So the end of the year is approaching and from the looks of it I will likely be taking a gap year because I honestly have no idea where I want to go with these stats. Help me out?
9th: 2.2
10th: 2.56
11th: 2.33UW/3.0W
12th: 4.3UW/4.8W
Overall - 2.8475UW/3.265W
Of note, I go to Boston Latin School, and our scattergrams typically indicate that we need around .2 to .5 less GPA than average schools to get into non-Ivies
1510/2200 SATs
750 Math II SAT
4 on AP Comp Sci and APUSH, 3 AP Bio. Haven’t found out for AP Stat, AP Gov or AP Macro/Micro Econ yet.
Alas, I have no letters of recommendation, though I could get one from my job, since I work for the school district.
Any idea on good match schools? Please don’t say community college, I know it’s a likely fit and good financial move, but certain family issues make it a highly undesirable choice.
Do you want to go to college?
Would you consider a post-grad year to up your overall GPA?
And you could ask for a letter of recommendation - I teach college and have done some in the summer, but please be very polite and apologetic about it. And when you say you “work for the school district” - do you mean for a school you are not attending? Most schools want letters of recommendation from your actual teachers.
Is money an issue?
And finally, what do you want to do - the stats are nice and all (shocked they didn’t make you repeat 9th grade courses), but if you want to be a writer vs. an engineer, our recommendations would be very much different.
Right now, I’d suggest looking at the “schools with spots still available” on CC. But there are some rolling admissions schools that might be appropriate for you.
You said “highly undesirable choice” - okay - then what does your family want? Are they as confused as you?
(and KUDOS to you for turning yourself around - could you take a college course or two in your gap year to show you can do well on college level material?)
Yes, I certainly want to go to college. I’m not entirely familiar with the logistics of PG school but I’d put that as a very middling “maybe”, down to total cost versus worth. Same for potentially taking a college course or two.
When I say “work for the school district” I mean I work on an advisory board of sorts for my school district, as a representative from my school.
Money isn’t a huge issue but I certainly cannot acquire over $160k in debt. That would be a significant issue. I’m looking into studying politics or business/economics.
Regarding the family thing, its somewhat complicated, but to sum it up I come from a VERY traditional Asian family (hilarious I know, considering my earlier GPA) and there’s a certain family stigma against CC (due to extended family) which I can’t shake, and sadly that stigma could hold me from getting money for post-grad school.
Money is obviously a major question. If it’s not a concern, then you have many more options than you would have if you needed a significant amount of aid. Boston Latin is one of the most illustrious public high schools in the country, and most admissions officers will know that, if you graduated from there, even with a mediocre GPA, you are prepared for a college curriculum. Look at some colleges that are still accepting applications. One school that immediately comes to mind is Evergreen State, in Olympia, WA. Some less-selective public universities have high acceptance rates, also: Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, West VA, et al. If you’re inclined toward arts or media, try Columbia College Chicago.
Harvard Extension School?
What did you wish to study?
What advice has your own counselor at Boston Latin given you? Surely your counselor has known students like you before, and has helped them sort out plans for their lives. Go see that person tomorrow and get started. You will get better advice for your specific situation from someone who really knows your situation.