High test scores, bad first semester senior year

Applying to College
1

<p>I'm one of those students that has always fallen into the "bright, but lazy" category. My freshman and sophomore grades were basically goods - As with a couple of Bs in math. I left my high school to attend an early college program beginning my junior year, and my grades were stellar. (3.98 GPA at the university.) I took the ACT and SAT and got excellent scores (34 and 2280, respectively), so I was all set (if you ignore my very low number of ECs) to apply to some serious schools. My first semester of senior year, though, hasn't gone too well. For a time, I thought I wanted to have a major in math/science, so I took a chemistry course for science majors. As it turns out, I'm useless at it, and am set to get a C+, if I'm lucky. In addition, I'm doing poorly in my calculus class, as it turns out that doing homework is actually pretty important to getting good grades (I /know/ right?! What a surprise!). Based on my predicted grades for this and next semester, my final GPA should be around 3.7 (from the university - which counts for my reported GPA, seeing as we early college people are special).</p>

<p>Basically, I'm asking if there are any halfway decent schools I can still get into. I really, really don't want to go to school in-state, even though my chances are much better. But I know Ivy League rejections are coming my way, considering GPA, lack of ECs, and recommendations that are only "OK." I want to study international relations, and what I would love more than anything would be to redeem myself in time to apply for grad school, which I really do want to attend...</p>

<p>Seriously stressing, so advice would be very helpful.</p>

2

<p>You would be a match for the top state schools and many of the mid-level liberal arts colleges. Your self-description shows that most of the ivies will be tough to get into. Though your scores are fine, your lack of ECs will be hard to overcome. </p>

<p>I personally think that you’ll make it to at least one ivy, probably Cornell. But you can bet on one of the premier state universities taking you.</p>

<p>I must add that state schools are not suited for people who are “bright but lazy”. You’ll have to struggle against classmates, and be extremely pro-active in order to succeed. That being said, I certainly think that they prepare you better for life.</p>