<p>
While this could be the OP’s issue, it’s not necessarily true that everyone who does all the work gets an A. There’s that little issue of understanding the material, thinking critically and writing well.</p>
<p>Doing the work includes “understanding material” and “writing well”, the last is just a matter of skill development, unless you are talking about novel writers. But we are not discussing them here, we are discussing HS and UG students. Doing the work includes everything, it does not include requirement to be extra smart, everybody can do it if they take appropriate actions and have hard working ethic, brilliant brain might make it easier, but not required. People who get C’s after that, just do not know how to work hard. It might involve studying for one lousy exam for 30 hrs, yes, whatever is needed, the hard working person will do, they will go over material in a head while walking from class to class, they will drop some activities…whatever.</p>
<p>1) Yes, I’m still (barely) top 10% despite my GPA Because it is weighted, so all my AP and Honors classes (Which are counted the same in my school because they basically are the same amount of work) count now.</p>
<p>2)Any good teacher will tell you teaching is arbitrary. Take my APUSH class for example. The teacher was 70 years old and retired this year. The grades were only tests, about 4 a quarter if I remember correctly. She assigned A LOT of reading, which I did, and I participated in class and paid attention. However, her tests were 5 essays (actual essays, no short answer) to do in 50 minutes with multiple parts to each essay. So many times because of time I could not include all the information I actually knew, and then the teacher could use some comments such as “Explain More”, “Develop Further”, “More Insight” and give me a B. Because it was only tests, and there were only 4 A’s the whole year (on tests), almost everyone ended up with a B or B+ as their semester grade.</p>
<p>Math, one of my good subjects, I got a C in. The teacher was horrible, it was an honors class and again only a handful of people got A’s, many B’s and C’s (yes, for semester grades.) This teacher I actually DID go in for help and he didn’t help at all, just made it all more confusing. Very nice guy, horrible teacher, horrible grading method. In this class, homework is 15% of the grade. So I did all my homework, but did it matter? Quizzes and Tests make up the rest of the grade and in a 20 point quiz, when he decides to take 4 points off a problem for “Did not include step 3” and suddenly I have a 16/20 or B-.</p>
<p>Again not making excuses, but please don’t assume I’m a slacker. I take all honors and do my homework, staying up till 1 in the morning doing homework is a regular occurrence.</p>
<p>I’m not trying to justify my bad grades, I’m simply in a tough spot as a relatively bright kid who is looking for good colleges despite my bad grades. Thanks.</p>
<p>Please answer questions, not to mull over your grades! We know you can get in a school, but without financial and preference inputs from YOU, we are running empty talks in circles.</p>
<p>Financial situation is not amazing. ~$100,000 both parents, and 2 other siblings.</p>
<p>both combined are around 100,000… not each.</p>
<p>Have you asked your parents how much they can pay each year towards tuition for you? Do we have a home state yet, or did I miss that?</p>
<p>Not only you need to talk to your parents about affordability, but also you need to calculate EFC with your parents tax returns.</p>
<p>There are millions of EFC calulators on the net just do a search and here is one example:</p>
<p>[EFC</a> Calculator](<a href=“http://www.aie.org/managing-your-money/finance-tools/efc_calculator/]EFC”>http://www.aie.org/managing-your-money/finance-tools/efc_calculator/)</p>
<p>We do not have your resident state yet, which will help.</p>
<p>I looked back at some of your previous posts thinking I might be able to get a handle on your state or another way to help you. No state, however I did see that you are an Israeli citizen and were discussing with your parents if you were going to do your military service before (3yrs) or after (7yrs) going to college. Have you made a decision on this yet?</p>
<p>Home state is Wisconsin. Madison is the number one option but it’s not my choosing. I don’t really want to go to Madison that much but it’s “cheap” and a good school and where A LOT of my friends end up going.</p>
<p>Dad and Mom are very split on this (both college and military). My dad wants me to act as if we don’t have ANY money. Zero. My mom wants me to act as if we have all the money in the world. My dad said to me, “Look at colleges as if we can’t pay a single penny.” My mom tells me “Don’t worry about money, you apply/go wherever you want.” I also don’t want to end up in significant amounts of debt.</p>
<p>As to the military, there hasn’t been much progress since that post you’re referring to as we simply avoid the subject since it leads to so much fighting and screaming. For now both my parents agreed that I should apply to a few schools, and see where I get accepted, and then decide whether to go for a 3 year leave in Israel. I could always deny the acceptance letter and apply again in 3 years to schools that I was both accepted and rejected from.</p>
<p>But to be honest, and hopefully my mom doesn’t read this, I’m leaning more towards leaving.</p>
<p>This is certainly a lot to deal with. You really have to respectfully ask that your parents try to come to an agreement, for your sake on how much can be spent, as well as intentions towards your military service. This year is going to be full of enough angst. The fighting isn’t good for anyone. They can start by filling out an EFC Calculator linked above. Applying to schools with no regard for money (ie your mom’s version) isn’t a great idea. You have to have at least one financial and academic safety. Then a wide net may not be a bad idea depending on other factors.</p>
<p>Madison might be too high for you, search around in cc, there are MANY suggestions.</p>
<p>A recent thread will be a good start:
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1200543-instate-tuition-oos.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/college-search-selection/1200543-instate-tuition-oos.html</a></p>
<p>Interesting, thanks for the thread.</p>
<p>You could look through the list of schools that offer tuition discounts to WI students. I am sure you are aware of the MN reciprocity but there is another program called the Midwest Student Exchange.</p>
<p>[MHEC</a> : Student Access: Midwest Student Exchange Program (1)](<a href=“http://www.mhec.org/MidwestStudentExchangeProgram]MHEC”>http://www.mhec.org/MidwestStudentExchangeProgram)</p>
<p>Proudwismom- thanks for the link- I’ve already started to check that out.</p>
<p>I found on my online grades my past GPA’s but they’re only weighted but you can still see the trend.</p>
<p>Since they’re weighted, the drop isn’t so bad in the grades but keep in mind soph-junior year were mostly B’s, B-'s, and a few C’s. </p>
<p>Our weighted GPA is at most 5.83, which means All A+'s in all honors/APs. </p>
<p>Freshman year: 5.17
Sophomore year: 4.96
Junior year: 4.98</p>
<p>Basically, in simpler terms, if I was taking 7/7 AP classes, freshman year it would’ve been all B’s, whereas soph/junior year it would’ve been C+'s.</p>
<p>Just thought that might add a few more specifics.</p>
<p>Just apply to schools that are known for great Merit Awards. Look wider, even some privates are known for that. Do research. We did ton of research and D. applied only to schools that would give her substantial Merit award. Well, she ended up getting Merits at every school that she applied. Went to state IS UG on full tuition Merit awards. We are not eligible for need based at all, very far from it. Your own research is a key.</p>
<p>I’ve done research. Mostly I just want to go to a well known school, but I might be too spoiled.</p>