I did not do so well in high school, I am entering into my senior year of high school this fall and wanted to know if I have any chances into some colleges. I live in The Bay Area.
Through my three years I garnered a 2.52 GPA. This is not including the classes I have taken at my local community college. I took 5 classes at my local community college the grades I received are as follows:
Marketing: C
Statistics/Probability: C
Intro to Politics: B
Intermediate Algebra: C
Trigonometry: B
I also took the SAT once I earned a 2040.
Reading: 720
Math: 680
Writing: 640 (8 on Essay)
My parents are completely against a community college and insist I get into a good 4 year school. Some school I have been looking at are I am looking to apply as a political science major.
Davidson College
Georgetown
American University
George Washington
Chapman
NYU
U Mich (Ann-Arbor)
Wake Forest
Barrett The Honors College
Also, some extra curricular activities I have done include:
Water Polo (2 years)
Worked as a Constituent Service Representative Intern for a local Congressman for one year, but have been volunteering with him for 4 previously!
I am also Asian Indian if this matters.
I know many of these are stretches i’m open to suggestions about other colleges I should look at but I really need to get in somewhere. Which is the best one to apply early decision and do I really have a shot with any? What do you suggest I do? I am completely lost, as a first generation student. I have no idea what to do, i’m really looking for some big help! Any advice/ help is appreciated!
I hate to break it to you, but some of those colleges are more than stretches. Although I don’t know many of them, Georgetown, NYU, and U Mich would be next to impossible to get into. They are very competitive schools and a 2.5 GPA won’t cut it. However, I’m sure they’re a handful of four year colleges that you can enroll in. Good luck!
There are 4 year colleges that will accept you, but the question is whether your parents would consider them ‘good’. Are the schools you listed the ones that your parents would call “good schools”? If so, you and they need to face up to the reality that those schools are not options for you at this stage.
Even your community college grades are not (currently) strong enough to qualify you for admission to your state flagship.
The disparity between your SAT score and your GPA suggests that there is some sort of disconnect between your general ability and what you are doing in the classroom. What is that about? is there a reason to think that it will change? If so, when and why? Do you actually want to go to college, and if so, why? These are serious questions- no snark in them. Thinking them through should help you in making your choices- and working out a realistic plan with your parents.
@collegemom3717 Yes these are some they consider very prestigious. I haven’t been paying much attention in class I regret that I am capable of better, as my SAT score shows. I do want to go to college, for a second chance at a education, to learn how to work harder.
I admire your determination, but I am not familiar with the bay area schools. How about explaining to them about transfering out from Community College to the schools that they have in mind for you. I have faith that you are capable in doing so much, but perhaps a state school at the moment might not be the best choice for you. I’m also a high school student, so I don’t have much experience. But that’s just my $0.02. Best of luck with your future 
It’s good that you have ambition, and it’s good that you see your flaws. But it will be hard for you to get in anywhere with a 2.52 GPA. A 2040 SAT score is decent enough for some competitive schools if you had a good GPA, but it won’t help you here. Please please please convince your parents about this: going to a community college and transferring out from there. You might even end up at a better undergrad school if you do well there. I don’t see why people think CCs are a bad idea. If a student does not do well in school, transferring out of a CC into a good undergrad school is a completely viable idea and good opportunity.
@michelle426 I’m all for a CC, but my parents aren’t and the sad reality is that I will not be provided for unless I get into a 4 year I really appreciate the insite but if you have any suggestions to better my chance of getting into a 4 year please help me
@KanyeWestIsAGod well tell your parents if you apply to a regular college, you will be getting a whole lot of rejection letters. If they want to waste their own money and your own time on application fees and essays, that’s their choice.
@michelle426 Do you know of any colleges that potentially won’t reject me?
Hi there!
I’m not entirely sure if Barrett will accept you, but I want to say that you have a bit of a chance at Arizona State that “hosts” Barrett. It states that you need:
4 years of math
4 years of English
3 years of lab science
2 years of social sciences (history, basically)
1 year of fine arts
PLUS one of the following:
1040 SAT Reasoning
22 ACT
3.0 GPA
Top 25% of Class