I’m getting my GED within the next few weeks. I have some minor leadership positions at school and scored 228 on my PSAT freshman year, and am currently awaiting those from my sophomore year. I will probably take the SAT within the next few weeks, and hopefully, score accordingly. That would be the entirety of my application, however. Will I need to go through community college first?
I’m also in a few clubs and my current UW GPA hovers around the 3.0 mark. Illness, and associated recurring absences, really contributed to my low grades. In the end, I am totally fine with community college.
I’m not concentrating on the Ivy League or anything, just the prospect of a 4-year university.
By no means am I an expert, but I think that you should be fine. That PSAT score is incredible, and assuming you get a score close to that on the SAT, I believe that would make up for your low GPA and your GED status. While you wouldn’t be qualified for top-tier private universities, there are tons of 4-year public and private colleges that would love to admit you. Your ECs are good, and you have a good excuse for your lower grades - be sure to mention your illness on your applications. Also, be prepared to explain why you went the GED route.
When looking for schools, take into account where you want to be and what you can afford. If you qualify for enough financial aid, look for schools that meet full need. If you don’t, look for public in-state schools. Once you have a list of schools that interest you, compare your stats to the information available online pertaining to their average SAT scores and GPAs. Keep in mind that, as a GED-holder, you will likely want to fall in the top 25th percentile of their current students, since the admissions officers might be more hesitant to accept you.
Keep in mind the possibility of enrolling in community or state college, doing really well for 2-4 semesters, and then transferring into a more desirable university. This route is taken by a lot of homeschoolers, poor test takers, GED-holders, and students who didn’t quite make the mark in high school.
You have a lot of potential; don’t let the insanely qualified, top-of-the-line students on this forum intimidate you.
The huge limiting factor you’ll face is that many colleges require a certain suite of HS courses. You’re completing your 10th grade. You’ll find that most high achieving students can qualify for their states’ minimum HS graduation requirements just like you. But they stay thru 12th grade because they can take AP Calculus and AP Eng Lit and AP European History – or even math up thru pre-calc.
You mentioned elsewhere you have dreams of med school. To be viable, you’ll need stellar grades in the core science classes. What grades do you think you can achieve in an intro college Chem class? or Calculus or Orgo?
Most 16 year olds who are seriously inquiring of graduating early are those who’ve already maxed out their HS offerings. Are you currently sitting in all honors/AP classes with seniors? If not, then I agree with your parents. Don’t do the GED route. Finish your remaining 2.5 years. Your college choices will be much greater as well as a reasonable path to the difficult goal of Med school. GED to community college to transfer to 4 Yr college to Med School is virtually unheard of.
@HImom has a child who missed a lot of school because of health reasons, and then transferred to an excellent university after several semesters at a community college. I don’t recall whether that child completed a GED along the way. Send a PM to HImom, and ask her for some advice about good ways to handle your situation.
I do not know of any college or university in the US that specifically denies admission to applicants who have completed the GED. So go ahead and apply wherever you feel like. Your local community college can be a good back-up plan if you do not find a 4-year institution that you like and is affordable. But do contact the admissions offices and ask if they have any specific requirements for applicants with GEDs. Some will ask for any high school transcripts that exist. Others will only require the GED scores.
(Responding from my phone, so please excuse any typos!!)
Wow, thank you so much for the insight. My only defining motives for preferring a university/4-year over a CC sort of urgently are my intention to do pre-med and how I feel I may benefit from living at school. What range of universities should I look into, and when should I apply? Ideally, I’d like to start taking classes as soon as possible. I hate being caught in a blank space. What range should I be looking into, as far as the 4-years go?
BTW, I have taken GED practice tests online and am very comfortable with the math and English sections. As you may imagine, my sophomore-level knowledge of science and history doesn’t make the cut. I usually pass, but with a 60-70%. Does the honors designation on the GED make any differnce, or should I just take the test as-is? My local CC provides free prep, but I’d have to withdraw from school immediately.
zadie: pleae re-read my post. Your plans to graduate early with a GED in order to move to a 4 year college, eventually going to med school is a very poor plan. Your background does not mirror other successful, high achieving early graduates. You simply want to get out of HS. That’s a terrible reason to do so and will shipwreck your ultimate plans as your peers next year will have taken AP Biology, AP Calculus this year while you have a normal tenth grader’s schedule. A GED is a diploma, yes. But it’s not a bridge for unqualified tenth graders to magically be equals with other freshmen who have taken 4 years of honors and AP classes in high school.
Please discuss this with your HS guidance counselor.
@zadiesmithfan
People who graduate that early from high school tend to enroll at the local 4-year university, finish their bachelor’s there, and then do their master’s elsewhere.
Alternately… if this student’s family can afford it, he should send an app to Bard College - Simon’s Rock.
D’s first choice was never to leave HS early and start CC and then transfer to her 1st choice U, but it did work OK for her. She did take the GED exam and score a perfect 4000 out 4000, but it was because the HS decided she couldn’t remain due to her excessive health-caused absences.
For a person intending to to go to med school, I’d talk with the HS counselor and do a lot of research and shadowing. I know several HS students engaged in research that is medically related and may boost their later apps.
If you want to compete for merit awards, which could significantly reduce ed costs, you will need high grades and test scores in all subjects, plus great ECs, because your competition will have that for entering a U and later for med school.
Can your parents pay for a 4-year college? You lose the opportunity to get merit aid if you start at a cc. A 3.0 GPA isn’t horrible. You could raise it some in the next couple of years. If that 3.0 high school GPA has to go on med school apps, I think it will hurt you. @mom2collegekids knows all about med school. If she wanders by, pay attention.
Please reread T26E4’s posts. I agree that your current plan isn’t in your best interest. I think your best option is to stay in school, make sure you have all the challenging courses colleges require, and get your degree. Homeschooling may be a viable option too. But I wouldn’t just jump into college at 16 thinking it’s a short cut to med school.