Really, Really bad sophomore year

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1

Hey guys, so I wanted to know what you guys think of my chances based on my GPA and test scores. First off sophomore year my grandpa passed away and that was a big hit the other part was just me not being ready for AP classes not to mention I took Bio and World. Going into senior year.

Gender: M
School:Public 4000 kids, very good school we win aca deca every year
10th:1st semester-2.4UW/2.8UW
10th:2nd semester-3.0UW/3.5W
11th:1st semester-4.0UW/4.58W
11:second semester-4.0UW/5.58W

Total:3.8/W
AP’s:
10th: Bio(4)
World(5)
11th:
Pysch(definitely a 5)
US(4 most likely)
Physics(4 I hope)

Now I know what your thinking, “Is that his real GPA junior year?” or “What did you do in sophomore year??” I had a real turnaround in my summer of junior year. I am also a terrible test taker and I have the in class attention span of about 5 minutes. So junior year I tried, hard. Now if you didn’t believe my scores for junior year you definitely won’t believe my SAT scores. So let me explain to you why I got what I got. I am terrible at taking test on one topic(ANY CLASS EVER) but for some reason I nail every single end of the year exam ever. I can’t explain it my parents can’t explain it so I think that sets the stage accurately enough. I also spent every single one of my Friday nights(excluding summer) from 6-10th grade spending 4 hours on SAT prep(obviously an exaggeration in 4 years I probably missed like 15 classes)
SAT:1550
ACT:32
Only taken once. I would appreciate if you tell me to take it again or not.
SAT subject tests:
Bio-750
Physics-700
Now here are my schools(no order)
UCB
UCSD
UCLA
UCSD
UCR
UCF
UCI
Vanderbilt
CSUN is my safety
Hey a guy can dream so:
Harvard
Stanford
Cornell
Yale
I might as well put my EC’s in too:
Debate Team(2 years might be captain)
1 job umpiring at a local little league since 8th grade
1x job at movie theater over summer(working again this time)
Played baseball until junior year at school(JV)
25 volunteer hours

Thanks!

2

What is your CSU/UC GPA for CSUN and UC’s since that is what they will be looking at for the UC’s and Cal states?

Post your UW UC GPA, Capped Weighted UC GPA and Fully Weighted UC GPA.

https://rogerhub.com/gpa-calculator-uc/

Showing that huge improvement in your grades will definitely help and since you had a valid reason for the GPA downturn, it should be addressed in one of your UC personal insight essays.

Your test scores are competitive which shows you are a capable applicant. EC’s are good but standard so nothing special for those Elite schools.

Not sure if UCF is University of Central Florida or a typo?

Other than UCR, CSUN and maybe UCI, the rest of the schools look like High Reach schools. Although you have CSUN as a Safety, you need more Match schools. Add a couple more Cal states if you are a CA resident along with UCSC.

Best of luck.

3

I agree, you have a lot of reach schools on your list. submitting and keeping track of college aps is more work than you think. Most people would have a tough time managing more than 10 or so, especially when many of them don’t share an ap platform. I’d drop a couple of dreams and add a couple of match and at least one school you are nearly certain you’ll make it into. SDSU, UCR, UCSC and CSULB are worth a look.
Good luck.