<p>darling is right that there is nothing wrong with CC…in a lot of cases. For me, I know that if I went to a CC, I wouldn’t transfer after 2 years because I would have a degree that would get me the job I want. Maybe I would go back to school eventually, because I have career goals that require more education, but I might be happy where I was and decide not to. So for me, going to a CC would be bad. Going to a 4 year means that I will definitely get a Bachelors degree because I’ll be working towards the goal of graduating with that.</p>
<p>CC’s can be good for a year. I haven’t gone to one and I don’t plan to.
However, USC only guarantees classes from community colleges if you want to transfer to USC. </p>
<p>A 2200 SAT (or whatever is in the top 5% nowadays) and a brilliant essay on your college application, likely explaining what went wrong with your GPA or some difference that has happened to give you this new-found motivation to go to a good college, could get you in. Accolades and numbers aren’t everything.</p>
<p>OP you sound a bit like my son. He’s a junior with a 2.8 gpa and 1600 on the first SAT. He will be taking it again after rigorous tutoring, but I am only expecting a 100-200 point gain - that’s about as much as anyone can hope for, truth be told, even with private tutoring and studying.</p>
<p>However, I have done extensive research to find schools where he could be admitted based on his CURRENT stats, and I will share the list with you -</p>
<p>Arizona State - match
University of Arizona -match (possibly a bit difficult because tons of kids from his hs apply there)
University of Kansas - 2.5 gpa and 930 r/m sat score required
University of Nebraska - basically same as above
Oregon State - slight reach
University of Oregon - slight reach
Colorado State - slight reach but the essay could help ALOT according to admissions
Washington State
Cal State Fullerton
Chico State </p>
<p>California schools are extremely tough for out of state, though (we live in CA)</p>
<p>You need to decide what you are looking for in a school. He wants a big school with lots of sports and a communications major. There are 3000 colleges and universities in this country - and despite what some of the more obnoxious posts have said, you can go to college with a C average. College is not just for 4.0/2200 students.</p>
<p>OP – This is a bit off topic, but do you have a sense of why you have gotten relatively low grades throughout high school? Will you be able to raise your grades during senior year?</p>
<p>The thing about grades and academic achievement is that – as you have already discovered – intelligence may not be enough. I am concerned about whether you have develped the study skills, the habits, the research and writing skills, the ability to get work done in a tight time frame, that you will need to succeed at the kinds of universities you hope to attend. </p>
<p>If you find it very difficult to bring your grades up senior year, it is possible that spending some time at a CC, where you can hone your study skills and become a successful student, will make it much easier for you to succeed when you transfer to an excellent four year college. Many CC’s also have a writing center and a study skills center where you will be able to go and get support as you begin to approach academics in a different way than you did in high school.</p>
<p>If you don’t have a clear idea of why you’re not doing better in high school, it might be worthwhile for you to consult with a learning specialist and try to get to the bottom of it. Once you understand where the problem lies, you will be in a much better position to fix it. There is nothing shameful about being in the bottom half of your class, but if your grades are way out of line with your SAT’s and your intelligence, it would be a shame not to find out why. </p>
<p>(With your initial comment about the shame and embarrassment caused by your grades, I’m concerned that you might think the reason you are not more successful in school is that you are a smart but somehow bad/lazy/shameful person. The fact is, there are a lot of wonderful people who just don’t do great academically in high school. If you have worked hard but not succeeded, or if it is difficult for you to focus, or you cannot master organization, there is probably something else going on – such as some skills you haven’t mastered, or a learning difference, or something on your mind that has preoccupied you – and I hope you will try to find out and begin to address the problem before college.)</p>
<p>With bad grades you have to open up your mind to other possibilities such as CC. You’ll probably save money for receiving the same education and still be able to transfer to a decent or even great school. Don’t shy away from applying to VTech if that’s where you want to go, but make sure you have more matches. I’ll say it again…consider going to CC…it’s nothing to be ashamed about. Once you work your ass off and get accepted into a top college as a transfer, everybody will forget about your low HS grades and your years in CC.</p>