I want to go to a good school like UCberkeley, do my sophomore grades have to be straight As?

Question

I do a few school clubs, I do community service on the weekends, I have some extra curricular activites, and I've been studying hard for SATS and SAT IIs.. but my GPA is not too great. I already have a couple B's and it is only first semester.. Are there chances for me to get in a college like UCLA or UCBerkeley?

Answer 1

Berkeley and UCLA will weigh the following components of your application (in the order of importance): 1) your essay (Berkeley publishes a guideline on how to write your personal statement at: http://students.berkeley.edu/files/Admissions/Personal_State_07.pdf ), especially academic achievement, talent or extracurricular activities highlighting your motivation, dedication, and/or initiative to achieve, potential to contribute to the university, special circumstances like hardship, etc.; 2) your grades and any grade trends (improvements are better than just maintaining a high GPA); 3) your test scores, including SAT and/or ACT, SAT II; and 4) number of AP courses completed compared to the number of AP courses offered at your local high school. Other factors are taken into consideration, but to a lesser extent.

Don't give up just because you received a couple of B's. Focus on doing better next semester. Your ability to improve your grades is more impressive to admission officers. Pick thru your extracurricular activities and find couple that you are really passionate about and commit to them. Quality is better than quantity. Develop your leadership skills and try to demonstrate motivation, dedication, and initiative in your extracurricular activities. That means holding offices and planning events. Don't be a follower, be a leader!

Aside from taking SAT I, also take the ACT at least once. Some students tend to do better on the ACT than the SAT. Plus, there is no penalty for guessing on the ACT.

You may also want to consider taking courses at a community college (up to 12 units). The course grades are weighted so they boost your GPA. The units are directly transferable (no AP exams!) if they are noted as UC-Transferable. Enrolling in college courses also showcases your motivation to learn and achieve, it's a win-win-win.

Answer 2

Boonietech, the Berkeley College Republicans are the biggest group on campus. I know 'cause I used to be a member. So STFU if you don't know Berkeley.

Asker, A few B's can sting a little. The NYTimes just ran a great article that talks a lot about Berkeley. Quoted directly from it, "There were 41,750 applicants for this year’s freshman class of 4,157. Nearly half had a weighted grade point average of 4.0 or better (weighted for advanced courses). "

That's some stiff competition, but you're not out of the running yet. If you take AP courses, you'll look much better. Study hard, work hard and try to get straight A's from here on out. Improvement makes you look very good.

In case you were wondering, I got in with a 4.286 GPA, only 1 B in AP Gov't (too much time debating, not enough time reading 'The Power Game'), and a 1350 on the old SAT. It was not a cakewalk, but it is possible.

Answer 3

Wow, relax. You are a sophomore. Yes your over all GPA is taken into account when you apply so frosh and soph year will eventually come back. But honestly why put too much pressure on yourself. There are always chances for you to get into a good college with just above average grades and above average SAT's. Back in the 80's and early 90's that would be unheard of but now alot of schools are looking harder at what you do outside of school. So have a little fun let your hair down a little and relax. Also look into some of the smaller schools in the same area, some of those schools are hidden gems.

Answer 4

Yes. To get into one of these colleges you must be in the very top percentage of your class. That means not only "A's" from your freshman year on, it means that you must compete against folks that get higher GPAs due to AP and advance curriculum classes.

Of course it also depends upon the quality and competitiveness of your high school. If you are in a small town it is easier to get into the top percentage. If you have a class of 1000 then it's almost impossible.

I would recommend that you talk to your school counselor about admission to public colleges in California to see what it usually takes. You probably need to target at least a 3.8 or so. Guess what? Your two "B's" will make it even harder to get there.

And school doesn't get any easier as you progress (although sometimes once you learn how to study it does get easlier).

Get on the stick!

Answer 5

Well, it's going to hurt, but your chances aren't dead yet. Try and get straight A's from here on out. Study extra hard for the SATs so that a super high score can make up somewhat for your GPA.

Answer 6

Might look bizarre to a couple persons, however I recognize an effective man that is a sophomore, and his final female friend was once an eighth grader. As I mentioned, he is an wonderful man, so no, i do not suppose it would be too bizarre.

Answer 7

Be a radical lib, join a eco-terror group, and go protest with cindy chavez sheehan. That will get you into one of those schools, probably with a scholarship.

Answer 8

nah B's and C's are all good too, they mainly look for people who are hard working and willing to meet deadlines.