I have a few questions that my guidance department isn’t answering to my satisfaction, so I figured I’d bring em here.
Basically, freshman year I was hospitalized twice in a psychiatric hospital for anxiety disorder and depression. I missed practically 6 months of school due to my anxiety disorder and my grades suffered. Would this be something schools would consider when I apply?
My unweighted GPA is a 3.17, my weighted is a 3.22. This is after the first semester of junior year. I got a 1240 on my PSAT, which translates to a 1240/1600 on the SATs. I’m taking a full IB schedule (with the exception of a foreign language; that’s due to circumstances out of my control). My GPA is on an upward trend, and my freshman grades are what’s really hurting me. I’ve done beautifully the past 2 years.
I want to go to school for adolescent education (English 7th-12th grade). I’m a poor math student which is another reason my GPA is lower. Do schools look at individual class grades? Will they see that my math grade is bringing me down and will that look better because it has almost nothing to do with my major?
The big question is what schools I should be looking at. I live in NY State, and would like to stay within NY, CT, MA, VT, etc. I would like to stay close to home.
Your scores are pretty close to the son of a friend, who wants to teach HS math.
Here’s a list of schools I put together for him to look at. It should at least get you started. I assume that most also have Secondary English Education
Albertus Magnus Coll -New Haven, CT
Central CT State Univ -New Britain, CT
East Stroudsburg State Univ- PA
Fitchburg State Uni Fitchburg, MA
Kean Univ - Union, NJ
Keystone Coll- La Plume, PA
MA Coll of Lib Arts- North Adams, MA
Rhode Island Coll -Providence, RI
Richard Stockton Coll- Galloway, NJ
Rowan Univ -Glassboro, NJ
Southern Connecticut State Univ.-New Haven
West.Connect.State Univ Danbury, CT
Wilson Coll -Chambersburg, PA
York Coll of PA -York, PA
Castleton State Coll- Castleton, VT
Holy Family U- Philadelphia, PA
Keene State Coll- Keene, NH
Kutztown Univ of PA- Kutztown, PA
Lyndon State Coll -Lyndonville, VT
Mansfield Univ of PA- Mansfield, PA
Plymouth State Univ- Plymouth, NH
St Thomas Aquinas- Coll Sparkill, NY
Wow, thanks!!
Right now I’m looking at Hunter College, Brooklyn College, Fordham University, SUNY Stony Brook, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Geneseo, Quinnipiac University, Boston University, & NYU. Does anyone think I’d have a chance at any of these?
A few things:
One: To be honest, it’s not terribly important where you go, not in terms of future jobs anyway. So keep an eye on the bottom line.
Two: I did 2 years at community college, then transferred to St. John’s. I know they’re expensive, but I think they’re pretty generous with aid. I think the same is true of Molloy.
Three: consider the type of school you want. My friend’s son, like my own, will probably do better in a small school. Most of the ones on that list are pretty small.
Four: It will probably be easier to become certified if you stay in state. NY offers so many options so that’s not a problem. That way, when you graduate with certification, it will be NY certification and it gives you the option of moving back home, or near home, if that’s what you want.
Becoming a really good teacher means developing that strong inner teacher within. It’s not something that can be really taught-- you can probably name a handful of really strong teachers you’ve had who were remarkably different in their approaches.
So take every opportunity you can to teach. Anything. Tutor classmates. Work a summer program with kids. Do anything you can that will allow you to work on explaining things patiently to others.
Look at St Bonaventure University. It’s a small school with the friendliest people. Lots of education majors there.
I think Geneseo is pretty tough to get into.
I would stay in NY if I were you. My understanding is that it’s pretty easy to use a NY teaching certification to teach anywhere, but it can be thought to use another state’s certification to teach in NY.