Update for previous thread.

College Search & Lists
1

Hello, I’m going to keep this short and snappy.

I have a 3.0 (no trends of improvement yet) and haven’t taken the SAT’s or ACT’s. I’m currently a JUNIOR @ a prestigious high school in California, my G.P.A. will improve once I redo the classes I messed up (should bring it up by .2) and focus on Biotechnology classes (that’s the major I want to pursue).

I have great extracurriculars (consistent since middle school—Native Language Academy and Virtual Academy, as well as Cultural Preservation). And have joined @ school (2 clubs) this year.

I have recently gained an extremely selective (5% admission rate) internship which will focus on cancer research.

I’m nothing special, just an asian guy who hopes to go to a selective university. I have passion (reducing cancer spread in third-world countries) and drive (I have some complicated medical problems, just rise past it to maintain a 3.0 consistent), I don’t want to specify, just know they would hinder a normal person from succeeding (no I’m not hospitalized, but I do make monthly appointments to check up on my condition).

Hopefully my essays will do some good: Talking about my unconventionality and how I discovered the internship and how it shaped me.

So. This is at the time of application.

  1. 3.2 UW, ??? W.
  2. 1200-1400 SAT (I’m sorry about this, I can’t estimate my scores for sure).
  3. Strong Ties to Culture Preservation, and Language Learning.
  4. About 3 clubs (One was made by a friend, I joined it for 3 years. I have joined Pro Rishi and Spanish Pen Pals.
  5. An Internship with about app. 400 hours of research put into it, excluding the actions taken (I cannot specify).
  6. Recommendations from People I know and can vouch for me (they are prominent).
  7. CC classes (3-4) with B’s in them (not included in G.P.A.) related to Biotechnology.

WHAT COLLEGES SHOULD I SHOOT FOR?

2

Will you need financial aid?
When you plan on preparing for and taking your standardized tests?

3

No financial aid required unless above $35,000.
I plan on taking it in February (standardized testing).

Thanks.

4

Would UCB, UCLA, or UCSD be a reasonable high reach? Even if my chances are none to zero, I want to have no regrets.

5

Your UC GPA will not include any grades from your freshman year, and will include the grades from 10th and 11th. In your case, you have two semesters in front of you to improve your odds. Do your best with the end of this fall semester.