A question or two... need some serious, honest answers

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>I just registered and decided to post because I have a question that's been bothering me for a while now. Before I get to it though, let me explain a little about my situation.</p>

<p>I'm a Junior in high school right now, with a weighted GPA of 3.0. I had a really bad year last year (I failed Geometry, a really easy class, both semesters). That was totally unlike me. I've taken Honors classes pretty much universally from the beginning, and I do fairly well in them. This year, I'm doing far better - I have all A's and am taking two AP classes (US History and Brit. Lit). Have I screwed myself out of going to a decent college? I'd really like to go to UGA, but I have a feeling that even I maintain excellent grades, I'm not going to get in.</p>

<p>Now. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to ask this here, but do any of you know a place I can order adderrall or some other form of medication that will help me focus and concentrate? My parents refuse to allow me to go onto any form of ADD medication because they don't like what it does to people - but I think it may be necessary if I'm going to succeed academically. </p>

<p>Thoughts?
Opinions?
Answers?</p>

<p>Thanks for the help.</p>

<p>do you live in Georgia? I think it is manageable if you can get your GPA higher and have a good SAT score. If you are a minority or have something else that you are really good at it may increase your chances. As for the aderole thing i tend to agree with your parents, and it is a perscription so it would be pretty illegal for you to get it if you are not ADD. But where i live they have been selling that stuff illegally at school since i was in 7th grade.</p>

<p>I think you worry too much. Why not shoot for the Honors College at UGA? Generally these are self-selecting programs and perhaps the best deal around if you want an education rather just a degree. (Although it is not impossible to get an education at a University, if you knew how to do it, you probably would not need it). Anyway, if you get decent marks on your AP courses this year, do reasonably well on the SAT (1400) and take a reasonably strong academic program next year, I see no reason why UGA would not look at you. Relax. It sounds as if you need an academic focus, something that you are passionate about rather than medication. Perish the thought, but as the Voice from the the Paleozoic it occurred to me that it is after all theoretically possible that your parents might have your best interests at heart</p>

<p>yeah, adderall is speed's baby cousin, I knew a kid this summer who had ADD and took adderall for it, he stopped taking it a little bit in to the summer cuz he hated how it made him feel, and may i say, that his ADD was so bad, like literally he would have trouble holding a convo, but when he was on adderall u would have never known he was like that. Unless u actually have ADD, i would steer clear of adderall, it is some serious s h i t .</p>

<p>You can explain a bad grade in an application essay, and they do look at your whole record and will see it was just one class that brought you down, so I wouldn't worry about it. Just make the rest of your app solid.</p>

<p>And forget about taking ADD meds...they are controlled substances and you shouldn't mess with them. If you get it illegally and get caught, you can kiss college goodbye! If you need to concentrate better, don't eat a lot of junk - eat well and take good care of yourself and it will help. Sounds corny but it worked for me and I was getting totally scatterbrained. Much better since I stopped eating sugar and so many processed foods.</p>

<p>GPA isnt everything. plus, most good schools offer a chance for redemption: an optional essay in which you can explain your low grades.</p>

<p>In regards to the processed foods, I already avoid them like the plague - I'm a dedicated bodybuilder. </p>

<p>In regards to the ADD medication, after thinking about it a bit, I've decided not to seek them out. I'll figure out how to deal with myself.</p>

<p>Well, I hope GPA isn't all they look at - but I've heard that it mostly is (in regards to UGA). I am an excellent writer and I know I could impress them if I could do an interview. I took the SATs in 7th grade and got a 1300 on it, so I'm not too worried about that. Yes, I do live in Georgia. I am looking for a degree as well.</p>

<p>Thanks for the help and responses, guys. I feel a lot better.</p>

<p>NO college focuses on just ONE thing. a college may put a bit more importance on gpa, sat scores, or rank, etc. but they'll look at everything. so if you scrwed up a little bit in one area and are okay in the others you should be okay.</p>

<p>Wow, we have a couple things in common, my gpa is about the same as yours and I'm a junior too. I regret my freshmen year because I was slacking but now I have to work my butt off just to get my gpa high. And since my goal was UNC my hopes for that has changed (probably go to another state school like ECU then transfer). But yea it depends on your status and test scores, essays, etc. I'm sure they will like your rising trend. :)</p>

<p>I'm not sure on advice exactly, but I'm in a similar boat. I failed algebra freshman year (after failing it in 8th grade, thank god my junior high transcript doesnt get sent) and got a number of C's freshman and sophomore year, but I know my ACT score will be high and my extra curriculars are not bad. So good luck to us both?</p>

<p>voo doo what high school do you go to? I go to Chattahoochee in Alpharetta. Im just curious.</p>

<p>chattahoochee?</p>

<p>man.</p>

<p>If you're doing well right now without the medication, why do you need it?</p>

<p>megathunder, what was that all about.</p>

<p>I go to Lassiter, which is in Marietta.</p>

<p>dude thats the school with the great marching band and the teacher who killed her mom with a hammer right?</p>

<p>As to why I need ADD medication, I already have to kick my own ass into gear to get anything done, but I still manage to do it. I lack motivation in a major way, but that doesn't prevent me from getting stressed out over college. It doesn't really make sense (believe me, I know), but I know for a fact that ADD medication has helped a few friends of mine with similar problems.</p>

<p>Is Chattahoochee like the Alan Jackson song "Chattahoochee?"</p>

<p>Yep, among other things. </p>

<p>Our band is a cult. They practice nearly constantly, so it goes to explain why they are the best in the nation.</p>

<p>Some lacrosse player also got raped by a bunch of football players with a highlighter in the guy's locker room. We're in the news a lot, and not always in the best ways.</p>

<p>Haha surprisingly our school is not redneck like Alan Jackson, we are 30% asian and 10 % black, so we are rich in diversity with not many southern influences. Our school is full or northern or international transplants. If you must know, chattahoochee is a river and that is why it is named that I suppose.</p>