I’ve never been a overachiever.
During my middle school years, I gained a bad habit of not studying. I constantly procrastinated, and because my courses were easily doable without any study, I breezed through with good grades even with my bad habits.
Come 9th grade year, I had to put more effort into my work as I was taking harder classes than I was in middle school. I was taking ap biology, alg 2/pre calc (one in each semester), and honors English 9 for my academic courses. I did well enough my first semester, but my bad habits caught up to me during second semester, and I ended up with a C in ap bio, and a low B/high C in my math class. I barely completely my homework assignments and rarely studied for tests, so even though they were horrible grades, I was surprised myself. My parents were concerned with my grades when they came out, but truthfully, they didn’t get involved at all in any of my school activities, and a big part of that was them not being fluent in english. My dad worked from 9 am to 11 pm, and my mother was sick from stress a lot of the time. This is not saying I’m not grateful, I truly am, but I always wish that they were able to help me in school,
My family moved to another state in my 10th grade year. I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t take the time to find out too much about my school, I just went there because it was the district I lived in. Because of the semi-advanced classes I took in 9th grade, I was placed in 10th grade honors English, AP world history, honors chemistry, and 2 full semesters of pre-calc(because this school didn’t do half semesters of pre calc). I was always the quiet kid, and aside from interactions with other students within my classes, I had no contact with anyone else. I ended up getting an A in AP world history, a solid C in chemistry, a B in pre calc, and an A in my English class. Overall, they weren’t the best grades, and that year was pretty much a low for me.
It became worse in my junior year at the school I was attending. I was largely influenced by my peers in which classes I chose to take, and I ended up with AP united states history, AP English 11, AP calculus, and AP physics. Because of my terrible study habits and my constant procrastination, my grades were terrible. A C- in AP calc, a B in AP english, a C in my AP physics class, and an A- in my AP us history class. Some of these classes were close to becoming lower, but I believe that my quiet, (in my opinion) respectful attitude in all my classes helped me in some aspects. After all this, I ended up with a pretty low gpa, 3.28 to be exact when unweighted. Because I wasn’t involved with any school activities/ extracurricular activities, I had nothing in that aspect too.
This is my senior year, the year I have to start applying to colleges, and with a 3.28 gpa, and a 51% class rank, I know that my chances of getting into any decent colleges are slim. and I don’t even have any extracurricular activities or sports to make up my low grades. I took my SAT several weeks ago, and I do not know my score yet. This year, I promised myself that I would get straight A’s, and join as many clubs as I could, but because the due dates for college applications are in less than 1 or 2 months, the only effect that’ll have on my gpa is raising it by only a few points, maybe to a 3.4 at best when first semester ends.
Can anyone tell me, realistically, the chance of me getting into college and being accepted? I have no idea where to even start, and the stress is making me sick. I truly regret my laziness in my junior year, basically my most important year, but what’s past is past and I can’t change any of that. Thanks for any replies…If this is the wrong website to post these kind of questions, I apologize, but I don’t know where else to put it out there.
Honestly, it depends on your colleges, but it’s not the end of the world!
Undergrad isn’t as impactful as grad school, and you could always transfer.
I kind of did what you did, but to a lesser degree, and my parents always tell me that it’s better that I realized my bad study/work habits now instead of once I get a job or once I’m in college 
Your chance of being accepted into college is excellent if not assured. Of course, there are a tremendous range of colleges. Your chance of getting into a highly selective college isn’t good. If you google “big future” you will find College Board’s site which will help you determine which colleges you might be a good fit for. Your college or guidance counselor is also a good resource.
Not to worry, I was a huge underachiever with fantastic SATs and an UW GPA of 2.8 in very rigorous courses so I ended up at a large mid-range university but I put aside my underachieving ways when I started college and I’ve done quite well.
Have you considered going to a community college then transferring to a 4 year school? That way your GPA from your college courses will be considered.
“and join as many clubs as I could”
Please don’t. Most college don’t care about your ECs at all. It’s just an indication that you have a life outside of school and aren’t a hermit. Under no circumstances allow your ECs to cut into your study time. That is the road to perdition when you are trying to overcome a weaker academic record. ECs will not make up for it - it just shows that you don’t know how to allocate your time properly.
What state are you in?
How much will your parents pay for college each year?
one semester of straight A’s will do little to impact 6 semesters that averaged a 3.28, as you know.
What is your major and career goal?
Many decent schools will likely accept you…your bigger hurdle may be how much your family will pay. If they’ll pay whatever the costs are, then you’ll get accepted to some schools that we can recommend for you.
Don’t worry about ECs…the schools that will likely be accepting you won’t really care. pick one that you ENJOY and concentrate on SCHOOL
What is your choice of major? What can you afford?
My solid B daughter with little EC went to a state school and did better there than in high school. She is now a teacher and highly respected by her peers throughout the state in which she teaches. She is on the state curriculum committee and orients new teachers in her district.
My son had a GPA under 3.0, with solid, but not astronomical, test scores. He got into our state’s respected public flagship. He chose to go to a small, arts-oriented college instead, but he is now at another respected, four-year, public university. It’s too bad that you didn’t take at least one round of SATs and/or ACTs earlier. This is very late to begin the process, since you will really only have the one set of tests to base your search process on.
Your options are much, much better if finances aren’t a huge concern. Your GPA is not truly disastrous, and you took a rigorous curriculum, so you can probably get into at least some public colleges in your state. Unless you perform abysmally on your SAT, there is no need to consider community colleges as your sole options. They might make financial sense, but a 3.28 is adequate for the majority of four-year colleges.
First of all, stop beating yourself up about your weak study habits. You now realize that procrastination and indifference ruin academic success–good! You are still young and can have a wonderful life, and success despite attending an average-ranked college.
Look for colleges which accept applicants with your scores. Look at their majors to see what inspires you. Read the financial aid details. You will need both desire for a brighter future and a plan of action (regular study hours) to effect change.
Forgive yourself for sliding through high school, be happy you have a chance to start over with new classes and professors, and commit to doing your best.
College is not the end game, it is the launching pad to adult life… ‘a long and winding road’.
To buttress the words of many here, that your life is only beginning, and you obviously have time to start slowly as you design a future - maybe by way of community college and then on to a four-year. I would also like to say welcome to your opportunity to define who you are, and to your interior emotional awareness. Put all of yesterday behind you, and take some of the advice above.
Are you aware of colleges that are test-optional, or that have decided not to look at things like ACT/SAT exam results at all? They are out there, and many of them strong liberal arts colleges where you can get a solid education.
Links, anyone?
^^^ What fauve said. Study habits usually don’t change that much just because you went to college. They might get better and they also might get worse. Pick a college where you are comfortable being you, that you can afford, and that you feel you can do well, and focus on something you really like, because that is the area you will probably do well and also feel good about it.
A 3.28 is not bad and with such a rigorous curriculum, many colleges will be glad to have you.
If you took the SAT several weeks ago, the results should be online (on the website) - login to check and report back here.
What state do you and your family live in?
What’s your parents’ budget for college? (if you haven’t talked about it yet, do so ASAP - like, today).
Do you want a college with big spectator sports or are you rather into playing sports yourself even if there’s no big team on campus or are you indifferent to sports or are you interested in being in a city with professional sports?
What do you do in your free time (beside studying)?
Are you rather liberal, conservative, want a good mix of both, apolitical, politically vocal/committed?
Do you want Greek Life?
What fields may interest you - preprofessional ones like engineering, nursing, business, or more general ones that may or may not lead to grad school (law school, PHD, MBA…) - and if more general, do you think you’d like a specific subject or are you undecided?
Stop beating yourself up. You are a teenager not the the person in charge of missile defense in the Middle East. Regroup, figure out what you would like to do with your life, maybe go to a community college and then transfer. Or attend a good state university if you can and look at it as a time to grow, learn, figure things out (that is what college is about). The fact that you were placed in all of those AP classes indicates to me that your school thinks that you are an able student. And do not load up on ECs. Bur do try to find a few things to do that YOU LIKE outside of studies. You mention that your mom suffers from stress and anxiety - that must have been hard for you - and the new school in 10th grade. Take it easy on your self. Take it from someone who enjoyed high school a little too much, things do work out.
DO NOT get involved in many clubs, since it won’t “count” for college and you should be spending time on other things. Choose 1-2 that sound really cool to you, or at least intriguing, and become an active member. Could be juggling could be programming could be table tennis could be SADD. But don’t join every club under the sun, it’ll eat up your time (which should be dedicated to hw/extra credit + test prep + applications) and won’t bring any reward in terms of admissions.
Most of all, focus on your test prep, as this may be your “saving grace”.
If you get a high score, don’t go to community college since most scholarships are for freshmen only. Indicate your preferences (cf. #11) and the CC community will help you find colleges that match what you’re looking for.