<p>I am currently a Junior in high school. Throughout my years in high school, I have received mixed grades from various teachers. I do have a reason for my low GPA however. When I was a freshman, I was constantly sick and had to skip school (with a doctors note). On the days that I did go to school, I felt as if they were a waste of time, and I though I was never going to need 80% of the things taught at school. This made me fail World History and English, and I had to take summer school(passed with a 95 in history and an 85 in English, which is good considering that the summer school classes were twice as hard). Sophomore year was just the same, doing poorly (but better) in english and history, but doing great in chemistry and geometry(Great considering that I was still missing school, and managed to get 85-95 in both subjects until I got a different teacher who did not allow me to do homework in class, so I got a 65) Instead of doing homework, I decided to self study for things that I really thought would help me after high school (I wanted to become a computer scientist, so I studied programming languages and their application). The only thing that lowered my GPA below a 2.0 was my elective classes. When deciding on my elective, I decided to go with computer repair because I was good at working with computers, and I built my first computer in 7th grade. However, the class was nothing that I thought it would be because it was filled with idiots who barley know what a motherboard is. Turns out the class was actually a computer fundamentals class in disguise, and the students were working to obtain a very low level certificate. Keep in mind that I aced 2 A+ certifications in a row without practice. I eventually got a 45 from the teacher because he said that I was "all talk" even though I got a 95 on the final exam (The funny thing is that all the classes that I failed, I passed the final and regents. This means that the educational system in NY focuses more on the work done instead of the amount learned which is clearly not suitable for me). In my junior year, I had the same teacher, who failed me again with the same grade. I also failed English and Spanish with a very low grade(passed the English regents with an 85). Now, I have more time to focus on schoolwork, but I think it might be too late. My only hope now is to get a high grade on the SAT (I expect over 2000). Is there any chance of me getting into a good college/university without going to a community college first? I was thinking about applying to NYU-Poly next year, but only 1% of the students there have a GPA of 2.0-2.5. What should I do? Are there any summer programs that I can attend to prove that I am able to do college level work?</p>
<p>Dude… what is wrong with you. You seem so anti-establishment and “above the system”, but you really come off as stubborn and frankly not too intelligent. Teachers don’t just fail kids for the heck of it, you really have to put in 0 effort to fail a class. Even if you just sit in class and retain 1/10th of the information presented to you you shouldn’t fail a class. I understand that a large portion of what I learn in HS is bs that I will never use in my life. Regardless, I (and many others) stick through it to get good grades. The ones who think they are “too good” for the bs in high school are the ones with the crappy GPAs. I highly doubt you will get a 2000 on your SAT either. Someone who is capable of getting a 2000+ would be smart enough to not fail any classes even if he/she didn’t put any effort into the class other than attending it. Why would any college want to accept a student who put in little to no effort during high school? I suggest you go to a community college and transfer out, if you can, after a year or so.</p>
<p>I pay attention in class and learn more than most others, but I fail the class because instead of doing homework (AKA review of the classwork), I do something productive. I feel as if one time is enough, and review of such simple and useless material is pointless, especially if I can pass all of the tests without reviewing/studying. The only time I actually took the time to study was when I was introduced to programming. Within a few hours, I learned JavaScript (This takes months for some people). One reason why a college would want to accept someone like me is because I have more experience in programming than 99.99% of all high school students in the state. An example of this would be that without the knowledge of Java, I can still pass the AP Computer Science exam with a 5(most questions are about Java’s syntax, which I never studied in my entire life).</p>
<p>Here is some straight talk for you. Dude, right now you are not ready for college. The only reason why I am responding to you is that My GPA in HS up to the point where I left was about the same as yours. I hated school and hated authority. I left HS after my junior year to work full-time and finished HS at my local community college via a special program. After proving consistency in my grades in all subjects, maturing a bit and paying for school out of my own pocket, I transferred to a good 4-year university. After that I worked abroad for a few years and came back and attended the top international MBA program in the US. Working full-time, going to a good community college and paying for it all with my own money made me grow up enough to succeed in college and life.</p>
<p>Here are some things to think about. Given you critical attitude, overconfidence and resistance to authority you may be an entrepreneur. If this is the case, college would be a waste of time for you. I am a financial adviser and a handful of my wealthiest clients are like you in demeanor and never went to college. Some found a mentor and some studied a specific technology or craft and went to work or started a business. First, you need to decide if your personality will allow you to sit in a classroom for several years putting up with authority, nonsensical rules, idiots for classmates (as you describe above) and old technology.</p>
<p>If you decide that you really do want a college education then go to a good community college, prove that you can be consistent in all classes (both the ones you like and don’t like) and transfer later to a good university. If you go to a university now that will accept you with a 1.5-2.0 GPA you will be disappointed. If you think that your current classmates are idiots, wait until you go to a low-level college that will take you as you are right now.</p>
<p>So, decide now if you even want college or just feel pressure from those around you. If the answer is that you don’t want college then throw yourself into business or a technology studying only those things that will help you earn a living. Start a business or learn a craft that you can have pride in.</p>
<p>If you really do want higher education, then make a commitment to submit to authority and play the education game and develop a delayed gratification mindset. I chose to do this and then after years of working in corporate life both in the US and overseas, I started my own business as an international financial consultant. What I’ve learned is that there are many roads to success and kids like you (and like the way I was) will do well after deciding that others and school, corporate, government systems actually offer things of importance.</p>
<p>Man, I hope that you are not a ■■■■■ otherwise, I’ve just wasted a lot of time for your entertainment value. Good luck.</p>
<p>I would never want to go to college if I hated authority. My only problem is that the “authority” cares more about how much work you do instead of how much you know. Would you accept someone to college who got a 4.0 GPA by cheating on tests and coping homework, or someone with a 2.0 GPA who actually knows the material taught and thinks independently? I know plenty of students who have 3.7+ GPAs who come to ME when they have trouble understanding something taught, but they have the higher grade even though I get higher grades on the tests.</p>
<p>my gpa is low to. am i in trouble or will i be okay>!>!>!</p>
<p>Someothertime, you seem like a relatively smart guy. Unfortunately for you, your attitude will be the reason you may never reach your full potential. School is not only about getting a good education, but also maturing into an adult. I agree with Osaka, college may be a waste of time with this attitude, because the experience you will have there will not be that much different from what you’re already getting in high school.</p>
<p>I totally understand that college might be like high school, but that is ok with me, as long I get to learn the subjects that I want to. Looking at NYU-Poly’s Computer Science Curriculum, all of the required classes are great! Nothing that I dislike, everything that I like.
I don’t see how I can possibly get below a 3.5 GPA in college. Also, I have no use for money. This is why I don’t want to become an entrepreneur. After graduation, I would probably spend the rest of my life studying/researching CS, and probably be working as a professor at whatever college I graduated from.</p>
<p>Someothertime,</p>
<p>Happykid has a good friend from HS who is a lot like you. He was truly fed up with high school, and crammed a bunch of classes into the summer after junior year so that he could graduate early and start at the local community college instead of spending any more time in high school. He has been sooooooooo very much happier since doing that! At the CC he could take the classes that he wanted to, and for most of them there wasn’t nearly as much daily “busy work” as in high school. By his second year there, he even managed to take only the online versions of most of his classes so he had more flexibility in his schedule. After two years there, he transferred to the state U where he is doing well.</p>
<p>A good friend of mine whose temperament is a lot like yours appears to be spent nearly a decade starting college, dropping out, changing, majors, re-starting, dropping again. Eventually he landed in a trade program that was a perfect match for him, and he has built a career that is very successful and a life that is very fulfilling. </p>
<p>As OsakaDad has written above, the traditional high school and college route on the traditional schedule are not for everyone. Think outside the box that you are trying to fit yourself into. Once you find your own best direction, you will be a roaring success.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>Well my 14 year old brother learned JavaScript in less time than you so that is really not that impressive.</p>
<p>To but it bluntly you need to grow up then you can go to college.</p>
<p>Just because you disagree with someone, they must be a ■■■■■. In what way am I worse than someone with a higher GPA? GPA measures how much your teachers liked you and how much work you did, not how smart you are.</p>
<p>engineerisme:</p>
<p>Less than 3 hours? As a first language? Including the entire syntax and most possible uses? Well that sure is impressive indeed, but he was younger than me.</p>
<p>@OP – Your subsequent posts seem contrived, illogical and designed to create controversy. Kids with good GPA’s are not cheaters. With a 1.5-2.0 GPA you have no basis to declare that you will get a 3.5 in college. You also state that you have no use for money. It takes money to do anything even becoming a prof at a university as you state that you wish you want. At this point, I honestly think that you are playing us for entertainment value. I believe that my original suspicion that you are a ■■■■■ is correct. I would urge others not to continue to respond to this post.</p>
<p>You sound ridiculously immature. Chancing for college… a 2.0 is the minimum to get into a Cal State. Go to a community college, mature a bit, do well (if you say you can), and then go to NYU-Poly.</p>
<p>I never claimed that kids with good GPAs are cheaters, but most of the ones I know ARE. For example, on the day of the regents, 3 students with high GPA’s were coping from others. Also, I came here to get my questions answered, not get questioned by others about my situation which I explained.</p>
<p>You’re not demonstrating the necessary abilities that allow you to preform well in college. Making an excessive amount of excuses as to why you have a ****ty GPA won’t work in life. Evidently, you lack a logic thought process and general intelligence. Anyone who is intelligent would not come up with all these excuses but rather concede their wrongs. And don’t assume that you’ll get a above a 2000 on your SAT; you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.</p>
<p>And as for NYU, you’re the rule and NOT the exception. You do not have the credentials to get into the school, and I’m confident you won’t get into it. They don’t care about Java, they want to see an above excellent performance in high school, and, speaking candidly, you don’t have anywhere close to that. I’d recommend a community college for two years and then applying to NYU (I mean this with all sincerity). You may have a chance then.</p>
<p>Overall, you seem to have had a blatant disregard to your education and that reflects in your person.</p>
<p>I understand that you think it is enough to know/understand the curriculum and prove it with test-taking, but I’m not in agreement with you on the matter. Question, have you ever played a team sport? What you’re doing is something like a hotshot all-star only showing up to games and skipping practices because he doesn’t find them beneficial, then complaining when he gets benched. It’s not simply about performing, it’s about putting in the work.</p>
<p>You came here looking for advice, but every time someone gives you an opinion you shoot it down. Making excuses is only hurting yourself. Is it possible to get into NYU with a 1.5-2.5? Well yes, but is it likely? Absolutely not. If the attitude you’ve portrayed on here is even remotely disclosed in your essays I’d say your chances are non existant. </p>
<p>If you didn’t put in effort because it was “a waste of time” then what makes you think that will change in college? Being sick is a valid excuse for poor grades, being lazy is not. Doing poor because a teacher doesn’t let you do homework in class is honestly one of the worst excuses I’ve ever heard. It’s not justing proving that you “can do college level work” but also that you will. You have shown that you will only put in work when you feel like it, and that kind of thinking means you’re not ready for college.</p>
<p>Go to community college for a few years, if you do well there you can apply to transfer.</p>
<p>OP, assuming that you are not a ■■■■■, I would suggest seeking professional help.</p>