High School Upcoming Senior - 2.9GPA Help

<p>Greetings, everyone! This is my first time posting on this website, so please disregard any ignorance on my part if I am missing something. Anyways, this August I will start my senior year in high school, but with the unfortunate burden of a 2.9 GPA (unweighted). The problem isn't your run-of-the-mill "I was pressured to take AP classes and were too difficult"- but rather that the past few years I simply haven't given a s***. I was living under the assumption that colleges looked at your weighted GPA, which was foolish on my part; I should have researched more before sinking three years of high school grades into my record. For example, in an honors class if I was making an 85, I'd account for the .5 weight, boosting it to an A., and not worrying about getting it up. And I usually make around 85's on my courses without caring, that is, not doing any homework whatsoever, not studying or retaking tests, etc. And my past Junior year, I took two dual enrollment courses (college courses in high school), and each course contained two sub-courses, essentially giving me two high school credits a semester just for that subject. Problem is, for whatever went through my ignorant mind, I simply did not care about the courses and getting C's in them, as I would go to sleep in class, not study, whatever. So come full circle with my stream of 85's and a C or two for not caring, throw in 3 C's for the dual enrollment courses and we have ourselves a problem. A 2.9 unweighted GPA type of problem. There is no issue with me being academically challenged, for if I applied myself I can easily make A's. But now that the brick hit me in the head, it seems far too late to do anything about it, no matter how hard I want to apply myself now.</p>

<p>I have all my English and Math credits complete, whilst still needing one more Social Studies and Science credit each, as well as a Spanish credit (which I plan to take online at home). And given a block schedule of 4 classes a semester, I have 8 more slots left in my high school career. Minus 2 for Theatre each semester (Theatre is my main elective, and I enjoy it as it acting is one of my few talents; I am one of- if not the best- actor in a theatre department of 60+), I have 6 slots left for academic pursuits. What I am thinking is to retake the two dual enrollment courses (and try for A's) and if fate is in my favor, would mean 4 A's. 4 slots left. In terms of getting my Science and SS credits, I could perhaps take a dual enrollment SS class and make 2 A's, with one replacing a botched grade in the past of something. 3 slots. Take a science course and hopefully ace it. 2 slots left. I could potentially retake a few "C" classes I had in the past, and remake those.</p>

<p>I don't know, what do you guys think? I know I'm frivolously tossing around A's like it's Christmas, but this is assuming I really get my act straight this year. I want to get into a good school, something I didn't care for my Junior year (I wanted to be a professional actor, something that's not entirely impossible as I am pretty good at acting, being the only person specifically mentioned in the local newspaper on a Musical of a 60+ sized cast), but as time pressed on the idea just seemed more and more impractical, with the truth dawning on me this summer. But now I want to get into a good school, hoping it's not too late. I'd really appreciate any feedback, thanks!
-Noah</p>

<p>Have you taken standardized tests? What state do you live in? How much do you think your parents can afford or be willing to pay? Do you plan to audition for any Acting/Theater BFA programs (the majority of which dont place a great emphasis on GPA, provided you have fulfilled basic requirements)? I can suggest several colleges that you can almost certainly get into, but there’s no point if you cannot afford them or do not want to move that far away. Have you checked out your own state university system to see whether you have satisfied their basic prerequisites. My son had a similar GPA (and he was also an actor), but had respectable test scores. He got into our highly-respected state flagship university, but he would not have been eligible in some other states.</p>

<p>I live in Georgia, and I took the ACT practically on a whim without studying for a measly 21. My parents probably wouldn’t be able to help me that much financially, and I kind of just assumed I was to hop on the student loan wagon, which now seems to be more of a last resort. And yes, I plan on auditioning for theatre programs, as I realize that is the only thing that will probably be the crutch I use to get admitted. And my state offers a scholarship in which if I make a 3.0 GPA they practically pay for 80% of my tuition if I choose to go in-state. My plan was to go to college in California (my home state; I moved to Georgia in 7th grade), but seeing out-of-state tuition, I know realize I probably will have to settle with in-state and use the scholarship.</p>

<p>You’re lucky you don’t live in sucky illinois. Our state government assists us minimally and our IS tuition is one of the highest in the nation.</p>