Decision for a (hopefully) ex-slacker

<p>I have a terrible high school GPA (slightly under 3) but I took all honors and AP classes, did several ECs (leadership positions) and scored a 1540 on my SATs (2190 w/ writing). Would you say that it would be a better idea for me to go all out and try and get into a big reach school for me based on my SATs (Bates, Lehigh, Holy Cross, etc.) so as to go to a more prestigious school, or go to a school closer to my GPA range (Marist, Quinnipiac, TCNJ) in hopes of getting merit $, and excelling at the school, coming out with little to no debt (hopefully, I don't know how merit works w/ SATs). What would you do?</p>

<p>I'm in somewhat of a similar position, although GPA not that low, and I think you should consider going to a less prestigious school that would give you $ then transferring to your "dream" school or a school that you'd much rather go to. My cousin did that and is very happy with his decision (University of Rhode Island transferred to Cornell)</p>

<p>id say go with the more prestigous route. you can always go with financial aid.</p>

<p>I would apply to the more prestigious schools that interest you, b/c hey you never know if you'll get in so you might as well give it a shot. Focus a lot though on the lesser prestigious ones in case the top schools dont pull through for you. I personally love Quinnipiac and am thinking of applying there myself. Also if you do end up at a lesser prestigious school don't go into it thinking "oh I'll just transfer in 2 years" I personally think thats a recipe for disaster because you'll always focusing on the negative of the school, not the positive and you dont want to be miserable for 2 years. Go into whatever college you end up at with a positive attitude and give it a fair shake and if at the end of 2 years you decide its not for you then transfer.</p>

<p>Any Idea what kind of merit $ I could get based on test scores? It seems like a lot of schools have grade requirements for scholarships, but I'm not sure if its like that everywhere</p>

<p>you could get $ for bring national merit finalist</p>

<p>I totally get the smart kid who underachieved thing. I have to tell you though that TCNJ is a reach for your grades. That school has really gone up in admissions difficulty. I am not sure about the other two schools.</p>

<p>I think you should apply to more schools than the average person. You have a complex file. You are clearly bright, and those SAT's will be great for schools to put in their mix. On the other hand, that GPA will cost you acceptances. Missing form your post are EC's, and the type of school you went to. No matter what, though, have a lot of safeties.</p>

<p>You are still a lucky person, because you have a big brain. When you decide to really go for it nothing will stand in your way. Maybe you could go to a top graduate school, or transfer to a better undergrad.</p>

<p>I would be sure to leave no stone unturned in diagnosing just exactly what happened to you in high school. Don't make the mistake of just assuming that you are a "slacker". I strongly suggest you read Mel Levine's book, "There is No Such Thing As A Lazy Child" AND invest in a neuropsych educational evaluation. You really need to know your strengths and weaknesses emotionally, psychologically, and academically to ensure that this does not happen to you again. That will be the best money you have ever spent, and it is the wisest move to increase your chances of a bright financial future.</p>

<p>go ahead and apply to a few reaches, but realize that your chances are slim. use the personal statment to write about how you had an epiphany to start doing better in high school and studied very hard for the sats.</p>

<p>apply to lotsa safeties too.</p>

<p>Spideygirl thank you that was really the best response i've had on any forum and i appreciate the advice. I have a lot of ECs, lead in 8 musicals, captain of football team, and debate team, as well as basketball and other assorted activities. What would you suggest as safeties for me? (northeast region)</p>

<p>It's just so difficult to answer the question about safeties for you. Is your GPA dragged down consistently by one or two subjects? For example, if you have a weakness in Language Arts but great grades in Math and Science, you could apply as a major which plays to your strengths. If your GPA glitches bounce all over, your file will be weaker as a result. Either way, as I said before, your future is very bright so it will all work out.</p>

<p>I think your EC's are great. Are you good enough to play ball for any schools that are very academic (but don't have a superb team)? You could possibly get past your GPA problems with this strategy. If the football coach wants you, that changes everything.</p>

<p>Your college acceptances will really be a horse race. A pretty competitive school could let you in, especially if they have a football team. You are obviously a winner both socially and intellectually. Because of your GPA, however, you could actually be one of those people who gets slammed in April (with no place to go in Sept.). Or you could end up with three acceptances at school like BC or Bucknell. You would probably thrive at a school like Dartmouth, but I doubt you'd have a chance with your grades. :-(</p>

<p>Safeties...I guess I'd look up schools which will take 50% of the kids from your GPA range as a true safety. They'll die to have you with your EC's and SAT's, but dipping down to those low GPA ranges is the only way to play it really safe. Ideas: Colby-Sawyer? Ramapo? Wheaton? Moravian? Elizabethtown? Merrimack? Grove City? Drew? Muhlenburg? Juniata? Drexel? Hofstra? Seton Hall? Susquehanna? U Conn? Northeastern? U Del.? U VT? Washington and Jefferson? Virginia isn't really Northeast but has a few in this stat range like Old Dominion and Hampden-Sydney. I know nothing about any of these schools except for Ramapo, Drew, and Susquehanna (great schools in this acceptance range). I know most take more than 50% of their students from below the top 25% of their class. </p>

<p>I do know that you should pick a couple safeties that you really love. Also, my gut tells me that your safeties should be places where there are a lot of socially capable people. If you end up at one of these schools you will already be around a lot of people who aren't as smart as you. Make sure that they are where you are at least socially.</p>

<p>Reaches...I would definitely look into schools like Bucknell, Lafayette, Dickinson, Villanova, Denison, Boston U, Gettysburg, Union, Connecticut College, Union, Skidmore, Penn State, American, Trinity (CT), Holy Cross, Kenyon, Franklin and Marshall, Sarah Lawrence, Hamilton.</p>

<p>Matches: You have none, really. :-)</p>

<p>I would also consider good schools which are out of the Northeast if that is where you are (in case it helps you geographically): Whitman, Pepperdine, Loyola Marymount in LA, Collorado College, Grinnell, Beloit, Miami U of Ohio, Occidental, Pitzer - places like that.</p>

<p>Oops - also I would of course add your other favorites to reaches (Bates and Lehigh)</p>

<p>wow
again
incredible
thanks</p>

<p>You are very welcome. I just thought of something else. Because the kind of school you choose (safety or reach) will probably be very social, you are at high risk to become distracted by parties. You didn't mention why you thought you didn't get the grades you could have gotten in h.s. (hopefully you will get tested, just in case your analysis is wrong), but if having too much fun was the reason make sure you don't repeat that mistake in college. Wherever you go, committ in advance to have fun on Fri. and Sat. night, but not so much fun that you can't get up and do books Saturday and Sunday morning. Frats can be a real GPA killer, so make sure if you join one that there are a lot of good students in it who you can gravitate toward.</p>

<p>On a different topic, if you are a junior your grades senior year will be more important for you than for other students. If you do extremely well first semester, that could be just the thing that causes an adcom at a reach school to give you the break you need. But they will then watch you very closely for your second semester performance.</p>

<p>Try to get tested this summer to "get your house in order" before the fall so you can power through senior year. A good neuropsych/educational consultant will give you an incredible view of how you function as a student, with a strategy plan on how you can capitolize on strengths and manage weaknesses. </p>

<p>If you get a significant diagnosis of some sort (which I doubt because of your high SAT's), with lots of input from wise adults you could incorporate an explanation (with test results) into your application file. It actually is possible that something could come up, and in your case if it did it would likely be an output or performance issue rather than a learning disability. Even a mild graphomotor disability could mess up notetaking and studying (and therefore hand written testing and morale) enough to destroy a GPA (yet still allow you to test well). I have no idea if any of that would apply to you, but you really should look into what is behind the grades for sure.</p>

<p>thanks again... I really think too much fun wasn't the problem, I am not a big partier at all, though I'm very social. I am a bit of a class clown in school though, very into talking during class with friends and teachers. (this started after fifth grade year i got all a's, sixth grade i was obsessed w/ getting attention in class, after taht it just progressed, my grades got worse... homework (busy work mostly) has been the biggest issue since then, nearly impossible for me to do without getting sidetracked.</p>

<p>i was in a situation very similar to yours, i went to a decent public university, got good grades, then transferred to a top school, it's doable</p>

<p>I was a splitter too, throw out a wide net, write some kicka$$ essays, and good news will come from a lot of places.</p>

<p>do those kicka$$ essays need to address my faults as a student? </p>

<p>Also would getting 4's on my APs hurt me at all?</p>