Do I have a chance at any good college???

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I've been really worried about my chances of ever going to a good college because of my gpa which is low due to excruciating circumstances (the school is well informed about it too). Otherwise, it has been a upwards-spiral since then (freshman year):</p>

<p>(unweighted)
9th=2.3
10th=3.2
11th=3.8</p>

<p>i've taken 9 honors/ap classes so far and have gotten B's/A's in them and senior year has the toughest workload so far </p>

<p>SAT=2350
SAT II Biology m=800
Chemistry=800
World History=800
Literature=790
Math II=780</p>

<p>varsity sports 1st and 2nd place awards regionally and recognized for other stuff (certificates, medals, etc)</p>

<p>volunteered at many fundraising events as well as at businesses and small stores, spent a summer tour guiding at a local aquarium, volunteered at a library and tutored disabled kids</p>

<p>a couple of national and state-recognized scholastic awards</p>

<p>held a job throughout entire high school career (summer and during school)</p>

<p>research experience at Brown w/ proffesor over 30 hours, science-related </p>

<p>in some after-school clubs but not too crazy about them; i pursue my passions outside of school</p>

<p>high school i go to is known as one of the top public schools (doesn't rank its students)</p>

<p>great recommendations and as for the essays, i love writing and creativity isn't a problem</p>

<p>as for my background, i'm female from a large household, divorced parents, adopted and a minority group</p>

<p>sorry if this was a vague but i was a bit uncomfortable posting this since i want to remain as anonymous as possible</p>

<p>I want to pursue a science-related career at a great school but i feel like i've messed up any chances i had all because my gpa won't be competitive enough :(</p>

2

<p>Brag much? Yeah, people with these scores/EC’s end up swabbing the decks, cinderella. Find some reaches, matches, and safeties and get cracking on those apps. Sheesh!</p>

3

<p>I guess the previous person is trying to say that with those scores you shouldn’t have a problem, but low grades early in high school can be a worry. I think there’s a thread on which schools don’t consider 9th grade grades which you might want to check. But you should be able to get top schools —depending on your definition of that. Ivies maybe, but top 15 liberal arts schools a little more possible. Some schools are mentioned as being especially concerned about scores----Wash. U. and Tufts, for example— and maybe they would be more forgiving about lower grades from early high school.</p>

4

<p>What minority are you?</p>

5

<p>Most state schools are good, so yes, you have a chance of going to a good school.</p>

6

<p>i apologize if i came off the wrong way, i’m actually really insecure about myself. I’ve been discouraged by my guidance counselers and friends in applying to anywhere i would consider “good” and i’m not even considering top colleges. I would like to do better than state school though and i absolutely HATE myself for my grades the first-half of high school…i’ve been trying to make up for it these past 2 years. As for what minority i am, i’m mixed race with some white and have been told i would be considered minority.</p>

7

<p>Sylvan was unnecessarily harsh with you.</p>

<p>Obviously your concern is your GPA since you surely know that your test scores are top.</p>

<p>i’m female from a large household, divorced parents, adopted and a minority group</p>

<p>What minority group are you? Being “mixed” is not a URM…Are you part Hispanic? Part Black? What? If you’re part Asian and part White then that isn’t a URM.</p>

<p>How much will your parents pay for college? Will both parents contribute?</p>

<p>What state are you in?</p>

<p>What is your cum GPA.</p>

<p>What is your cum weighted GPA?</p>

<p>I would like to do better than state school though</p>

<p>There are a lot of good state schools, so don’t dismiss them. And, if you have money issues, then a public may be your affordable option.</p>

8

<p>Schools like Rice and the University of Rochester are realistic possibilities, as are several LACs such as Oberlin, Grinnell, Bowdoin etc…</p>

9

<p>Start with where you consider “good”. Sometimes students have too narrow a view of which schools those are. If only HYPSYM is good enough, then those are a crapshoot for everyone. No one should set their sites that narrow. Tell US where you would LIKE to apply, and what the financial picture looks like, and posters will suggest additional places to consider.</p>

10

<p>Tell us…</p>

<p>Your likely major</p>

<p>What your weighted cumulative GPA is?</p>

<p>What else do you want in a school.</p>

<p>how much your parents will pay?</p>

<p>If your non-custodial parent’s family has a good income but won’t pay much, then many top schools won’t work because that income will get considered and you won’t get as much aid as you would need. </p>

<p>If your custodial parent’s family has a good income but won’t pay much then you’ll have to consider schools that will give you big merit.</p>

<p>Much is going to depend on how much your parents will pay.</p>

11

<p>plain and simple- you have good chances at “good” schools</p>

<p>however, i don’t like your exclusivity about “good” schools. there are plenty of ridiculously good state schools. it’s more about the schools that fit you rather than their name.</p>