<p>I am 17y/o Male and I was home schooled up to 12th grade and attended a private school in St Louis last year and finished my senior year with a 3.8 out of 4.0 GPA. Before I attended this private school my grades were really low because I fell into a depression around sophomore/junior year. GPA was like 2.8 in home school. Recently(around June) I've taken the ACT without studying and that resulted in me getting a 16 composite score, I don't like this, And I want to retake it, this time I want to be prepared. As of now I am 17 and enrolled in a community college an majoring in software development and I hate it. I have no friends and I find my self crying alone in my room at times. I wish I could start over but I have no idea how, is it all over for me did I screw up my chances to be a successful Individual? I want to go to Washington University in St Louis and study architecture, interior design and minor in photography. Do you think I would be accepted even thought I kinda gave up sophomore/junior year in hs and then tried to make a comeback senior year. What kind of act composite score would help me out? I want to change my life for the better, if I haven't screwed up completely. I am willing to work hard to get into WASHU!</p>
<p>The 16 ACT score is 23rd percentile, meaning 77% of the students who take the ACT do better than that. You would be shooting for 32 or above on the ACT.</p>
<p>But I would say that your mental health is more of a concern. It sounds like you have not had an evaluation or counseling, and that your solution to depression was homeschooling. </p>
<p>You should not be looking at starting over. You should assess where you are now - did you just start classes as a freshman? How are you doing in your classes? Do you live at home or on campus (usually community college students live at home)? </p>
<p>I would suggest that you contact the private school you graduated from, and talk to your GC from when you were in HS, and tell him or her of your plans.</p>
<p>At the very least, you need to find out the requirements to enter WashU. What is the average ACT score for their freshman class? What is the average GPA for their freshman class? </p>
<p>But I think an evaluation and counseling might be useful, perhaps at your current college. I also think you need to be realistic about getting into WashU. A 16 composite is way far away from what you would need. Target colleges that are closer to what’s achievable for you, and take an ACT course and take the ACT again.</p>
<p>@rhandco I have started freshman classes, I have two atm because of late start. I have b’s in both of my classes, honestly I don’t want to be there at this school. I only went because my family was saying that I should go and they even influenced what i wanted to major in. So about a couple of weeks ago i changed my major from architecture(civil engineering) to software development. I think it’s time for me to start doing things for me so i can become that successful individual. I really do want to be in a better position than what I’m in now, i am willing to work my hardest to change my life at this point.</p>
<p>You need help from a guidance counselor at your old school. Tell them of your situation, tomorrow, and see if they can help you.</p>
<p>In some cases, people are better off working and getting tuition benefits so they can go to college part-time and prove they are able, than going to a college they don’t like.</p>
<p>I think the key is going to be the high school you graduated from. But do realize that if you go against your family, you may not have their support to move on to a different situation.</p>
<p>Missouri’s public 4-year colleges probably all have good transfer agreements with your community college. I think you need to set realistic targets for yourself. Washington University is one of the most difficult colleges in the country to get admitted to. Three-quarters of admitted students have ACT scores over 32 - more than double yours. We would be telling you that your chances there were low if you had an ACT score of 26, instead of 16.They do not accept many transfers, and the ones they admit probably have outstanding credentials. Had you planned to commute there? You would still be living at home, only with much more intensive academic demands. If you want to remain in or near St. Louis, you should consider less competitive schools. You will not get into WashU, and you will not get a handle on your depression if you set yourself up for inevitable disappointment this way. The “Misery Index” is the gap between your expectations and your reality. There must be some 4-year colleges in your region with high acceptance rates. Check the “fairtest.org” website for test-optional colleges, and start looking at them. </p>
<p>@rhandco @woogzmama OK, I called up my guidance counselor and she told me that I would need to score a 32 on act or above like you guys said and that I really do need to be prepared “physically and mentally” if I am serious about such a drastic change. I just bought a 200$ course called BenchPrep it looks promising. I am ready for this, I believe I can do it! Even if I do score high on act and am not admitted to WashU, at least I can actually go to a university. I will be discontinuing my classes at community college and am going to start studying rigorously for ACT. What do you guys think? Am I doing the right thing and how long do you think I should study for the act. Any tips?</p>
<p>The sort of score increase you seek is highly unlikely . . . nothing is impossible, of course, but this is close to it. I would caution you about unrealistic expectations if you had a 26. At this point, do some prep, but don’t set your sights on an implausible outcome. You can certainly improve your scores enough to qualify for a four-year college, but probably will not get them high enough for a college which is notorious for its emphasis on high test scores. Getting your score up over 20 will be cause for celebration. Aim for that.</p>
<p>Forget about WashU and get on with your life.</p>
<p>Why did you take the ACT without studying?</p>
<p>This is my opinion:</p>
<p>Forget about taking the ACT. Study hard in community college, get a good GPA, and more importantly, study something you like. Are your family adamant about you studying Software Engineering? Either way, talk to them about how you feel. </p>
<p>If you’re interested in Architecture, look at some specialized schools, as well. There are some great architecture schools that business or math majors won’t be looking at. </p>
<p>You need to be talking to both your family and some sort of counselor about your situation and your goals. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Chance me? <a href=“Claremont Mckenna, Duke, Bucknell, Grinnell, UofR chances! - Chance Me / Match Me! - College Confidential Forums”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1690007-claremont-mckenna-duke-bucknell-grinnell-uofr-chances-p1.html</a></p>
<p>@mnm111 Lots of people take the ACT blind for the first time, though I agree that he probably should have taken a practice ACT instead of the real thing right away. But we can’t dwell in the past. To be honest, I’m actually quite proud that the OP is willing to work so hard to do something with their life. Even if they only ever get their score up to 17, the fact that they put so much energy and passion into their future tells me that they have what it takes to be successful in life.</p>
<p>Yes. Believe it or not, you don’t need to go to a school like WashU to be successful. Get a good GPA in community college and transfer to a 4 year if that’s what you want to do. And like the above poster said, study what you want to study, not what your family wants you to study.</p>
<p>I believe in you OP!</p>
<p>You didn’t “screw your future”. Your life’s happiness & success and your worth as a human being are not dependent on going to WUSTL. In fact, more than 99.99% of people in America didn’t go to WUSTL, and they have a life.</p>
<p>Don’t limit yourself to one college. This will cause you SO much unneeded stress! Research and visit colleges with good architect programs of all competitive levels and give yourself options!</p>
<p>I have had a similar problem with anxiety and depression affecting my grades. I was a straight A student, depression and anxiety got bad, tried homeschooling, small christian private school, public school, special ed, EVERYTHING! and ended with a 3.2 GPA. I could be depressed about it and give up, BUT there are too many roads to success to just give up!</p>
<p>If you really have your heart set on WashU and get rejected, you can always pick your second choice, or even community college to save money and THEN transfer the next year. </p>
<p>If there is still time, retake the ACT or even try the SAT. Some people find one easier than the other.</p>
<p>@minohi Thanks for believing in me, your words mean alot to me. I recently talked to my sis who I’m living with about this and she wants me to stay in CC because she thinks I’ll be setting my self back. She told me if I drop my classes then I’ll have to move out of her home. </p>
<p>I will make this happen for my self even if some of my family doesn’t believe in me. I am living my life, not them so why should they limit my potential. I will keep my expectations high because I know I can do it!</p>
<p>I don’t want to go a school I have no interest in. Like come on now this is college I want to choose something that I want and have a passion in. Not having my family make decisions for me, I’m tired of not being in control of my future.</p>
<p>do you guys think I’m making the right decision?</p>
<p>The ACT is a test that’s not really meant to be studied for, though people still do. It’s hard to study for a test where material should have been learned in years </p>
<p>I go on these forums because for a year I was a frantic mom who had a kid who screwed up a year of her high school and it took her an additional semester to graduate. Her first ACT score was a 17, second 28 and third a 30. You are only 17 and no your life is not over, and you are so young. First get your mental health in check. My daughter had issues so I can relate. Second, it is your life and follow your heart. Third don’t reach for the stars and then hit yourself for not getting there. I don’t think you have a chance at Washington University at this time. Think about it, if you can’t handle the course load and stress at this time at WashU you will be more so depressed and feel more so like a failure. My daughter took an extra semester to graduate to bump up her GPA. She was a year behind but got her GPA higher and her ACT to 30. She did not get into her dream school Duke but LOVES her college she chose. A top public college. She can do her masters at Duke if she still is interested. With hard work and a clear head you will be just fine. Your worth and success is NOT based on this one college. You are only 17 so don’t load your plate with impossible goals. If needed do what my daughter did. Take less classes, do well in them, graduate a bit later, write a kick ass essay how you rose out of the trenches to get to your dream, tell your parents you love them but have another dream. Like my daughter said after the rough waves subsided. It all worked out for the best. She took an ACT class and it helped tremendously. See if your school offers one or simply buy the book and do study tests. It helped her. Oh, your already at a Community College and you hate it. Did you graduate high school? If not go back to HS and finish there. See what the rules are but in IL it is 21 of age you can attend high school.</p>
<p>I think I read you graduated already and chose Community College. If you did graduate high school then yes, you need to stay in a Community College and transfer out. But if you dislike it so much can you find another or just strictly do the course work and find outside activities so you can make some friends? Just don’t give up and talk to a counselor and if you don’t like him or her find another one. You may feel so alone but trust me many kids have been or will be exactly in a similiar situation.</p>
<p>Okay, take a breath. You are going to be FINE. The ACT is just one test in your entire life. You have to realize now that this is where you are and you can’t go back and apply to WashU and get in as a graduating high school senior. Instead you have to work with what you have. Firstly, you have to improve your mental health, or nothing will improve. Talk to your parents about getting some sort of counselor, and learn to stop beating yourself up and start celebrating things that you are good at or enjoy doing. Secondly, you’re in community college now, and what you should do is work hard there, get a high GPA, get involved in things outside of academics, and then apply to transfer to WashU. From your senior year GPA, you have a great shot and getting a good GPA in community college and transferring.</p>
<p>I know many people who were smart but somehow or another ended up in community college, and they all either transferred to or are getting their master’s at good schools like UCLA, UCSD, UC Berkeley, and one even went to Yale. Your life is NOT over, plenty of people start out in community college. The ACT is one small piece of your high school career and your 4 years in high school are just a fraction of your life. Don’t beat yourself up over just a few years.</p>
<p>No matter what happens, I’m sure you’ll go on to get your masters or at least graduate from this community college and begin your career. You seem hardworking and I think if you work through your mental health issues you’ll be able to put all your efforts to the max. Eventually you’ll be successful and look back on all this and be glad you didn’t give up and continued to work hard despite having momentarily “screwed up.”</p>
<p>Good luck and don’t be too hard on yourself, you have so much left going for you!</p>
<p>I have had to re-read the original post here several times, in order to figure out just what the OP is considering. I don’t see how he or she could conceivably plan to apply to any selective four-year college, much less WUSTL, for next fall. Does that mean that you, OP, plan to complete two years at your community college? If not, how do you intend to spend the next year-and-a-half of your life? I try to be positive in most instances, but - if your current strategy is to spend that time prepping for, and retaking, the ACT, that is exceedingly imprudent. Here’s the lowdown on WUSTL: since, by your own admission, your overall high school performance was not terribly good, you would need killer scores for a chance at WUSTL - better than a 32. Let’s say you were to take the ACT four more times, and ultimately attain that score: how competitive do you think you’d be, two years out of high school, against current seniors, if all you have accomplished in that period is get the scores that they all got on the first or second try?Don’t you think it makes more sense to remain at your CC, and explore more realistic options for the future (e.g. colleges that might admit you next year)? </p>