I’m planning on working this summer as a lifeguard, and I’m also planning on volunteering alot this summer and my senior year at an old folks home close to my house. other information is that i was on the JV swim team for 2 years, varsity swim for 1 and will be on the varsity swim team for my senior year also. is there anything at all that i can do to get accepted? where should i apply? i want to stay in california.
my grades and courses so far are listed below
freshman year- first semester/second semester
biology B/A
PE A/A
Geography/Computers F(i took geography over again in summer school and got an A)/A
English A/A
art A/A
geometry B/A
first semester GPA 2.83
second semester GPA 4.00
sophomore year
Advanced English A/B
French 1 A/A
Algebra 2 A/A
PE(life guarding) A/A
HP chemistry B/A
World History A/A
first semester GPA 3.83
second semester GPA 3.83
junior year
Honors American literature A/(expectting to get another A)
Journalism A/(expecting to get another A)
French 2 B/(expecting to get a B or C)
AP statistics B/(expecting to get a B)
AP biology C/(expecting to get an A
Honors US history A/(expecting to get an A)
first semester GPA 3.33
for my senior year I’m planning on taking 7 classes
Pre-calculus
English 12 lit. & comp. AP
U.S. Government AP
Psychology AP/Modern Economics
Human anatomy & physiology
French 3
Student government
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Quality of classes (your grades) are much more important than quantity. MUCH more important. Make sure that your senior year you don’t lay on the courseload and instead focus on getting good grades and being involved in activities. UCBerkley is HIGHLY selective so you will want to be sure that your grades are good.
There is no method that will make you a shoe-in. There is no such thing. Finish your senior year strong as they do look at second semester grades, so if you’re on the waitlist that will help your chances. USC is a great alternative, so is UCSD. Stanford is obviously top notch, UCLA is great too. Apply to a range of schools, but make sure that you actually would like to go to the schools you apply to, even your safety school. Definitely have a safety school, a school that you believe your grades are higher than average for. Good luck!!
Stop being so ocd–your grades are just fine. DusanD’s advice is very good as far as it goes, but also get good letters of recommendation. The other factor is what you want to major in–and ask faculty members about those schools in that area. I assume you’re a Californian, so I also recommend making day trips to schools that interest you, from late August to early Oct., to meet the chair and some faculty and ask about their program and check the campus and towns. Phone the Dept. Secretary for a good time and call the Chair to make arrangements–and meet with your principal and your teachers to let them know what you’re doing and why. Type a brief letter as proof and have the Chair sign it.