General

@katrie: College one lower level than University? I'm not sure myself, I just know that's what it's called.

[quote=slayinz]Going to check out a Junior College near where I reside, tip while in HS prepare for college a while ahead.[/quote]

What's a junior college?

@whitnie: I have no idea, I never been to my local library haha. And when you talk about AP classes, do you mean they had that many AP classes per year or like total? And ohh I see. What does CP mean? and thanks

@alvinhero123: I also happen to be from a very asian part of california, what school are you from o-o (I assume your from the bay area or mb orange county)

@ellee: CSU's only look at GPA, so it's not advantageous for you. In terms of UC's, I'd say that UC Santa Cruz is a match for where you currently are, UC Irvine and SB are target schools, I wouldn't put too much faith in Davis, SD but you got a shot at all 4 of these schools. LA and Berkeley will definitely be high reaches. You should be fine for Riverside and Merced though.

Personally, my GPA wasn't great (I had a 3.6 UW) but I took challenging classes (weighted GPA was 4.4, took 14 AP tests and passed all of em with 4's and 5's), and had pretty good extracurriculars (Board member of 2-3 clubs, community service, tennis and xcountry, high level math competitions, violin was my main selling point though), a solid SAT/ACT (2220/34 as well as 2 800's and a 780 on my SAT II's), and was lucky enough to get in both Berkeley and LA.

I never used any SAT/ACT prep or any kind of college application packaging service.

I think the selling point in terms of my application was that though I had a low UW GPA which was the weakest part of my application, I challenged myself and exhibited "natural intelligence" and "potential". Also, I'm a very social person IRL and academics was very low on my list of priorities, my friends said that my essays made me come off as very easygoing, personable, and genuine without underselling myself or making it seem like I wasn't taking the process seriously.

Edit: was gonna give you input on SAT/ACT but link timed out or something. SAT math is easier than ACT math, no doubt about it. You just need to know certain algebra and geometry principles solidly and you're fine. If your fundamentals in mathematics is weak, I suggest you put off the mentality that you are bad at math - it is merely confirmation bias, and will make your performance worse - and work on your fundamentals, whether it be practice problems or getting a tutor to go through what may seem beneath you. In terms of what class to take, people like you should definitely take statistics. Calculus is pretty useless unless you're going into a math heavy field (finance, engineering, physics, etc) and at most, you'll only need to know basic calculus in the future. Statistics is applicable in all aspects of life however, and is one of the most useful classes I have taken (I had a great teacher though, easily got a 5 on the AP test)

I'm gonna be starting at Cal in the fall so I'm really excited ^^ planning on doing a double major in applied mathematics and computer science, and maybe a minor in statistics

@elleee: You could check online for practice tests for the ACT and maybe invest in your own practice book if you feel like you'd perform better on the ACT (like maybe buy a practice book online for a cheaper one?) I think your rank is pretty good, but if you haven't been involved in any clubs up to this point, it might be difficult to find some to commit to right now but I highly suggest trying to find something to put your time into. Does your local library offer volunteering?

I took 5 years of math, including AP Calc AB junior year then Calc BC and AP Stats senior year. BC is basically AB plus three more chapters; we literally spent first semester reviewing AB and needed to learn only a few more concepts. Of course you had to still try to learn those topics though. As for AP Stats, it was the first year my teacher had an AP class and her teaching style felt really elementary and the quizzes were really easy, so that might contrast with the rigor of your school's stats course. D: Math is my strong point so I didn't mind taking an extra math class.
Strictly speaking from a college future point, I would choose the most amount of easy AP classes (if those exist at your school) you can handle to boost your GPA and you could even earn AP credit later. But if school disgusts you then don't do that LOL. Okay I'm super bad at giving advice but most of my friends who got accepted into UCSD took at least 4 years of math as well up to Calc BC, and they probably had at least a 4.1 W GPA. The people from my school going to UCLA probably had at least a 4.3+ GPA.

I think the people at my school who are going to UCI probably took 4-6 AP classes, and for UCR about 1-3 AP classes.
Colleges like to see that you challenged yourself, so AP stats would probably be better than CP seeing as how you did really well in Calc AB. But if you don't want to, that's totally understandable! I was just always a tryhard when it came to academics but it pays off when you see those admissions, so I hope you can do the same.

school is so good and im so pumped to go back, break SUX! but to be fair a lot of it sux because of the 12 hrs a day i spent writing papers this week

Well I don't know how my school is cause I'm gonna be a college freshman and I haven't been on campus in over a year. All I know is I'm gonna be in the minority cause I'm hispanic.

University of Chicago is hell on earth. The grades are low, average gpa of 3.2. People don't like to socialize and are very condescending. Very low minority population and in general elitist attitude. But it's a good school I guess...

@whitnie: I wrote a longer paragraph but GG Basil Market went down for the thing to back up data and deleted what I wrote. But yeah I heard the ACT was easier, sadly no one I know has an ACT practice book since they took the SAT or winged it. Either way both of your scores are really good, I don't think I can get close to that even with studying. I'm going to take the ACT though. And oh okay I'm not sure about my unweighted GPA since it doesn't get shown but my 9-12 gpa is 3.35 my freshman grade ruins my GPA. And my weighted GPA (not sure which grades they're counting) it says 3.950. I'm rank 50 in my class though out of 400+. That's the thing too I haven't joined any clubs or done volunteer hours like ugh, I'm going to try to do some this year but I don't think it will be good enough. Yeah I agree it pays off which is why I wish I did better / did extracurriculars. And thank you, thank you you really helped me and that's true.

I have one more question though. How many years of math did you take and which math level did you go up to? Last year (junior year) I did Calc AB AP (got A+ both semesters only cause the teacher was cool though, I didn't understand it AT ALL) and just taking it made me realize I'm not good at math anymore so I decided to not take Calc BC AP this upcoming year. I just have a bad feeling I'd get a D or F in the course if I took it. Also the AP Statistics here is hard, plus the fact that I'm already terrible at graphs and word equations (which I omitted on the PSAT & SAT and the ones I answered were wrong, literally I got 0 right out of them). But I was thinking maybe taking regular statistics would be a bit easier and it would show as a 4th year of math. But my friend that goes to CSUN told me that since I already went up to Calc AB AP it's good enough but idk if he means just for CSUs. The thing that worries me is if I get anything under an A in statistics it won't improve my GPA.

@whitnie: Thanks for your advice! I'm actually gonna try to focus on the act now, so thank you!

[quote=alvinhero123]@whitnie: For all actually. I struggle especially with the science section though. I feel like the time limit on the sat is better. I got a 2000 and Im a rising sophomore.[/quote]

I have the mentality to finish it ASAP (and answering accurately of course) and I had minutes to spare on each of the sections to double check my answers. English and math are my strong points, so growing up a grammar nazi made all the grammar and punctuation questions extremely easy. Math on the ACT is more straight forward comapred to SAT imo too.

Yeah the science portion is tough because we're not really used to it but more exposure would help. That was my lowest score with reading even when I thought I did pretty well.

Idk wat you talking about cause im australian

@whitnie: For all actually. I struggle especially with the science section though. I feel like the time limit on the sat is better. I got a 2000 and Im a rising sophomore.

[quote=alvinhero123]I cant keep up with the time limit though. [/quote]

For which section of the ACT?

[quote=whitnie]My ACT was 32 out of 36 (which is equivalent to 2080-2130 SAT score) compared to my SAT score (1960/2400).
I don't know exactly what my UC GPA was but after first semester of senior year, my Acad GPA for 10-12 (because I don't think UCs consider your freshmen year grades) was 4.42 weighted and 3.96 unweighted. My total GPA (9-12) was 4.27 though. I also had a few leadership positions in multiple clubs, and ~100 volunteer hours. Anyways I was/am a huge nerd but honestly it all pays off when you see those college decisions.

Good luck when you retake that SAT and when you submit your application! Personally, I think the ACT is a billion times easier in basically all the aspects. I would definitely recommend maybe asking friends if they have practice books to see if the test format is easier for you, because I don't think the SAT is for everyone (lol at least definitely not for me).

And I think you should remember that getting admitted into any college is an accomplishment! Where you go doesn't measure your worth at all and you'll have a great time as long as you work hard. [/quote]

I cant keep up with the time limit though.

[quote=elleee]@whitnie: Oh okay I see, lol cause idk what to put cause I know it needs to be something interesting and not cliche And ohh whats around score did you get for the SAT and GPA? if you don't mind me asking. Cause I got 1330 but I think I'm going to retake it and at least try to get 15xx. And my UC/CSU 10-12 GPA is 4.1+ my main goal is to just get into a good UC[/quote]

My ACT was 32 out of 36 (which is equivalent to 2080-2130 SAT score) compared to my SAT score (1960/2400).
I don't know exactly what my UC GPA was but after first semester of senior year, my Acad GPA for 10-12 (because I don't think UCs consider your freshmen year grades) was 4.42 weighted and 3.96 unweighted. My total GPA (9-12) was 4.27 though. I also had a few leadership positions in multiple clubs, and ~100 volunteer hours. Anyways I was/am a huge nerd but honestly it all pays off when you see those college decisions.

Good luck when you retake that SAT and when you submit your application! Personally, I think the ACT is a billion times easier in basically all the aspects. I would definitely recommend maybe asking friends if they have practice books to see if the test format is easier for you, because I don't think the SAT is for everyone (lol at least definitely not for me).

And I think you should remember that getting admitted into any college is an accomplishment! Where you go doesn't measure your worth at all and you'll have a great time as long as you work hard.

I start my fourth year in university and sort of nervous because my time table is packed and I'm also trying to hold a job. Scared of my GPA too, it went 9.5-> 9.0 ->8.8 and I don't like where its heading lol. Gotta keep that scholarship money $.$

Yesterday was my first day as a highschool junior and its already doge awful

@dabootydisciple: yeah if thats the max score on the SAT. o.o The math was too hard it was all old stuff I couldn't remember how to do, it was my lowest score it was 420. (blaze it)

currently applying into a selective australian high school. fun

80% of the school is muslim and so is majority of the administrators... and its run by turkish ppl that are fresh off the boat and
dont know what the hell theyre doing

@whitnie: Oh okay I see, lol cause idk what to put cause I know it needs to be something interesting and not cliche And ohh whats around score did you get for the SAT and GPA? if you don't mind me asking. Cause I got 1330 but I think I'm going to retake it and at least try to get 15xx. And my UC/CSU 10-12 GPA is 4.1+ my main goal is to just get into a good UC

i graduated high school over 5 years ago #wow

[quote=elleee]what'd you write about for your personal statement[/quote]

World: my mom and how she stressed responsibility and independence in my ethics
Accomplishment/experience: my passion and confidence that blooomed from playing tennis on my HS team

Tbh my essays were all over the place but I tried to use more scholarly words to make up for it. I definitely did more telling than showing (you're supposed to show-not-tell), and I'm pretty positive that it was my GPA & testing scores that carried.

[quote=whitnie]Excited for my first quarter at UCSD in September! [/quote]

what'd you write about for your personal statement

Going for my AS back in high school peaked my interest in psychology.

After high school, transferred to a university for a BS in psychology; later declared a minor in neuroscience and another in philosophy (emphasis in reality, knowledge, and science). Simply fell in love with science.

Now a first year cognitive and behavioral neuroscience PhD student at the same university and this damn summer break can't end any sooner so I can start having a full coursework schedule again.

I may be vitamin D deficient by now.

Can't say too much about the student body here. GMU has an enormous campus and everyone tends to keep to themselves (it's largely a commuter institution, not "Greek life" friendly, thankfully). Faculty varies, but the good ones are great to have for connections and acquaintances.

[quote=carlyxox]Second year biochemistry student who spends their life studying and crying.[/quote]

Third year biochemistry and dramatic art major at UNC.
I've got two semesters of pchem alongside my advanced biochem classes this year and my anus is not ready for this reckoning.

I really hated college my freshman year but now I'm really hyped for school.
Kind of 180'd my career path and now I want to pursue a career in lighting and put off med school in case I can't make it as a lighting designer.
Got a good group of friends now and I'm one of the main undergrad lighting people so I have a lot of opportunities to design things and have electrician work to do. So it's a lot of fun.
But balancing being one of the harder science majors on campus while doubling with one of the most time consuming arts majors and having a GF and turning up when I can gets to be a real handful.

Excited for my first quarter at UCSD in September!

Second year biochemistry student who spends their life studying and crying.

[quote=dabootydisciple]HS senior. This year feels like it's gonna suck[/quote]

Tell me about it, my school is so childish and full of morons. </3 </3 </3 </3

First elementary: awesome outside hallway school, nothing but good times and easy work
Second elemtnary: Older but still good times
Middle: Great times

Ya know this question is really frickin vague.

My highschool was like 98% white, but it was a private catholic school in a mostly white area so that's pretty much to be expected. It was decent. I didn't really enjoy highschool much which kind of disappoints me, but my senior year wasn't too bad. The teachers were mostly nice, but it was a very competitive school and I came home with a heavy workload every night (looking at you 5hr physics post labs which were due the next day).

Next month I'm heading to the University of Miami. I'm pretty disappointed that I didn't get into most of the schools that I applied to (got denied somehow by like 3 schools that I had well over average stats for and I had great extracurriculars; maybe my essays just sucked or something). I think Miami's going to be a lot of fun though, so I'm really looking forward to it, and I got a really nice scholarship and I got into some special invitation only honors program for math and science so it turned out well.

[quote=queenlorde]Going to UC Berkeley next year...
still bitter I didn't get into Harvard and Columbia[/quote]
Wow, what were your HS stats ?

My campus has dutch (majority) and some middle eastern people. I'm the only asian here. When going to another campus you get swarmed with asians. Asians here, asians there. I even wondered if there was an asian plague or something. Asians only hang out with other asians though.

Going to UC Berkeley next year...
still bitter I didn't get into Harvard and Columbia

went to ubc vancouver and loved it. all my acquaintances and friends I made there are asian though. that's okay because i'm with my own people.

also from a school thats like 70% asian in an asian area
my year is crazy i dont understand why ap classes have become a lifestyle here

very hot girls. other than that it's mediocre.

elem-middle very competitive.
asian in california too.
middle-high was still pretty competitive, but i didn't really mind. like 85% caucasian. College is also like 85% Caucasian. not competitive at all

still summer thank god
but have summer assignments that im probably gonna put off till the week before
not prepared to stresss

over half of my high school is asian but it was terrible. A lot of weed, guns, gangs of all races clashing. Graffiti in the bathrooms, swisher wraps, empty liquor bottles in the toilet. Again, its probably cuz i went to school in Oakland.

[quote=ritopls]I go to Stony Brook. It's like 80% Asian. It's really fun actually because 90% of the guys are awkward engineers who play League of Legends all day so those qt's are just lining up. <3[/quote]

ayy lmao

ot: hs for regional arts program drama department yes

Going into senior yay. Stressing about college though. Really want to get into UCI or UCSB or CSULB but I feel like I'll end up going to a CSU [that isn't long beach]. My grades from 2nd semester Freshman year and 1st semester of Sophomore year is terrible. Yes, C's are terrible grades for me, I regret it. I know people say that it's okay they don't focus too much on Freshman year but honestly I still do wish I did better My grades from last year were outstanding and I feel like it sort of makes it up by showing how smart I am, but still I can't get all the C's from 9th year out my mind. </3Also wish I joined this Club thing that already started but you had to apply back in May, so I'm regretting not joining! I need something for my extracurriculars. Haven't joined any sport or club which definitely lessens my chance to get into a good college </3 Planning on having a fun senior though, but I can tell it's gonna be a pain because it's so expensive

I go to Stony Brook. It's like 80% Asian. It's really fun actually because 90% of the guys are awkward engineers who play League of Legends all day so those qt's are just lining up. <3

Uni orientation is next month, and I am HYPED

Going to check out a Junior College near where I reside, tip while in HS prepare for college a while ahead.

Applying to any csu school that accepts spring transfers </3
Idc which one tbh I just need to get the hell out of community college </3 </3 </3 </3 </3