<p>I got denied from UCSC, UCD, UCSD, and probably will from UCI, UCLA, and UCSB as well.
When i applied i had a 3.31 unweighted and 3.33 weighted gpa (since i got a D i got 0 points for weighted but got like 1 for unweighted.) I had a bunch of EC's including clubs, and over 300 volunteer service hours. My SAT score is a 1870, and my ACT is a 29. I've been through a hardship most of my life which GREATLY contributed to my low grades, and recently at the beginning of my senior year, that hardship disappeared, and I got a 4.2 gpa on my first semester report card, raising my weighted to about a 3.5. I'm getting the same grades this semester as well. I've taken Honors and AP classes exclusively, and I took spanish up to spanish 3. I have one teacher that always uses me as a positive example and always compliments my work ethic, and I'm thinking of getting a letter of rec from him for the appeals. I also joined a new club this year, called ocean bowl in which my school competes with other schools in oceanography, and it recently took place at USC, so i'm going to write that. I got a D the first semester of junior year in honors math analysis, and i switched to regular math analysis, and received a B second semester. I'm now taking AP CALC AB( we have about an 65% D/Fail rate first semester, and i received a C while getting A's in all the other classes.) Do you think my significant improvement and such will get me a successful appeal to some of these schools? I mean i jumped from low grades to a 4.2, and I'm taking 3 aps this year... so it's just as difficult as all the other years.</p>