<p>I'm trying to help out a friend who, for a variety of reasons, is basically starting the application process now, yes, in April. I'm trying to help him figure out what options he has at this point, short of taking a year off between high school and college. </p>
<p>He's had some issues academically, but he's really a smart kid - just never does his homework, and therefore has gotten Ds and even Fs in some classes throughout highschool. I don't know exactly what mix of grades he has, but do know there are some As (and plenty of Bs and Cs) in there too. I know he got a 27 on the ACT (because he forgot a calculator - SIGH), and is talking about retaking it to do better, but I don't see how he would have time now. He said he has some really good teacher recs, and I know he could write decent essays if he actually put his mind to it (which, hopefully, he will). He's been taking ballet for 14 years, and I've suggested he get a rec from his ballet teacher too.</p>
<p>So my question for all you super helpful people is, what do you do with a kid like this? He's smart, he's charismatic (would do great in an interview), but his grades and scores don't reflect that. And because of this maddening tendency of his to never get things done, he's managed to wait until April to start applying to colleges.</p>
<p>I should add, to his credit, that he comes from a rather dysfunctional family and has no help whatsoever from his parents in this. That's another thing, he's going to need financial aid for sure - which I know will also be much more of a challenge this late in the game.</p>
<p>Any suggestions for how he should proceed? What colleges are still accepting applications, that would be good for a smart kid with not-so-great grades?</p>
<p>Northern Colorado, Arizona State, Alfred (NY), Hartford, Western Oregon and Northern Arizona are all still accepting applications. Some have dance programs and/or courses also. Some may be looking for more male applicants and most of them have good acceptance rates. Good luck!</p>
<p>Around late april/early may, NACAC lists schools that still have openings.
So theres still a good amount of schools he can get into/</p>
<p>Also, some canadian schools(VERY inexpensive and great education) still have openings in some programs, like McGill.</p>
<p>Branch campuses sometimes have openings, and if nothing works out by june could always go to cc and transfer.</p>
<p>He could take a gap year for city year program, pays and you get a scholarship when you do go to school.
City Year. Give a Year. Change the World.</p>
<p>Regardless, tell him to talk to the guidence counselor, I'm sure they'd have a ton of info.</p>
<p>If he comes from a very dysfunctional family, also has weak grades, and is a procrastinator, there's a good chance that he'll have to go to a local community college, and he may have to work or take out loans to pay for the costs.</p>
<p>The first thing he needs to do is find out how much -- if any - money his parents will give him for college. Depending on how much dysfunction there is in his family, he may or may not be able to trust that they'll follow through on whatever support they promise him.</p>
<p>U Pitt got a TON of applicants this year... and I know for a fact that the engineering program won't even consider people who don't have at least a 1350/1600 on their SAT. </p>
<p>Western Oregon University is a possibility, and maybe also Oregon State or University of Oregon. haha... can you tell I'm from Oregon?? I think they're all still accepting apps. Or, your friend should probably start considering community college</p>