I did my freshmen year in New Jersey. Had about a 3.3 GPA I would say. Well, my parents were travelling back and forth to the Dominican Republic so I moved. I did my solphmore and junior year in the Dominican Republic, in a spanish school. My grades really slipped, to 70s. The grading system over here is completely different and all the classes are in spanish. I really had a hard time, and even had to go to “summer school” for some of the subjects.
Im a senior now, im going to finish my senior year in the United States to make everything a whole lot easier (Im a be in my main language, makes the college application process much easier being in the U.S.). What I want to know is, since the applications start early senior year, Im assuming that they will be going by my grades from my first 3 years of high school. If this is the case, i am doomed. I was thinking of workin really hard to get my grades up in the 90s senior year, but with my solphmore and junior year grades being so low…I don’t even know if they’ll look at my senior year grades.
Is there anything I can do? Will they take it into consideration (the fact that I studied 2 years of High school out of the country in a language that I didnt master).
Ive participated in many activities (boxing, track) and have some talents (piano, drums, trumpet, 6+ years) but other than that…im afraid that my grades are going to hurt me.
When do I take the SATs? This september? I guess its going to be hard prepping for it being that I wasnt in the U.S. these past 2 years.
<p>I think this is where it will really help to have a good guidance counselor who can write the necessary letter of explanation. My d will be in the same situation next year -- 3 years of HS in a foreign country (9th-11th), and she did NOT speak the language when she enrolled. You can imagine that her grades are not what they would have been, had she stayed in the US.</p>
<p>Another concern is whether all her classes will transfer. Some classes required here will not transfer at all (eg. Religion), and others probably won't (eg. Social Studies, because it is lacking the required US emphasis.)</p>
<p>We are beginning to look at schools now, and one of the things I'm looking at is their number of International students, because that will tell me how comfortable the college is at understanding the different methods of grading, and education requirements in other countries. And what kind of world view they have.</p>
<p>As for the SAT, get yourself a prep book and start studying. You aren't going to have time to take and retake, so make sure you're prepared.</p>
<p>My D will take the SAT this year -- HERE. The college board site lists where they offer the test in various parts of the world. Don't know if they have one in Dominican Rep.</p>
<p>Your grades are really going to come in too late to do you much good at getting in. (But if they're especially low, they could work to get you OUT after you've already been admitted somewhere.) A good essay by you, good recs, a letter of explanation from your GC (guidance counselor), and stellar SATs will do the most toward balancing your lower grades.</p>
<p>Teacher recommendations are going to be another thing you need to think long and hard about. Since the teachers won't have a long history with you, you're going to want to find teachers that can testify that you are bright, hard-working, adaptable, creative -- whatever you are -- which means you are going to have to BE those things in class this fall. So be that way, and you'll probably get good grades as a by-product. In that sense, good grades will help.</p>
<p>Im blatino. Rutgers and Temple University are my main choices. Syracuse is my reach. I also have University Of North Carolina on my list. Plan to major in journalism.</p>
<p>Prep really hard for the SAT. Being a URM will really help you.With a good score you may be cut a break at many schools. The thing is that this is least likely to happen at a state school because they are numbers driven. I would really suggest you look at private colleges. Especially if you are low income. One issue though, are you an American citizen?</p>
<p>What she's saying is that state schools are usually less likely to care about things like rising grade trend. They just usually look at your numbers and don't give you the individual consideration private schools do. I don't know about Rutgers, but I don't think UNC is exactly cheap if you're not in state. Also, have you figured out your fafsa. If you are low income, private schools are often no more expensive.</p>
<p>You might also consider taking the ACT. You might have time to take it twice and still make the RD deadline, and if you don't like your first score, colleges don't have to see it (unlike SAT's, on which all scores are revealed.) For many colleges, you can submit ACT scores instead of SATI and II's. Given your grade situation, I agree that good scores on SAT's or ACT's will help you a great deal. Get yourself a real ACT book and see how you do on the practice tests.</p>
<p>Santo,
your best bet is to take a practice test of each, and see where you do better (be sure to get the College Board Real New SAT book). Since the ACT is more curriculum-based, you may do better on the SAT since your schooling has been disrupted.</p>
<p>Your first quarter senior grades will count with at least some colleges - and also your midyears. So - try to make them your best ever.</p>
<p>Ohio University's Scripps school of journalism is excellent - you might want to look into that.</p>