[moonlit_daisy]

Okay, I've been wondering for a loong time! On the ACT scores report, they keep stating that my GPA is a 3.42 when it is actually a 3.6.... I keep having a 22 and it's killing me because I want to have a 25, so I'm considering to buy a real ACT prep book and study!! I only have 11 community service hours and I've only been recently involved in 2 or 3 clubs for the past year or so...for my Junior year. I have AP class courses and aim to have math and science again on my class schedule next year... Seriously, what are my chances into getting a good school majoring in English and Asian studies? I live in FL and want to go out of state--into UCLA or into Hawaii, so I can study abroad in Asia. They're among the colleges that have a strong Asian study abroad progam(s)....

What are my chances? What should I do?

Because I'm beginning to panic--BAD.

[&pikachuu__;]

Honestly, your ACT scores are quite low. I say, buy that prep book, study study study, get near a 30 and then calm down about standardised testing. Or maybe, instead of taking ACT again, take the SAT.

Your GPA is average, work on making it better. Colleges like improvement.

Increase your community service hours, because 11 hours is not gonna get you anywhere you wanna go. Find passions in what you do (like your clubs and whatnot). Make sure you are a leader of one or two of your clubs.

Good luck!

[alicimoo]

Try the SAT. Some people tend to do better on the SAT than the ACT, and vice versa.

Practice practice practice. For the SAT, I found that that's the only thing that really helped.

Start writing your college essay and edit edit edit.

[moonlit_daisy]

Ahhh... I already took my SAT, just right now--I'm waiting to get my results at home... Can't I just check it online? O_O

[DaAzNkIgGa627]

SAT is online at the college Board's website.

[Hax]

Ouch, if you are OOS, you really need to be a stellar student to get into UCLA.

Hopefully you do well on your SATs

[pri-T]

Like Hax said, acceptance to UCLA OOS is extremely difficult. Heck, it's extremely difficult to get into in-state but for OOS, it's even more difficult.

UCLA's average admit GPA is 4.12, so definitely work to bring that GPA up. Hope you do well on the SATs.

As for community service hours, it's not that important if you are EXTENSIVELY involved in your other clubs and have something to show for it (awards or anything as simple as a lesson you learned to go into your personal statement).

Honestly, I was never very into doing community service because I felt like it was a very impersonal experience and it just wasn't for me as I like to do long-term projects that let me build relationships with people I'm working with/helping ie. mentoring. I did do a few things here and there but I completely left that off college apps. Instead, I focused on what I really had a passion for - journalism and yearbook, was a section/assistant editor for both and was heavily involved in the one club I did and did well in several competitions through the club.

Community service isn't necessarily needed to get into a good college. It just shows you did something worthwhile in high school and that you probably grew as a person as a result of it, which is the same reason why having good ECs is important. Do you have an experience that can show you did something worthwhile/you grew? If so, use that in your personal statement and it may make up for not having too many cc hrs. I still got into very good colleges with no service hours, including UCLA.

Personal statement for UCLA: VERY important. Having a stellar personal statement may heavily improve your chances of being admitted.

Good luck.

[iMMA D0Rk XD]

You need to at least get 30 or above on the ACT and hopefully you're doing some sort of leadership in these clubs and you need more ECs.