Chances of a College Sophomore who's really messed up transferring into a good school

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Hi, I have a very unusual situation and am hoping to get some really life-changing advice on this forum as soon as possible - before application deadlines, hopefully. Technically, I'm a sophomore in college looking to transfer. </p>

<p>Here's my story: </p>

<p>I was lucky enough to get into one of the highest-ranked high schools in America, but did terribly during my years there. I mean summer-school-in-junior-AND-senior-year terribly, almost-couldn't-graduate terribly. Though I was a straight-A student in Honors programs up through ninth grade, my grades took a dive in tenth. It began with an attendance issue. I started showing up to class late every single day, and eventually I stopped showing up at all. Somehow I got through the tenth grade, but it was the beginning of a very quick downward spiral. I'm not sure what exactly happened, but mostly I think I was fifteen and depressed (complications with Accutane, though I went undiagnosed). I just stopped caring. I didn't see the point in trying to make a grade for a college for some corporate future (that's the way I saw it then). My priorities changed. And while I knew what I was doing to my GPA, I just didn't see it as a very big deal. </p>

<p>During the senior-year college admissions process I found myself with something like a 72.0 GPA, a 2060 on the SATs, and low, low self-esteem. I got into a college though definitely not a great one, attended for a year, and had the unusual situation of it closing. That's a long story, but importantly it was a college that did written evaluations instead of grades, and though I had a fairly strong reputation for being intelligent within that community, I didn't do well with getting credit for classes. I never handed in my final paper for several classes. </p>

<p>Now I'm taking a "year off," though I'm taking classes as a non-degree student at a community college to keep my insurance going. However, I messed up again. I stopped going to all the classes except for my one literature class, which I'm getting an A in. </p>

<p>I know this sounds like the story of the hugest loser ever, but here's the thing: I know my rap sheet doesn't show it, but I'm actually a pretty bright kid. And if you met me, you wouldn't think I was such a loser. You might notice that I'm feeling pretty lost in life, but you would also notice that I'm very thoughtful, articulate, well-read, and sensitive. You would never guess that there was such a horrible rap sheet with my name on it floating around. I have a penchant for attracting conversation from strangers in cafes, and what I'm often told is that I seem intelligent, cultured, and much more mature than my 18 (almost 19) years of age. </p>

<p>If that last paragraph about me is true, then, why the horrible rap sheet? </p>

<p>I've definitely been told the "you have so much potential but need to apply yourself" line many times. During high school, I think I used that as an excuse to keep not applying myself. Forty-five percent of my class went on to ivy league schools, and part of me said really immaturely and stupidly, "you got into the same high school as them; you're just as smart except you don't apply yourself. All those kids 'apply themselves' for the sake of a good grade, so they can get into some name brand school, and I don't care about that stuff."</p>

<p>It was stupid. It was immature. I get that now. But here's the thing: I am really determined to turn it around. Now. I just need to figure out the game plan and execute it, ASAP.</p>

<p>On a positive note, I've gotten good grades in a few classes that look impressive on paper - for example, I got an A- in my James Joyce's Ulysses class from senior year of high school, which was definitely college level. And last year I excelled at a Shakespeare class I took at the college that eventually closed, though I have a rave from a professor instead of a grade.</p>

<p>What I'm left with now: a few college credits under my belt, but not the 24 I need to apply as a transfer student to lots of schools. I'm not sure what to do about that, and am seeking advice on that. </p>

<p>I know it sounds crazy, but I'm determined to do what it takes to go to a good school. By good, I mean NYU, Stanford kind of good. I think my biggest weakness has been the self-talk in my head, the bad prioritization, and my lack of understanding that once I sit down and make myself forge through something, I do really well. I think I sound like a hopeless case, but I really do believe that I can turn my boat around. When people meet me, they always want to give me a chance - on paper, however, they wonder why they should even bother with someone like me. </p>

<p>I'm thinking of taking the SATs again on January 24th to raise my grade, and studying like crazy between now and then. I know I can do that, but I want to make sure that that's something worth doing. And what else should I be doing with my time? I know I don't have much of it, but I need a game plan. I was contemplating totally skipping college but had a conversation with a stranger about how right now is not about choosing what I want or don't want, but about putting myself in a position to say, "that's what i want and that's not what I want," four years from now. In other words, to open possibilities for myself. To forge through four years of college because I have the ability, and now I have the will, and decide to do with that degree what I will.</p>

<p>Would anyone be willing to help me?</p>

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<p>With your horrible high school grades and patchy college record, I'll suggest you attend community college for awhile, and establish rapport with professors as well as a stellar transcript, showing you can apply yourself. From the perspective of an outsider/college adcom, I'll be like "Woah this kid can't even do well in high school and community college and he thinks he can do well in a challenging full-fledged environment?"</p>

<p>Depending on which state you are in, it might be easier or more difficult to find a 4-year college that you can transfer into after completing 1-2 years of community college. If you go to a CA community college, it'd be much easier to get into a CSU or UC if you have a stellar record. I'm not sure about other state's accommodations for community college transfers.</p>

<p>ETA: Posting this in the Parents forum might be more effective. Here in the chances forum, it's mainly HS seniors panicking over admissions to Ivies. LOL.</p>

3

<p>Clearly you're not a loser. I am wondering, however, if you have fully explored if there's something in your makeup that's contributing to things not working well academically. ADHD, a learning disability perhaps?</p>

<p>First, I can't imagine where you went to HS. 45% to ivies? At the top of the list of elite privates is St. Paul's School which sends 30% to ivies. The top NYC privates are extraordinary in sending 25%. So maybe you don't have a clear picture?</p>

<p>It's fabulous that you want to turn things around and that should be your focus. Stanford or an equally impossible school to transfer into should not. There's plenty of time (grad school) for dream schools.</p>

<p>Right now you're not a good bet for a top college. You need to prove yourself to get in. So look at where you can get it together, complete undergrad and prove yourself. You need to go as far as you can at the cc with consistently high grades. Then your state flagship may be your best bet. Ace that and you could be looking at a Stanford grad school. It's the final degree that matters most.</p>

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<p>fiona_'s comments are true but depressing. But at this point, you shouldn't give up, there are always hopes, there are always second chance!
I'm on the same boat with you. Basically, in my first three years of high school, I did a superb job, straight A, honor and APs. However, came my senior year, I felt that my life was basically pointless. As a result, I stopped attending all my classes, and skipped school on several occasions. (I skipped at least 4 weeks of school in my senior year. :P) Despite my total lack of efforts, I still got a 4.1 GPA, I don't know how I did it. I think it was because of the teachers' sympathy. I only applied to five schools with shabby application essays and stupid resumes, and I was rejected by four of them. The only school that accepted me is my current school, "a flagship state university." From my opinion, going to this school would totally destroy my reputation as a smart ass, a genius; therefore, I fell deeper into the abyss of despair. As if things were not terrible enough, my parents refused to pay for my college, and the school that had accepted me refused to give me financial aid due to the lateness of my application.
Forsaken by all the good fortunes that were once the kernel of the American Dream, I abandoned the hope for conventional career advancement and enlisted in the U.S Army reserve, while continuing my education by means of ROTC scholarship and GI Bill. Believe it or not, Army saved me, Army gave me new priorities, and Army got rid of all the philosophy of nihilism that once were so dear to my tender, sensitive, and pseudo-intellectual brain. I've always wanted to be a solider in the army. I played Red Alert ever since I was a little kid. So far, I've enjoyed army a great deal.<br>
By joining the army, I'm able to pay for my tuition by myself; by joining the army, I will accumulate enough money to go to graduate school for my plan to be a professor of literature; by joining the army, I've found meanings out of self-overcoming. </p>

<p>I advice you to consider the military option.. it resets you priorities. Would you rather be capitalist's dog, who spends countless hours squeezing a few bucks for college; or an accomplice of the imperialists? I choose the latter, comrade.</p>

<p>but aye, yes you can, you can do it. I believe you can. There are other ways beside the military option. To use the Obamaist slogan: YES WE CAN.
whatever you plan to do, make sure you won't regret it afterwards.</p>