<p>Hi, I'm a junior in highschool and will be applying to colleges later this year. I've been looking over my transcript and realized I haven't done as well as I had hoped, seeing as my overall Acad GPA from grades 10-12 are 3.22W and 2.83UW but I have straight A's this year and will be ending this year as well as my senior year with straight A's (and I will be taking rigorous classes next year, APCalc BC being one of them) and have calculated that I'll be applying to colleges with an Acad GPA of 3.5W, and have gotten a 2180 on my SATs. I am a good writer and have been told so by my peers and teachers so my personal essays won't be a problem. I was in a lot of clubs (Key Club, etc.) freshman year and a few last years and have created my own club this year. I don't have many EC's but I will be taking Statistics and Calculus at the local community college. Is it too late to start any EC's that will impact how colleges will look at me? And how do my chances look for these colleges, I'm applying to better colleges and trying to be optimistic as I'd rather just go to a Community College and do well there and go to a better UC or private college, than go to a sub-par college and waste money.</p>
<p>So how do my chances look for UCI, UCD, UCSC, Cal Poly SLO, UCMerced, George Washington University UCSD? And do you have any colleges that you would recommend? I'm applying to the UC's for Software Engineering, and George Washington for Medicine. I do live in California and was born outside of the nation, and learned English as my second language if that increases my chances by any percent. Thanks</p>
<p>To be honest, your GPA is going to make the schools you list a long shot. The lone exception is Merced. Since all but SLO look at your life experience when evaluating your ap. If you convey a compelling story, you might make it into Santa Cruz and even Davis or Irvine… I would encourage you, however, to apply broaden your horizon and make your decision a year from now. </p>
<p>Why not add CPP, Long Beach, Chico and Fullerton to your list? </p>
<p>I disagree with @diabl0 – UCR does not require at 3.9 UW. You are, however, too low for most UCs. Consider Merced or Riverside, and of course the CSUs. Good luck!</p>
<p>@NCalRent @collegetime18 I’ve done the math and if I get straight A’s my senior year with 6 AP’s (out of 6 courses) my UW will end up 3.23 and W3.62, would those help me out at all? Or do colleges (specifically UC’s) not look at first semester senior year? And yeah, if I don’t get accepted into any of the UC’s or George Washington University I am planning on going to a CC and doing well there to transfer into a good college/university. Thanks</p>
<p>UC’s use only your 10-11 a-g grades in their calculation for UC GPA with up to 8 semesters of approved Honors/AP classes. My sons counselor told him that 10-11 grades will get you in but senior grades will keep you in. They will look at course rigor for senior year but will not use those grades for admission acceptance criteria.
Average GPA for GW/UCI/UCD/UCSD/UCLA/UCB/UCDB is 4.0 weighted or greater
Average GPA for Cal Poly SLO: 4.0+
Average GPA for UCSC-3.84
Average GPA for UCR-3.72
Average GPA for UCM-3.52
You have a chance at UCR/UCM. You would need to get an SAT of 2000+ or ACT of 30+ to off set the lower GPA.
You should include some Cal States such as Cal Poly Pomona, CSU Fullerton, San Jose State, Sonoma or Chico.
You need to research which ones have Software Engineering. I am only aware of Calpoly SLO and San Jose.
Also remember, Cal States do not have essays, they go by numbers only.
Good Luck with your research.</p>
<p>@Gumbymom is correct - since CSU and UC applications are due in November, they won’t have your senior grades in time to evaluate you. </p>
<p>The UC system’s charter is to educate the top 5%-10% of California high school students to be scientist, doctors and the like. By definition, they aren’t suitable for everyone. It is quite possible you won’t get there via the CC route either. Davis for example rejects nearly half of transfer applicants each year.</p>
<p>Sometimes I feel like a shill for the CSU system but, seriously, most Cal States are quite good and offer a solid education at a compelling price. They prepare students to have jobs and make money. There are tens of millions of productive, successful CSU graduates in the workforce.</p>
<p>If you haven’t already, tour a couple UCs and some of the CSUs nearest you. After the tour, most will make an admissions counselor available for Q&A. Bring your transcript, planned senior schedule and ask for an assessment. The ones I met with (Davis, Chico and Sonoma) when my son was applying were all forthright and took the time to be sure we understood the process and their requirements. Listen carefully to their advice and devise a plan - these are the folks that review the applications - not some internet forum.</p>
<p>At this stage, you are best served by doing your best academically, posting some solid test scores and keeping your options open. Seriously, apply broadly… the CSU application is easy and quick to complete.</p>
<p>Thanks for all your feedback @NCalRent and @Gumbymom, I’ll keep my options open. Should I be discouraged from going to a CC for two years and then transferring into a UC or other prestigious school, as other than my sub-par grades my parents’ total income fits us well above the average family income, but it is still too low to pay for college so I wouldn’t have the money to pay for a 4 year without scholarships so the CC would help out with that; but I’ve done research and PCC’s honors program has a priority acceptance into UCB, USC, UCI, etc. but is that an unlikely shot at transferring into those schools?</p>
<p>Thousands of students transfer from CC to UC every year. TAG is a great program that helps applicants through the transfer process. It’s important to note a couple of things the courses and GPA required change periodically and, UCB, UCLA and UCSD don’t participate. Earning a 3.2-3.4 (typical TAG threshold) at a CC takes hard work and is no slam dunk. </p>
<p>As to cost, clearly a local CC will allow you to continue to live under your parent’s roof - undeniably cheaper than $10k-$12k of dorm expense at an ‘away’ school. CCs vary widely so, understand how crowded yours is and how many people transfer to your desired UC every year. Some people really need a change after high school, others don’t. </p>
<p>Take a look at the CSUs listed above - they are good schools that would be glad to have you straight out of high school. </p>