Confidence Crisis

As the Common App deadline looms, I’m starting to second guess my chances of getting into my top OOS schools. I’m a 45 year old non-traditional student in my last semester at CC. I did poorly in high school all those years ago, had a child at 18, worked and did well for a former teen mom. For many years I worked as a paralegal and did well, but grew dissatisfied and enrolled in school. I don’t regret it at all. College has been immensely satisfying and I want to finish.

At the CC I have a 3.94 GPA and some campus involvement although no leadership positions in clubs. I was the school’s Student of the Year in my area of study. I’m a PTK member, have great faculty recommendations, and am at a point in my life where it’s entirely possible to finish my BA out of state. There are good options in-state, but the top schools are east of my midwestern home.

I aimed high, encouraged by friends and faculty since “where you go for your BA matters,” mostly for getting into grad school, which is the goal. Others have said only the MA matters, and still even some have said neither really matters, only that you have whatever degree is required for your future (intended) job. I’d like to teach at the college level - either a community college (requiring the MA) or perhaps at a university. A couple of instructors said they thought I could consider doing for a Ph.D.

Reading all the posts about “what are my chances,” I am wondering if I was crazy to think of UNC-Chapel Hill, Cornell, Grinnell. I don’t have any ECs beyond tutoring, and even the tutoring I’ve done as a volunteer can’t be counted, since it wasn’t through an organization that could attest. I’m confident I can write a good essay, but wonder if the fees and freaking out and even taking the ACT (required for some of the schools) has been worth it.

Thoughts, anyone? Does it matter where you go?

I am honestly terrible at the chances thing, so I will not attempt it. That being said, you seem very interesting and definitely qualified. Shoot for your dreams (schools and otherwise)! If you’re super worried, add in a few more safety schools. Good luck with everything! I wish you all the best!

College is so much more enjoyable when you are old enough to appreciate it, i think. I would think that many schools would be happy to get the older non-traditional students because they are the most serious and dedicated students.

It is a good idea to add some safety schools as suggested. That way you will have more choices and will be guaranteed of getting accepted somewhere. Although you are determined to go to one of those top choices, you may like some other places that you didn’t even consider yet.

It has to be said that school is what you make it. People get all hung up on the name and prestige of a school but it is the student that will squeeze all that they can(or not) out of where they go. No matter where you go, you will get all that you to use later in life. So, don’t worry too much, you are on a great adventure.

You are not alone! Those last three paragraphs look very familiar to me. I have been thinking the same thing, too. I am a little younger than yourself, but also a PTK member with a 3.85 GPA trying to aim high. My confidence is lacking, too. Unfortunately, there has been a few setbacks, not much in the way of clubs or volunteering. Good luck! You seem to have better chances than myself!

At 45, life has been your EC for roughly the past 25+ years. I doubt you’ll find any club or activity that some sniveling 19 year old has participated in that could possibly be worth replacing the last decades of your life with just to satisfy an x in the block on a form. If an admissions officer doesn’t appreciate that, it is the school’s loss, not yours.

That said, it isn’t necessarily a bad a idea to look into professional organizations in the career field you are interested - not so much from an EC standpoint, but as you transition to a BA and beyond, it is a good time to start thinking about building connections to grow professionally.