First time poster here. Anyway, when i apply to colleges, I will be a 24 y/o Veteran having spent six years in the United States Navy. As a high school student, I never cared much for grades, but knew i was capable of the work. Well of course my 2.9 GPA showed that, and now i’m looking for a way to earn acceptance into a top university. What are some things that I can do NOW that will make me stand out from the pack? Some background info: H.S. GPA: 2.92. Varsity athlete all four years, two years as a captain. Not many extracurriculars. 2040 SAT. My goal is to major in Economics and minor in Math at a T20 school. My current plan of action is to use the next three years to study daily and gain an advanced understanding of some core topics that will most likely be incorporated into my Undergrad course of study (various math, statistics, basics of economics). I am an active volunteer in and outside my life in the service. Has anyone been in this position of trying to catch up? Any success stories or advice? Anything would be greatly appreciated. -Best, M.H.
Hi,
Honestly this is a tough call for anyone on this website to make. Your situation is so unique among college students today that any chance would not be accurate enough. I recommend you look at larger schools who appreciate service and community service because they might have a greater appreciation for why you put off college. I also feel that at a small, selective university, most students are fresh from their senior year of high school and because you are older, I think you might find other former service members at a larger institution while also remaining involved in the community it offers, and would be a better fit at schools such as UVa, UNC and UC Berkeley, all of which are top public schools.
Many top schools have veteran student groups (UC-Berkeley does) and admissions officer designated to work with vets. Contact them to chat, even if the school is not one you’re considering.
Take a look at Columbia school of general studies. They take a lot of veterans. However your GPA might be a problem. Can you take some local college classes to show you can do the work?
I have heard about their school. And yes my GPA is definitely not ideal, maybe since six years will have passed they might let it slide as long as my college marks are top notch. My plan is to take three years to prep myself pretty rigorously in my spare time, enroll at a decent university and then hopefully transfer when I’ve built a solid package with the best grades I can manage.
I met a guy at earlham who was 26 and a starter on their soccer team. very inclusive school and good financial aid. I’m sure you could be an athlete there and get in with a lot of grants
Definitely talk to admissions at a number of schools. Some bigger schools may have more experience with veterans and some smaller schools may be willing to spend some time to look at your individual needs. The admissions folks will likely be happy to discuss your situation even if to give you ideas of what to look for (and even if their school isn’t a close match). You will want to find somewhere that fits your needs rather than just relying on the rank or the name. You might consider if going to a school where the fellow students still think they can save the world would drive you nuts? A school where the students party hard? A school where students want to think big thoughts but have little experience? A school where students are very competitive but not really interested in learning? Likely you can find the right place and will be accepted to a fine school that you will succeed at if you figure out the environment you want to be in. You will want to find somewhere that you can respect the students and faculty and can become engaged.