminton since that’s the only sport you weren’t in varsity for all 4 years and you already have two varsity sports unless your going for athletics. This way you can spend more time focusing on grades in the spring semester.
Thanks for the positive replies some of you, and yes I am trying to work the sports angle somewhat. I do not plan on dropping any sports (@spamuser) since I am only a junior and by the time I finish high school I will be the only person in my schools 50 year history to complete 12 full seasons of entirely varsity sports. Also, my 3.7 GPA was unweighted since I never took APs before this year. I am unsure of what my GPA will be after this semester since finals are next week and could affect everything.
The D will most likely bring you down… and classes like Psych and US History are known to be pretty easy so if you could get that up to an A it would be best! Good luck:)