<p>Hey everyone, getting ready to send out applications to some schools, and wanted to know what type of chance that I had in being accepted - I have a somewhat unique situation, and most of the posts on the forum are of high school students with mind blowing achievements - congrats to all.</p>
<p>I'm 28 years old, and while I only have a few minor ECs, I'm really depending on solid recommendations from my professors, quality essays, and my "upward trend" - </p>
<p>Ten years ago, I signed up for community college classes in radio broadcasting. I dropped out of school, did not drop the classes (good ol' 19 year old Daryl), and have several F's on my transcript. Going into the fall of 2006, my GPA was .8 - you should have seen the look on the face of the counselor when she pulled my transcript.</p>
<p>Since that time, aside from one poor grade in a math class (which I have remedied), I have received A's and B's and have pulled my GPA to 2.7. For the last month I have volunteered at a local museum, but most of my twenties were spent working full time jobs (where I did continually receive great reviews). I'm going to major in history, as I have genuinely developed a love for studying the past, especially American history and Antiquity.</p>
<p>Am I resigned to third tier universities? The University of Virginia seems beautiful and perfect for me - would they even give me a glance? What type of university would I have the best shot? I live in Illinois, and am going to apply to a few state schools - but was curious to know about schools like Texas-Austin, UNC, etc. I would really like to go to school somewhere east or south, as I love the lifestyle, food, and fishing. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Resumed Adult Education. Northwestern has a program, Tufts has a program, I'm sure many other elite schools have similar programs. While I'm not really sure what goes into them all of them, I'd imagine they're open to nontraditional students who need to explain their past, and I expect the few courses you've taken recently where you've done well would help you in that process. I'd recommend you get in touch with a few schools about it.</p>
<p>With regards to state schools, I doubt it'll be an easy process to get into one if you're not a resident of that state. I don't know if every state has it, but in Florida if you go to a community college and get your associates a state school has to accept you if you fulfill their requirements for whatever program you want to go into (x.xx+ GPA), and that's a good way to get into a quality school to finish your undergraduate degree. Basically, on a scale of "ease," I would imagine it would be the easiest to get into a state school (where you are a resident), followed by getting into one of these adult education programs, with the hardest being getting into an elite state school where you are not a resident.</p>
<p>I don't suppose there's any way you can get those old grades removed from your transcript? By the same token, I thought schools ignored classes from your transcript that are x+ years old?</p>
<p>Thank you for the reply Tetrishead - unfortunately I took a semester's worth of classes before looking into getting the older grades removed (just wanted to take some classes), only to find out that the only way to get old grades removed is if I do not attend class for 5 years - I went a year early. </p>
<p>My only other real hope is that the F's are in "trade" or "technical" classes that will not transfer - outside of these, my GPA is around 3.7 or so. </p>
<p>My ACT score that I took in high school wasn't anything outstanding (26), but I really wanted to take this opportunity to travel - I need one of these MIT/Stanford kids to invent a time machine. I have no regrets, but it sure would be nice to have a plush job and be drinking top shelf. : )</p>
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Thank you for the reply Tetrishead - unfortunately I took a semester's worth of classes before looking into getting the older grades removed (just wanted to take some classes), only to find out that the only way to get old grades removed is if I do not attend class for 5 years - I went a year early.
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If I were you I would fight that tooth and nail, but you'll probably have to work-around it no matter what.
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My only other real hope is that the F's are in "trade" or "technical" classes that will not transfer - outside of these, my GPA is around 3.7 or so.
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Unless the adcom is stupid enough as a group to not recognize the significant time line disparity in courses I think you'd be alright. You can always submit a note or additional information explaining your background and your situation.</p>
<p>If you could at the very least get a note from the community college you're going to saying that you didn't fail the courses as a result of coursework but rather failed as a result of not going and not dropping the courses it should help you, or have your adviser (or professors) write something about it in her recommendation letter.</p>
<p>Plenty of the kids who graduate from school, including Stanford and MIT, are going to continue to work themselves to death under the faulty assumption that just working hard will lead them to a position with an extremely high salary and little real work. Your ACT doesn't matter if it was a decade ago, although I'd probably recommend you retake a standardized test to show schools. It's not impossible to travel while you're in school either, you just have to set your course load up correctly so you can spend a full year and maybe a summer abroad.</p>
<p>Consider resumed adult education programs that are the same as the regular undergraduate experience (same financial aid, leads to the same degree, maybe more freedom on where you can live) and submit your transcripts. If you have stellar recommendations and they consider your GPA 3.7--which they should--I think you can seriously going from where you are to a pretty elite school.</p>