What are the chances of me getting into a UC basically taking ZERO AP? Too late ?Answered
I am a junior into second semester of high school.
I have taken 0 AP classes. Unfortunately I was too late learning the importance of AP and honors classes and now I'm worried if I'm able to make UC's or not. I have only been taking standard classes since 9th: English P, History P, Chems P, and Bio P. This continued through 10th. I took AP science and History in 8th though which don't count. I passed all these classes with at least B's (Chemistry was barely B- and B and Bio A- and B), with GPA's ranging from 3.6 to 3.8. However last semester I did get a 3.0 gpa :( I would also like to note that I am enrolled in harder math courses, for example, I'm taking Precalc right now. Last year I took Trig/stats and last semester I received the horrible, murderous, abomination grade of a D+ probably due to catching Covid for a week, football season and practices, babysitting my 3 cousins and 1 brother and other classes (no excuses though, I got what I got and I need to focus more...). I currently have a B in math now though. I'm also involved in the Early College Academy and I don't know if that will be any more important for universities. From ECA, I've only taken CC Seminar (completely forgot what that was about), Business Apps, World of Music (rock n roll), Health, Communications 101 (named Adv Creative Writing, which was what we did in class with the AP lit teacher when the professor wasn’t there), English 101, and Psychology right now. I got all A's with exceptions of English 101 (English H after the class was done. I was able to get it from an F to a C after missing out on summer homework), Psychology since I’m taking it right now, and a B from a goofy disorganized biased professor ranting about politics in Comms 101. Last semester was also the first time I took a legit rigorous course passing with a C, missing summer homework which I couldn’t get back. I currently have a B+ in English H. I also am not taking APUSH, nor did I take AP World last year. I know this and last year are the most important grades colleges look at, so I have failed from that perspective considering my standard classes. My school has tons of AP classes but I just have failed to recognize thier importance.
Next year, I plan to take as many AP classes as I can no matter if colleges look at it or not. Hopefully they realize I matured over the years, but there’s a 5% if not less chance that happens. I plan on taking Econ H/AP Gov (semester courses), English 102 (AP lit after semester if possible), and AP stats (or should I take AB Calc?). I have hopes of becoming a Radiologist with the alternative of becoming an Architect. Mainly Radiologist because of the bag$ and because I CANNOT look at blood. Unfortunately I do hate science (Physics is a no-no, chemistry was a war, and Bio is not too bad), which will only make the journey to medical school harder. Nevertheless, I do plan to take my third year of science next year for the size of that pay. I am debating the classes: AP Environmental Science (APES), AP Bio, or Physics (which I hear is suicide). I am trying for schools like UCI and Cal Poly SLO. My current chances are a 3% and a 4% according to Collegevine's faithful calculator. I also know that I need more extracurriculars other than varsity football at my school. I am also taking Anthropology this summer for ECA which will count as an extracurricular. I also think I can add babysitting too but that's all. Should I just join random clubs so they count as EC?
Most likely I'm not making it, but I just needed to vent about my mistakes and needed closure. I will not be surprised if I will not be accepted. Hopefully spending 2 hours writing this instead of doing my homework and spending 20 Karma was worth it though. I think that sums me up. I am a hard determined worker, but procrastinating catches me lacking sometimes; if not too much. I'm outgoing, talkative, nice, kind, and probably funny. Only thing funny about me besides my witty jokes is my future application for the UC's to have a good laugh at. No please do not welcome me into this amazing scholarly community as I am trying to get there. Thank you so much for your time. ☹️
While I can't answer your questions (being that I have the same ones lol) I guess I just want to provide a little comfort for you so you can know that you're not alone in your struggles and I completely understand the stress you're going through right now. :)
appreciate it ! i need all the help i can get 🤞. Ur a sophomore, u have more time tho
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3 answers
Just a piece of advice: don't go chasing after a career solely for the pay. There's lots of options out there and avenues to be explored that are more closely related to your interests/likes. The pre-med track and medical school are extremely science heavy, with challenging science classes that weed students out. Although this doesn't really answer your question, I thought it to be something worth considering.
It's never too late to starting preparing for college! It's great that you're starting to take AP courses. Colleges are looking for an upward trajectory in both your grades and your course rigor—focus on doing really well in those AP courses! You can also explain some of your circumstances in your Additional Information section. Getting the information about what you need to be a competitive applicant can be challenging, especially if you are a first generation student or come from a low-income background.
That being said, I think it's really important to be realistic about your college list. I have worked in college admissions for almost half a decade—reported admit rates are important to keep in mind and I have found Collegevine's chancer to be pretty accurate. UC schools definitely deserve a spot on your list, but you should also be including safeties and targets.
And of course, colleges obviously consider your "soft" application materials (Essays, ECs, Recs, etc.). However, this generally comes after your overall academic evaluation (course rigor, GPA, class rank, test scores etc.) Basically, schools calculate a composite number based on your academic numbers that they are looking for applicants to hit (usually called the Academic Index, here's a helpful article on it: https://blog.collegevine.com/what-is-the-academic-index-how-is-it-calculated/ ). Then they take a look at your other materials. This is not to say that if you miss this mark you won't get in! After they have started to fill out their incoming class, colleges may select students who missed the benchmark to ensure they have a diverse group of students (people from different states, different majors, economic and racial diversity etc.)
In sum, keeping working hard and apply to your dream schools! But do it armed with the knowledge that they are reach schools.
Hi!!! It's great that you're thinking about your future and what you need to do to get into the schools you want to attend. I totally get where you're coming from, and it's not too late to start taking AP classes. Your grades in your standard classes are good, and it's important to note that UC's consider the rigor of your courses, so taking challenging courses will definitely help.
It's awesome that you're planning on taking as many AP classes as you can next year. That's a great way to challenge yourself and show colleges that you're capable of handling college-level work. As for which science class to take, it really depends on your strengths and interests. AP Environmental Science is a popular choice for students who aren't too fond of traditional science classes, but AP Bio is also a good option if you want to pursue a career in the medical field.
Extracurriculars are also important, so it's great that you're thinking about joining more clubs. Try to find clubs or activities that align with your interests or career goals, and don't be afraid to try new things. You could also look into volunteer opportunities or internships related to the medical field, as those can be valuable experiences as well.
Really, it's important to remember that college admissions are holistic, which means that they consider more than just your grades and test scores. Your personal statement, letters of recommendation, and other factors also come into play. So don't give up hope, and keep working hard towards your goals. Good luck and hope I helped :)
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Hello! I'm currently a sophomore and I know exactly what you mean when you say that you learned the importance of everything that needs to be done to make it into a GOOD college until this year. I, like you, also have a super busy schedule because of babysitting my 3 siblings and helping my mom around the house (plus theirs the procrastination issues😅). So, that being said, I definitely get what you mean.