<p>I don't have to worry about applying to college till next year but I was wondering if going to community college will help me in admissions. Everything in a college application looks good for me except my GPA, which will be ~3.6 when I apply in September. </p>
<p>So if I go to community college, and do well, will I have a better shot at getting accepted to colleges? And how do the recommendations work? Can I get it from high school teachers?</p>
<p>I don't know where you are applying, so it depends, but I know at some of the schools I am applying it can be viewed as continuing your passion. My passions are math/science/technology, so taking a math course at a community college is viewed as showing that I am passionate about math.</p>
<p>community college can be very helpful to many people and help them get into other colleges, but with a 3.6 and junior and senior year left you shouldnt worry about not getting in to many schools. Which schools are you planning to apply to?</p>
<p>mohhil, There are several considerations:</p>
<p>"Just" a 3.6 will still get you into many fiine colleges, even if there's no increase in that GPA, even if it does not become positively weighted due to any Honors or AP's.</p>
<p>If financial considerations are paramount, c.college can be a good idea for these reasons:
(1) shorter "4-yr." (i.e., 2-yr or 3-yr) undergrad tuition total
(2) possibly stronger profile for transfer into an excellent Public, if GPA is strong @comm. college. (You wouldn't be competing with high school seniors who have 3.8's & above; you'd be competing with other transfers who have probably 3.0's & above.)</p>
<p>If testing or competitive concerns are yours, a certain minimum number of c. college units (it varies by 4-yr college transfer admission policy) will eliminate the need for SAT reporting at <em>all.</em></p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies.
I guess I'm worrying too much.
Its just that my school is full of nerds who all have ~4.0 GPAs so they stopped ranking. They just give out decile rank, and I'm going to end up in 3rd or 4th with a 3.6.
I was thinking of top schools such as MIT/Stanford/UPenn, but I guess I don't mind settling for second level colleges.</p>
<p>Not that this applies to you, but even if you could only pull off a *<strong><em>2.5</em></strong> (Basically a C average), you can still get into good schools, especially with great SAT's, recs, essays, EC's and such. Now that's not to say you should STRIVE for that, but grades are only ONE part of your app. You still have time to get your grades closer to where you want them, so just work your tail off. </p>
<p>And have faith in yourself. Ex: I NEVER had a 4.0, or anything close to it. All of my Freshman year in HS, I goofed off, and ended the year with a lousy C avg. Realizing my mistakes and FINALLY beginning to understand the impact that grades have on college admissions, I worked harded, getting more B's and B+'s over the next two years (soph and the all-important junior year). This year, for my first semester grades, I kicked it into high gear and got two A-'s, two B+'s, and a B. Now, for CC'ers, these grades, and SEEM low, but I go to a hardaspie High school, and these are MY personal bests.</p>
<p>And obviously, my work is paying off. So far, I have already been accepted to U Pitt and Howard U (they're pretty high on my list). I tell you this not to brag, but to explain to you that a 4.0 gpa, while certainly nice to have, is NOT necessary. Just work your personal best, and when the time comes, put together the best application YOU can. </p>
<p>QUOTE: "I was thinking of top schools such as MIT/Stanford/UPenn, but I guess I don't mind settling for second level colleges."</p>
<p>And don't "SETTLE" for "second level colleges". I have around a 3.2 or B+ avg, and I'm applying to places such as Harvard, Yale, and Morehouse (all topnotch schools). When you have grades in the 3.0+, you're just as qualified for admission to any college as any other candidate.</p>