Thank you for taking time out to look at this. I am currently extremely anxious about my chances of getting into any university at this point . Everyone on this forum and my counselor keeps saying that stats like mine are horrible and that I’m just not going to into anywhere. Am I just screwed at this pint? Will I just not be able to go to college? Please be honest, if I’m a lost cause just let me know, you don’t have to let me down easy.
Stats:
GPA: 3.52
ACT:24
Extra Curricular: School Newspaper , Photography Club, Class Rep, Co Captain of Dance Competition Team, Debate Club, Online Business Owner, Part-Time Job Holder, Girl-Up Club Founder, and Academic Team.
Community Service: 560 hours
I had really really bad manic depression my freshman and sophomore years so my GPA’s for those years (I know they’re bad) were 2.8, and 3.4, after getting treated my Junior year GPA was 3.9 and my most recent senior year GPA was 4.16. However I have been told by many people that writing about depression or mental illness of any sort when it comes to college applications is a horrible idea, so I can’t even convey that to admission officers. Thank you again for taking the time out to read this.
The answer is a resounding no- YOU WILL be able to attend college. Stats like that aren’t even that bad, though I will have to admit you would have a tough time getting into top universities. A 24 ACT is above 74 percent of all test-takers, so saying you’re a “lost cause” because of a 24 ACT is being far too hard on yourself. Likewise, a 3.5 GPA isn’t bad either, though of course it isn’t great.
I live in Michigan so I’ll compare your case to the two schools most people apply to in my state- UMich and Michigan State. Michigan would be a reach for you simply because of GPA and ACT, as UMich is a top 30 school that is pretty selective when it comes to those numbers. But you wouldn’t be far off from State, especially with all of your community service and EC’s. Michigan State’s average ACT is around 25-26 and GPA around 3.5 I believe, so that is around a match for you.
The problem is that you’re comparing yourself to people applying to Ivy schools and other top colleges with like a 4.0 and 35 ACT. You may not be able to go to a super selective school, but will you get into college? Of course! Are you “a lost cause”? No.
Schools like Michigan State aren’t on the level of UMich, but they are far from bad schools. There are many students (including 74 percent of ACT test takers) that look up to you and wish they had your stats, so think of that.
1st off… No, you’re not. Your ACT score means if you took 4 random people who took the test, you’d have scored the best out of them.Your ECs are really good, and your GPA is solid. Either you’re lying about your counselor, or your counselor is lying about you. You could get in to a lot of state-level universities, although you probably shouldn’t write about being depressed. regardless, colleges will see an upward trend to your grades, which will help you somewhat.
Colleges that you could apply to with your stats: Alabama, UC Irvine, San Diego State, a lot of great schools. Don’t get down on yourself, look for schools around you that you can get in to. It won’t be a small list. If you don’t like any of your options, you can go to a local community college; if you’re motivated there, you can get in almost anywhere off of a transfer; It’s not unheard of for people to do well and transfer into ivy-league schools.
There are plenty of colleges for you. Your grades are fine, and upward trends are good. Your ACT is fine. I do get the feeling you are only focussing on negatives. You will go to college and it doesn’t have to be CC. And under no cirucmstances should you write about depression, anxiety, etc… Sounds like your GC hasn’t been terribly helpful, but it might be a good idea for your GC to say in the letter of rec that you had an untreated illness for the first couple of years of high school. Post in the college search and selection forum with just your stats, interest in major, and geographic constraints. You will get some helpful responses as to where you can get in.
You are already a senior, so you will have to apply to collegs with rolling admissions, or wait for the clearing house list that is published by NACAC in May, which lists coleges with seats still available. Please get everything lined up though, so that you can be sure you have a college to attend in the fall.