FINAL: Please help me build my safety, match, and reach schools ... bad GPA

<p>wonka, I though senior year doesn’t really matter though? It’s not like senior year is going to be the big deciding factor or anything, especially for my brutal 2.01 GPA. And yes, my GPA is a 2.01 =/ somewhere around there. I got a 1.78 and a 1.87 gpa my first two years, and junior year, I think I got like a 2.5. I’m not going go to a community college because my parents are not going to let me.</p>

<p>Senior year does matter for college admissions. They’ll see your 1st semester grades, and the rigor of your schedule. As far as your parents not letting you go to CC, what would they do if you didn’t get into any 4 year colleges?</p>

<p>^Well Michael, the problem is, I’m not going to be taking any difficult courses like Honors or AP because I can’t … here you need to have a certain grade to take an AP classes and it’s pretty obvious with my C average. I’ve NEVER taken a Honors or an AP course through my high school years. Will that hurt my chances even more regardless of whether I get good grades or not during my 1st semester of my senior year? Seriously, I have no hard classes at all. It’s basically classes like Psychology, Astronomy, Senior College Prep Math, College Prep English, etc.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Then you’re likely screwed.</p>

<p>Seriously, dude, I dont know where you live, but a 2.01 GPA in college prep classes?</p>

<p>Once a school sees that you havent taken anything other than college prep classes, they think the student hasn’t challenged themselves. If you have a 2.01 in college prep classes, which like the name, are supposed to prepare you for college, your parents need to realize that you’re not ready for college.</p>

<p>Well, would it be possible for you to dual-enroll in CC classes? It might be too late to register, but you could try.</p>

<p>well dionte, my guidance picks the classes i have to take not me and she hasn’t suggested me to take any hard classes so what can I do? and i am ready for college. i’ve matured and now i am motivated and learned from my mistakes. i’m from NJ btw planning to go to college in the city.</p>

<p>Dude, no one who gets a 2.5 in college prep classes is ready for college…</p>

<p>^Dionte, just remember that this thread was created for me to get college recommendations and to get people to help out building my safety, match, and reach schools. I don’t know where YOU are from, and believe it or not, THERE are colleges out there that aren’t selective and accepts kids like me with 2.01 GPA’s, which is around a C average.I’m also planning to write a stellar essay, and I have a decent number of extracurrics/activities. So if you think I’m not going to get in anywhere, your wrong and just keep that to yourself. Many of you people in CC obviously don’t understand that because so many members here are academically strong students, planning to go to good/top colleges so most of the members know well of the good, top colleges and it seems like rarely anyone here has an idea of non-brand name colleges … I can see why so many people come into these threads and just say “Dude, no one’s going to accept you but a CC” … that’s just putting oneself down without any help or encouragement, without ANY idea of non brand name colleges. Let me ask you, do you know about Pace University in NY? SUNY Old Westbury? Fairleigh Dickinson? or maybe even Mercy College??? It’d be great if someone actually knew of these colleges, so they can give their honest opinion whether if I have a shot or not.</p>

<p>Why won’t your parents let you go to community college? Transferring from a CC to a top 100 school looks way better than going to a tier 4 for 4 years, which is your other option.</p>

<p>Why are you so obsessed with these lower-tier 4 year colleges? Even if they did accept you, the student body quality wouldn’t be any better than at a community college.</p>

<p>UCSDJake, I’ll tell you why:</p>

<p>Jason lives in a wealthy area of North Jersey where 94%+ of seniors go on to a four year college. People who either do not further their education or go on to a community college are seen by the people living in the area as stupid, unintelligent, and having no future. Jason going to a community college would basically bring shame to his family, despite the fact that there’s nothing wrong with this option (especially since it’s his only option at this point). I live in a similar area in the Philadelphia suburbs. I understand what it’s like. Jason, correct me if I’m completely wrong.</p>

<p>Btw, how is a 2.01 a C?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rutgers/632287-rutgers-transfer-fall-2009-anyone-waiting-acceptance-me.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/rutgers/632287-rutgers-transfer-fall-2009-anyone-waiting-acceptance-me.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>By going to a CC he could transfer to Rutgers. Huge mistake going straight to a 4-year IMO.</p>

<p>I wasn’t being snide…I just think that unless one really doesn’t do any work one should be able to pull off a 2.5…</p>

<p>The consensus seems to be CC, but maybe he can transfer from one 4 year to another? Not 100% sure how that works. Or a Junior college where you could actually get away and it would seem on the exterrior that one is ‘going away’ to college?</p>

<p>Yes dionte, you are exactly correct. And isn’t 2.01 a C? I remember someone posting the link to the Princeton Review conversion chart, it said it was around a C:</p>

<p>[GPA</a> Conversion Chart](<a href=“http://inquiry.princetonreview.com/leadgentemplate/GPA_popup.asp]GPA”>Calculate Your GPA With Our GPA Scale | The Princeton Review)</p>

<p>And is there really a difference between transferring from a CC and transferring from a 4-year college? I really don’t want to miss the experience of applying to 4-year schools, getting into some of them, and attending them next fall! My parents have said said that if I go to a CC, they will be very ****ed and shameful, you were right, that they had to spend all this money for my SAT tutoring, SAT summer prep classes, college essay advisor, etc. My parents all doing this so I can get into a 4-year school. they WANT me to get into a 4-year school, then work hard, and transfer.</p>

<p>I’m from the same area in NNJ, and a 2.01 should be a C- at best first off. Second of all, I’m not sure if you think being mature means your ready for college, but if you have gotten 1.7’s and 1.8’s in classes that are supposed to be preparing you for college, why do you think harder, more arduous work will be easier?</p>

<p>Anyway, you’re only going to hurt yourself by being afraid to go to BCC or wherever, and unfortunately unless you massacre you’re SAT’s I’m 99% certain you can’t go to Stony brook or buffalo dude. I’ll go with the others and suggest you try one of the lower tier 4 years, or just try to own your SATs so that you have some type of alternative to show schools.</p>

<p>By the way what did you get out of 1600.</p>

<p>^1000/1600. =X Do you think I could get into SUNY Old Westbury though? Your from NJ you say, but I don’t know if you have any idea on the following NJ schools: Seton Hall, Fairleigh Dickinson, William Paterson, Rowan … any idea? You think I have a shot at those?</p>

<p>Colby-Sawyer C. in New Hampshire is SAT optional. I think the OP is right about the 4 year college experience. The longest list on this, post #7, of 4 year colleges in New England is a good list of suggestions. Some of them use the Common App and some of them are free to apply to. What do you have to lose? I think what you and family DO need to be prepared for, though, is that colleges may accept you, but may not be as “excited” about giving you substantial financial aid. From their perspective, they need to know that their financial aid money is going somewhere and not being wasted. It’s called Accept-Deny–they accept you, but do not provide the means for you to go.</p>

<p>Good luck. Write reallly stellar essays and short answer stuff, ignore the nay-sayers, do a good job on the Common App, find the free applications, and let the chips fall where they may.</p>

<p>The other thing you need to consider is your limitations to certain states. You list some of the most populous states in the Northeast. How many other less than high-achieving college applicants do you think you are competing against for a space? That is why looking in the northern tier of New England, western PA, Maryland perhaps, would be a good idea. With your GPA and stats you don’t particularly stand out in a crowd of applications, in NJ, NY, or CT. Range more widely and it will probably increase your chances. (Good advice for higher achieving applicants as well!)</p>

<p>U of Hartford used to be a free online app., no essay either, can apply in 20 minutes or less. W New England College has a pleasant campus, as does Colby-Sawyer (I just visited there at the beginning of the month. C-S is really trying hard to diversify their student body, so your ethnicity could be of value to them, and you!</p>

<p>Oh yes, I meant to suggest you check housing at Mercy. I think only 5% of the student body lives on campus, so maybe it is mainly commuters.</p>

<p>I know this is not a northeastern school, but I would just like to contribute :]</p>

<p>Washington State University
Arizona State University.</p>

<p>And believe me. As long as you whip up an incredible essay, your in at your first choice school-speaking reasonably that is. Hey, good luck!</p>