Not sure if this is the right forum but it’s the closest I could find. I haven’t had the best grades or gpa in general during the last three years of high school. I have a pretty decent SAT score and I’m ready to finally give everything I have into the school year but it’s demotivating hearing how little senior year matters to certain colleges and how applications start well before the end of the year where I can prove the upward trend colleges look for. Community college is still a last resort and many of my top choices are long shots due to my gpa (about a C+ average up until this point). These grades are mostly due to homework and other out of school assignments such as projects because of how lazy I’ve admittedly been these past years. I have some sports and extra curricular but I feel stuck as I haven’t taken any honors or APs until this upcoming year (senior year starting starting very soon) and I feel like i’ve made a lot of wrong decisions like not taking courses over the summer and just not doing work/handing stuff in late so I feel like it’s too late to change anything before admissions. I know these are very basic circumstances and I haven’t went into much detail but any information/advice would be appreciated.
If you want your senior year grades to count, take a gap year.
I’m sure you can apply to colleges in your state system and a high test score may overcome a C+ average. Many have 90%+ acceptance rates.
But look at it from a top school’s view. Here’s a guy who has good test scores but admits his grades are not good because he didn’t take school seriously, didn’t hand in his homework or finish projects. Should we take a chance on him or on someone who also has high test schools but did all the homework?
Google colleges that accept everyone. With no hope for merit aid, the question is not only where to go, but can you afford to attend? Two years of CC with excellent grades (with a plan to transfer to a 4-year later) will go a long way towards negating your high school record. Think about it.
The real key is to actually change your behavior. It is very easy to say I am going to change in the future. Now you must execute against it. Not having great grades in the past isn’t a critical failure. Expecting different results without changing is.
Well, the short answer to your question is no…senior year is too late to make up for the previous three years, because applications are due before first semester grades are recorded. There are some colleges that have later application dates, but most are 12/1, 1/1.
Now, as mentioned, higher test scores may offset that a little bit, and if you’re taking a more rigorous schedule, that MAY be taken into consideration (but I don’t think it will mean much until the grades come in).
I certainly don’t want to “demotivate” you even more, though! Don’t let go of your goal of going to college, use the suggestions above to find some that you can get in, and make those changes in your academics anyway…because you will need the study skills, organization, ambition, and responsibility to succeed in college when you get there. Good luck!
Nope, colleges don’t want lazy, even if you had your Eureka! moment and came to this self awareness.
But, the good news is you can go to a college where your prep/record through hs puts you at the right bar, then work your tail off to succeed there. Build your life.
Competitive colleges don’t admit based on empathy or you just saying you plan better. Or a last inning surge. The std tests are a separate measure, not enough to overcome a lower effort during school years.
Find the right college targets.
Well done, you. Seriously: maturity and motivation kick in at different points for different people, and it is great that you have reached the point where you are ready to look beyond what you feel like doing today and start laying the groundwork for where you want to go.
And, luckily for you and so, so many other students who get to that point at 17 (a perfectly reasonable age, btw) or older, the US has a super system: Community Colleges. They really don’t get the credit they should for the options they give students. A friend of collegekid didn’t hit that point until 19, did 2 years at a CC, transferred to Georgetown, and we all just went to her graduation in June. We also know many, many students who start at CC and transfer to their state flagship b/c they simply can’t afford 4 years at State U. It is not a “last resort”.
And for you, it is a great path forward. Do the homework with your pals on colleges that you would like to go to and what you would like to study: you will need that info to help you with your 4 year college plan, which is how you should be looking at this. If you are planning to transfer to a school with selective admissions you will want to know what their expectations are. For example, what Gen Eds are typically expected? what pre-reqs are you likely to need for your prospective major? are there transfer requirements (some universities have them, usually for specific courses)? Knowing those things for the schools you would like to transfer to will help you plan out your 2 year plan with your Advisor, and have you all set up for your last 2 years of college at your new school.
In the meantime, you have this year to build up your study skills- there is more to getting good marks than just putting your back into it. You need to learn what approaches to studying work for you, how to schedule your time for multiple longer term assignments, etc. You will need those skills when you hit CC- do NOT assume that CC classes will be easy-peasy and you will just fly through! You will be taking challenging classes from Day 1, in order to meet the expectations of the college(s) you want to get your degree from.
Be excited for yourself! If it helps, remember that some % of your pals will be going off to a 4 year college next September- and will end up transferring to a different college next year or the year after. You are doing the same thing, but with a plan 