Yo I'm an African American First Gen student and I need Help.

<p>Hey guys, I'm in a little bit of trouble here. As a first generation student, low income student ( 10,000$/ yr ) I didn't know nothing about colleges and Sat's, AP tests and classes. I didn't have anyone to tell me what I should do and not do. </p>

<p>I was the first person in my family to even get higher than a 2.5 W in highschool smh.
But fortunately I kept my ground and received a 3.5 W both semesters of my freshmen year. ( I know its not excellent but I had little to no motivation and hanged out with the wrong kind of people, the drug dealers of my high school and the class clowns) .</p>

<p>I continued onto my sophmore year where I began doing my father's community college classes along with my own and maintained a 3.3 W first semester and a 3.1 W second semester. I began to stress at the workload . Also, I began my first AP class that year and recieved a B both semesters.</p>

<p>This is where things kinda got ugly. I was determined to get a 4.0 the beginning of my junior year but everything had gone astray. In the first two weeks of school one of my close relatives got out of jail and i haven't seen him since i was 12. Two weeks later he was shot. My grandfather then was released from jail and I had to re meet him because I hadnt seen him since I was about 5. In December of my junior year another of my relatives was shot in the neck. I ended up receiving a 1.3 W and knew my mind wasn't in the right place. I noticed that not matter what was going on I had to keep my grades up. But in the second semester of my junior year my parents were on the brink of divorce and I gave up. I started ditching school, getting jumped at school out of anger. I got a 2.0 W that semester. ( I was also continuing to do my fathers community college classes in junior year)</p>

<p>I was planning on going to UCSD and my family really depended on me but now since my GPA is a 2.5 W and my college applications are coming in soon I have no hope. Will my UCSD not look at my application because its not above a 3.0 GPA ?</p>

<p>how can I explain this to colleges considering it was my junior year, my most important year ?</p>

<p>Will colleges understand? Can I still Apply and hopefully get accepted ?</p>

<p>Does the first semester of senior year count ? </p>

<p>SAT 2020</p>

<p>For some colleges, senior year grades are only seen after one has been accepted; they only look at the coursework.</p>

<p>How are you extracurricular wise? That could interest UCSD.</p>

<p>^Definitely. </p>

<p>Also, your situation is definitely rare for UCSD applicants, so if it’s adequately explained in your essays and your counselor rec, I think it should be fine. You clearly have a strong work ethic, which is super important. </p>

<p>If worse comes to worse, apply to UC Merced or Riverside and transfer to SD (or even Davis or LA) after a year. </p>

<p>Good luck! :)</p>