<p>So I messed up in high school, big time. I've been out for a few years now and I've spent time teaching myself things like math, computer programming, and physics. </p>
<p>I believe that I am in a much better position to go to college now and I would like to go to Stanford to study Computer Science. If I have to send in my high school transcript then I will be laughed at and my transcript will be immediately thrown in the trash.</p>
<p>My GPA in high school was just over a 2.0, I did not take any honors or AP classes. I also lack any extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Is there anything I can do that would give me a decent chance of getting into a school like Stanford or MIT? Would military service reflect highly on my application?</p>
<p>You should seriously consider enrolling in a community college for a year or two, earn excellent grades, then apply as a transfer to Stanford. You need to prove (to Stanford) you can do the work, and have the patience and determination to succeed.</p>
<p>Military service will reflect very positively on your character, however you will still need to show your academic achievements through coursework.</p>
<p>And congratulations on your new goals and ambition!</p>
<p>According to CollegeBoard, Stanford’s transfer acceptance rate is less than 2%. You’ll understand if I continue to look for alternative ideas. :)</p>
<p>Of course I would consider alternative schools, but Stanford would be my number one pick. I have very high expectations of myself and my alternative schools would include the likes of MIT, Berkeley, and Harvard.</p>
<p>Yes, happy to see you have realisitc data on actual chances of transfer to Stanford, Harvard or MIT. But for admission to any 4 year, decent college you will need a year or two of proven academic success.</p>
<p>It is great you have high expectations, however, at this point you need to construct a foundation of bonafide achievements to open the doors to your dream schools.</p>
<p>brewer2, this will sound harsh, and I’m sorry to give you the internet equivalent of a slap upside the head, but you badly need a reality check. Pay attention to the above posters. You’ve set your goals ridiculously high. What basis would the most selective colleges in the country have to select you? Apart from getting 5’s on some AP tests to prove that you’ve taught yourself math and physics, which would mean little, there is nothing you can realistically do that would convince schools of this caliber to take you on as a freshman. Nothing. But there are many other pathways to prepare for a career in Computer Science, and it would be foolish not to take them because you have some silly pipedreams.</p>
<p>ZZ i’m sure he has a decent chance if he does all the things right, which includes but is not limited to getting very high test scores and pouring his heart out in his essays. Admission officers are flexible folks and will seriously consider a candidate if he shows potential. However this is all assuming OP does have the talent and potential as he claims. Many people falsely think highly of themselves which they don’t realize until too much emotional investment has already been made.</p>
<p>“i’m sure he has a decent chance if he does all the things right” </p>
<p>I think not.</p>
<p>While nice to think positively, the sheer numbers of super-qualified transfer applicants as compared to the handful of openings portend mommaj’s outcome. There are tons of great options for the OP and if his heart is set on it, he should speak with the transfer counselors and investigate programs offered for non-traditional students. But even *the most qualified students at peer institutions *have a poor chance of obtaining a transfer admit. Those are just the numbers.</p>
<p>Agreed. Every year there are literally tens of thousands of applicants who busted their butts and ran roughshod over high school, who also really want to go to Stanford, and who are disappointed.</p>
<p>Everybody has regrets and disappointments. I almost got my pilot’s license 30 years ago. I didn’t complete it, and I really regret that. I sincerely think it’s time to put Stanford on your list of things you wish you could have done, and move on.</p>
<p>Hold on there. Don’t shoot down all the Ops dreams. For without dreams we are nothing- not sure who said that. He (I’m assuming it’s a he) will need these dreams to sustain him through his quest. It will really be a regret if he didn’t try.</p>
<p>That said, I think you need to go the CC route get straight A’s and then see where you can transfer. There are so many other great schools for Computer Science that aren’t Stanford.</p>
<p>brewer2, you really do need to modify your aspirations a bit. As some have suggested, you should first enroll in community college. Do well there, then transfer to your state flagship or a school of similar quality to that. Do extremely well there, including getting involved in some serious research, and then think about your grad school possibilities, which could include Stanford. But you should realize that you have a bit of a mountain to climb before you can realistically set your sights on Stanford.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for others. I had no intention of shooting down all the OP’s dreams. In fact, I completely agree with this advice:</p>
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<p>But when so many applicants with impeccable qualifications don’t get into Stanford, I think it would be fruitless to hope that an applicant with such a record such as the OP’s would.</p>