Help for a unique situation?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi CC, I'm here asking for your suggestions.</p>

<p>Here are the the basics.</p>

<p>Sex: Female
Race: White
House-hold income: 42k, was attending private school on grants, the schools funds dried up and I was forced to switch my junior year.
Home state: Oklahoma
Grade: Just began senior year</p>

<p>UW GPA: 2.6- 2.8 (I switched schools my junior year and credits from my previous school are still being added to my GPA--slow counselors at my school), so this is approximate. Probably won't break 3.0. This is really, really, really bad, I know. More detail added later.
W GPA: Not idea yet, my schedule has been almost exclusively AP and honors courses, though so probably a bit higher than my UW GPA.</p>

<p>ACT Scores: Composite- 28, English- 34, Math- 21, Reading- 34, Science- 24. I'm retaking in two weeks and feel I can break 30 composite, though.
AP Scores: AP US Governement- 4, AP Human Geography- 4, AP US History- 4, AP English/Lang- 5. I'm currently taking AP Lit and AP Statistics. Also received an AP Scholar with Honor Award.</p>

<p>ECs- Freshman year- student council, debate, spanish club
Sophmore year- student council, debate, spanish club, also began working a job
Junior year- (switched schools, no debate at new school , vice president of french club, astronomy club, junior board, still working 5 days a week
Senior year- french club, senior board, working 5 days a week</p>

<p>I'm not trying to get into an Ivy or even a super selective school. I understand I may have to do Community for a couple of years to make up for my bad GPA, however, if I was hospitalized after a traumatic experience for about 15 days my sophomore year would colleges take this into account? Should I even mention it? I know the general rule is to explain if there are extenuating circumstances, but I just feel like it sounds like excuses. Anyway, I know my best bet is probably state schools or smaller liberal arts schools that focus more on essays and what not, but my question is what specific schools do you think I have a chance at attending that would be worth the money/ have a somewhat decent rep?</p>

<p>I live in Oklahoma so I already know I'd like to apply to OSU because they have unconditional acceptance with a 24 on the ACT, so I feel like it's a pretty good bet? I've also been looking at:
Kansas University
Kansas State University
Goucher College
Loyola University- New Orleans (reach, but I just really like the school and they've waived my application fee, so why not?)
Michigan State University
Fort Lewis College (legacy status, here)</p>

<p>Basically my questions for you all are:
Any of these schools seem way out of my league?
Any other schools you feel I would fit and should look into? Any hidden gems?
How to handle GPA issue?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for any help!</p>

2

<p>bump. Any advice at all?</p>

3

<p>It isn’t really a matter of “worth the money” if you just plain can’t afford it. I’d try the net price calculators on the school web sites. Public schools generally don’t give to out of state students, so there’s probably no point getting your hopes up for those.</p>

<p>You might be able to get brownie points for doing so well with limited finances, and for rising GPA? There’s nothing wrong with CC, AND it’s a lot cheaper. If you do go that route, be sure to check the articulation agreements to make sure that the classes you take in CC match the classes that the university you’ll want to go to will accept.</p>

<p>You’ve got good recent grades, a realistic attitude, and you’re a good writer. You’ll do great!</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

4

<p>^ Nothing to add to Geekmom’s response. It’s extremely doubtful you’ll get any $ from out of state public Us. CC is your friend (and a way to get beyond bad HS grades).</p>

5

<p>As an OSU grad, I have a hard time telling you to consider anywhere else, but I did attend a year at Tulsa Junior College (Now Tulsa Community College) before heading to Stillwater, so I can attest to the fact that it is a great route to consider. A couple of others to consider - Southeast Oklahoma State is a great school, Pittsburg State will give you in-state tuition (I am pretty sure), and UCO is an up and coming school…still if you are willing to do the CC route, you will likely have a better chance at a scholarship for the last two years at a 4 year school.</p>

6

<p>I don’t think your possibilities are so glum; clearly you’re an English/History kid not a math/science kid, you’ve had a tough 4 years in high school (this should definitely be included in your application or even essay) but still seem to have taken APs and done well. You could do community college but if you want to try applying to four year colleges I suggest you look at schools with a holistic admissions policy, small LACs are the way for you to go. Look into CTCLs and schools with higher admissions rates, see what happens. Just give yourself options so you’re confident with your final decision.</p>

7

<p>Take off all the OOS publics. They won’t give you the aid you need, and your stats aren’t high enough for merit.</p>

<p>A poster above is right…the question isn’t “is it worth the money.” What money? What money do you have? Not to be rude, but it doesn’t sound like you have the money to pay for those schools. </p>

<p>Do you have a private trust fund somewhere? Grandparents who’ll pay? Another source of money? If not, then you’re in the same boat as someone who finds an expensive item that is reasonably priced, but you don’t have the money. You can’t buy it.</p>

<p>Focus on OK publics and maybe some LACs that might want more OK students. Look at DePauw.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the replies, everyone! </p>

<p>GeekMom63 and mom2college kids are right about the paying being the biggest thing I need to take into account. I do have a college fund that was started for me, but it’s not even close to large enough considering I have to split it with my younger sister.</p>

<p>Also thanks to the kind words and advice from, amtc.</p>

<p>Also, mom2collegekids, I’ve never heard of DePauw (although I just did a quick google search)— any specific reason you mentioned it that I’m missing?</p>

9

<p>@Stanatedj I don’t know how long ago it was, but how would well would you say your credits transferred? That something I’m really worried about and I know thing don’t always play out the way a brochure/ website may tell you, so it’d be great to hear from someone who has actually gone through the process.</p>

10

<p>DePauw is known for good aid, but not hard to get into. Also try Loyola Maryland.</p>

11

<p>It was 30 years ago so I’m probaboly not a good test, but everything I took at least transfererred in. I had one class that was pretty specialized that OSU just called elective credit, and that was fine. The classes like Sociology, English, Psychology, etc. all transferred to OSU no problem. Tulsa Community College works pretty closely with the OSU Tulsa campus so I’m pretty sure you will be fine going to a place like that. Now - If you go to some of the smaller CCs I don’t know…At one point, Conners State College had a pretty bad reputation for academics so that might not work as well. </p>

<p>I also transferred before I finished my associate’s degree and that hurt me a bit in the scholarship realm, but I played in the OSU marching band and ended up getting a substantial music scholarship that at that time completely covered tuition (At $19/credit hour, it did’t take much to cover tuition!)</p>