<p>Ahem, let me explain myself :). </p>
<p>I am a junior who goes to one of the highest ranking high schools in California. I've had some struggles in my life that have affected my GPA, but never the less, I care very much about getting into college (why would I be making this thread anyway?) </p>
<h2>Well, this is my first post on CC, so let me give you my stats as of now.</h2>
<p>GPA (w/uw): 3.43/3.27</p>
<p>UC GPA: 3.45</p>
<p>SAT: Getting tutored by company/have study materials for March 9th SAT. Aiming for 2000+!</p>
<h2>Academic rigor: 2 APs so far (got a 2 on the euro test :( ) Currently in AP Statistics studying hard; Took honors classes, English honors 3 years and will take AP English senior year, Physiology Honors, Chemistry Honors, Wind Ensemble Honors (not even joking); I plan on taking at least 3 APs my senior year (English, Environmental Science, and either AP Music Theory or AP Gov or maybe both not sure yet)</h2>
<p>ECs:
-Music all 4 years, currently in the top jazz band (2 consecutive years now, going to be 3) and first chair in Wind Ensemble, also in choir this year and two years of marching band, participate in jazz combos for all four years; in CSUN's Youth Philharmonic; played in two of my schools musicals so far in the pit band
-Sport: Cross country for 2 years so far, will go on to 3rd year with hopeful varsity
-Community service: currently signed up for district technology volunteer hours, this will hopefully amount to a lot; random volunteering for music events; no hour count yet but hopefully will be good (I'll update this at the end of my junior year)
-Job: Held a part time job at my dad's company second semester sophomore year, worked a total of 172 hours while in school at the same time</p>
<h2>-Gym: With the help of a personal trainer, I lost 50 lbs! I don't know if this counts but it was a huge life accomplishment.</h2>
<p>OK with all that aside, let me give you a small little back story to why my GPA is the way it is.</p>
<p>I haven't been professionally diagnosed yet, but I tend to get really really depressed to the point where I cannot focus on my life. Accompanied by this is getting overly obsessed really easily and anxiety, which is probably why my test scores are low. I also battled/ am still battling an eating disorder. I haven't got professional help for any of this but I may get some soon. I need it just to focus because I need a better GPA, and these situations have destroyed my gpa.</p>
<p>All that jazz affected my sophomore year's performance negatively. I got Bs and Cs. Freshman year, I had no idea about colleges yet, but sophomore year I got worried and all my anxiety just crushed everything.</p>
<p>I know I am intelligent and if I put my mind to anything I would succeed and tenfold but it is so hard with all these distractions. Hopefully if I get help soon I'll be happier about things and more confident in my applications.</p>
<p>That being said, here are my college aspirations. I have created a list on CollegeBoard's "BigFuture" feature which I love greatly.</p>
<p>BEFORE YOU READ, let me fill you in on my majoring choices! Two things I love the most are writing and music. I am also have many good ideas, so business would be up my street. Given my GPA, I think it would be foolish to apply to schools as a business major. So my major would be along the lines of these choices:</p>
<p>Journalism/Communications
Music (for educating)
or going in undeclared</p>
<p>And if business took my main interest or whatever else does, I'd switch it to that.</p>
<h2>With that being said, here are my aspirations:</h2>
<p>California: </p>
<p>UCSB
UC Irvine
UCLA (I know this is a tremendous reach, but what the hey you only have one shot as a high schooler to try. So why waste the opportunity?)</p>
<h2>Chapman University</h2>
<p>Oregon:</p>
<p>Lewis and Clark College
OSU (Oregon State)
University of Portland</p>
<h2>University of Oregon (though I love the Portland area a tad bit more...)</h2>
<p>New York:</p>
<p>NYU
University of Rochester</p>
<h2>SUNY Fredonia (mostly a back up, but my trumpet teacher went there and said it was an amazing town)</h2>
<p>Those are the colleges I really want to go to. I did calculations that said if I got straight As this semester, I could get my GPA up to a 3.6 weighted (I have four 5 point As)! So what do you think my chances for these colleges are? I'm trying my very hardest right now and I am determined to pursue any dream goals I have set before me, no matter how hard I have to work. Any tips for staying focused? Should I adjust my goals? Any advice would be helpful on my "situation". Also what about majoring choices as far as applying?</p>
<p>Sorry for the long post but I just wanted to see what I could get into. Thanks for reading :)</p>