Was wondering how you others would work my situation:
I dropped out after 8th grade(14), Im now 19 and looking to actually continue my education(Im not being forced, suprisingly Im actually happy to be going back to school). I havent studied in the past 5 years at all, something that I probally shouldnt reveal on any applications. I took my SAT last year and got a 1210(560 math/650 verbal) after staying up the entire night before. I recently took the GED and scored in the 99th percentile on every subject except the essay(my scores were 800 Language Arts, Reading; 560 Language Arts, Writing(essay); 720 Mathematics; 740 Science; 800 Social Studies).
In school I was pretty much the equivalent to wasted talent: not wanting to skip a grade, refusing to take the john hopkins PSAT at 12/13, failing AP courses. I dunno why I went academically awry, but Ive matured quite a bit in the past few years and Id like to slowly get things back together.
Im a white male, and my father makes 110k a year(went from 30k to 110k just last year, the amazing shift from enlisted military to civilian contracting) so Im not catching any admissions breaks there.
I figured Id take a year or two of community college and then try to transfer to a better school, but the major Im intrested in is quantum physics, so Id like to end up at a good school to finish my studying. Im not real sure what to do, so I thought Id come here to ask for advice.
<p>You can legally drop out of school at 14?? I sure that northstarmom or jaimom or one of the other parents will have advice for you soon. I didn't know that someone could quit school at 14 though.</p>
<p>I think it's wonderful that you want to continue your education! You can't lose, you know, regardless of where you go to school.
You're right to go to a CC to get back into the swing of things. I don't know what state you live in, but in CA, community college students are given preference in transfering into the UC system, including great schools like UCLA. Try to get into an honors track at the cc if possible. Take the most difficult classes you can and work hard. Even if the next step after CC is a good state or regional school, if you continue to do as well as your talent predicts, you will go to a strong grad school, which is what really counts for the kind of specialized work you'd like to do. It may seem like a long road, but it should be fun, challenging and rewarding. Best of luck to you!</p>
<p>You sound like an interesting person! Community college - even for a year - is a very good option. </p>
<p>However, you should also consider getting your GED (HS equivalency diploma) and applying directly to some four year schools. Some will accept the GED in lieu of a h.s. diploma. The GED is also required for you to receive any federally sponsored financial aid and loans. With your smarts, the GED should be fairly easy for you. Some community colleges will also require you to have the GED before enrollment.</p>
<p>One 4-year college that I would suggest you check out is Reed College in Portland Oregon. <a href="http://www.reed.edu%5B/url%5D">www.reed.edu</a> They have an excellent physics program. Academics are intense but they are open to considering "alternative" routes such as the GED. Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>I would say Community College is a great deal for you-in VA if you complete the 2 years and have a certain GPA you are guaranteed transfer admission to any state school...</p>
<p>Yeah, I took my GED at Germanna, seems like a pretty nice school. I guess Ill go over the classes they offer and see if I can work on building a good undergrad application.</p>
<p>Consider getting some remdiation/assistance for your writing skills. Your score is out of whack with your others. This could just be rustiness - writing takes practice, and if you haven't had any need to write in a few years, then it is understandable that you didn't excel. Most colleges, 4 year or 2 year will have either some sort of writing center that can give you extra help, or a course that gives extra help and practice. Doesn't mean you are "dumb"! You are smart to identify and address your weaknesses, after all it has been 5 years.
Work hard and good luck, you are showing true maturity and initiative.</p>
<p>You said that your guarenteed transfer admission to ANY STATE SCHOOL??? Are you refering to lesser schools like JMU, CNU, GMU, or are you also taking about (The BIG DADDY) UVA????? Because the only students that I know that go to UVA were always in their top 10 Percent of their school.</p>