1280 on my first attempt at the sat. 700 W/R 580 math. No ECs of any kind. Just closing out JR year.
I have a few questions, some of them are pretty basic and I am well aware that i have much more research to do on this
How much time do I have to improve my GPA?
I fully intend on attending every SAT possible before I apply, I am confident that i can raise my math score significantly and reading/writing slightly. At what point do test scores really start to ease the damage of such a low gpa?
I will be frank here: My low GPA is not because of some external issue or anything, it is from poor work ethic. I am ready to make a personal change to fix this, but I want to know that I'm not working in vain. Even if I raise my GPA to, say, a 3, I worry that my total lack of ECs will bite me. Is this a valid concern?
The reality is that from the outside looking in, I am the opposite of what schools are looking for. I have been woefully lazy and this is clearly evident in my info. What can I do to start breaking away from this aside from improving my grades/scores?
I’m eyeing FSU UCF UNF FAU FGC in that order but I realize with my gpa the first two are a long shot at best.
I wouldn’t apply to any schools early. Try to earn all A’s during your first semester of senior year to try to raise your GPA as high as possible. As for ECs, try to get some work/volunteer experience over the summer and participate in some school clubs during the start of the school year. Although your stats are tough, you need to try and show colleges that you are willing to change. Good luck!
I think you need a story to explain your turn around - why did you suddenly get motivated to change? My niece had similar stats but after her grandfather died, she became motivated to change direction. She wrote about that in her essay and had positive results from all of the schools she applied to.
I know someone who was a very poor student in high school, no better than a 2.6 and possibly slightly worse. Went to a relatively mediocre university which was probably equivalent to an average CC. Worked VERY hard, got straight A’s and A+'s. Transferred after one year (or perhaps two?) to one of the top universities in the country. Continued to get nearly straight A’s right through his PhD. Became a tenured professor at a very good LAC.
It is not too late. However, (i) The sooner you start getting better grades the sooner you will help yourself; (ii) You might need to start at a university that it not quite as strong as your underlying ability would justify.
SAT preparation classes can help you raise your score.
In school, keep ahead of the work. Do homework as close as possible to when it is assigned. Pay attention in class. Keep ahead on the reading. It will make university easier if you have at least one year of “practicing to work hard” and “catching up” before you get there. Math might be an area where starting to catch up NOW will be particularly helpful down the road.
There is some risk that you might need a year or two of CC before going to university. I don’t know whether a strong senior year will avoid this, but the sooner you start the sooner that you get ahead.
Get some ECs going soon. Try to get a job over the summer, or at least join a club during the fall semester of senior year. I personally had a 3.3 GPA and 1270 SAT going into senior year and I didn’t have any issues getting into college. However I worked hard all of senior year and I managed to raise it to a 3.5. I wish I would have applied later rather than sooner. I applied early to all my colleges and I feel like I could have gotten more merit aid if I had just waited till after the first semester. I suggest you do the same.
However another thing you need to consider is financial aid. If you get into college(which you most likely will, it may not be the best but you will get in) you will probably get next to no merit aid. Can you afford to pay near full price at schools? Theres always the option of a CC first.
Another issue is that you say your GPA is because of poor work ethic. Colleges will think the same. Their goal is to keep as many students there as possible- the longer you stay, the more $$$ they get and when people drop out, it lowers their percent of students that stay there, making them look less appealing. Your admissions profile is a risk to them. However, I feel you will get admitted to at least FGCU.