<p>I'm having a hard time figuring out what to do for college. I'm a junior and I live in California. I have an unweighted 2.789(weighted 2.83). I got a 1730 on my SAT(I'm taking it again in june).I have 4 Ds in A-G classes and not a lot of time to make them up. I can't qualify for state school and all the schools I've looked at out of state ,except for one, are really expensive. I don't have a problem with CCs but I have a problem with staying here(I was considering moving after graduation to go to a CC in LA or San Diego but i don't know if thats a good idea). What should I do? I'm freaking out about guys.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Start applying yourself. Don’t worry about the final grade, but make the effort.</p></li>
<li><p>Be realistic about where you can get into. Cast a wide net of reasonable schools.</p></li>
<li><p>You are asking colleges to overlook your grades. Give them a reason why they should. Have you changed? Why and how? Your essays and your recommendations will be everything to you. Do what you need to do to make these good.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Don’t panic, there is a school for you.</p>
<p>This being said --</p>
<p>First off, have a chat with your Guidance Counsellor or HS College counsellor. Discuss your finances and grades, and ask for help coming up with a list of colleges.</p>
<p>Some of the CCs in California have residence halls. Check them out. If they are affordable for you, you would be able to move away from home but still have the small classes and academic support that you probably need for your first two years.</p>
<p>Yeah you still have time to turn it around, and certain schools love to see people chagne for the better. I’m not sure about now, but when I went to SF state, the higher the score you got on the SAT the lower the GPA you could have. There used to be a chart for that. I don’t know if it is like that now. GC would be a great resource at your school. Explain your goals, is there a specific major you’re aiming at. See what potential options you are aiming at. With clearer direct and a clearer goal, you should just try your hardest.</p>
<p>Not to be snobby or anything, but character makes a huge difference. Our son was very nonchalant about school in middle school and freshman year, he turned it around pushed himself without us pushing and got into APs etc. He got rejected all over the place more than 50% of his schools. But ended up at berkeley, which he originally was very impartial about. Now he’s like off in lala land about it, even though it is across the bay from us.</p>
<p>Just change your attitude and try, trying is all you can do. If you need help look for a mentor or a parent figure that can help you.</p>
<p>You are still in the game. If you can position yourself with at least a 3.0 GPA and 1000 on the SAT leaving out the written score component.</p>
<p>Look outside of CA. Many colleges like to increase their rankings by having a geographically diverse student body…so look at colleges outside of the west coast.</p>
<p>Also…focus your search on private universities. They have larger endowments and can make offers that may surprise you.</p>
<p>Apply to 10 schools where your GPA and Test Scores put you in the top 25% of the incoming freshman class. With a 3.0 and a 1000 SAT score, you are in the top 25% of some colleges. Find these colleges and list the schools on the FAFSA when you apply for aid. There is a maximum of 10 slots.</p>
<p>If you can, visit all 10 of these colleges and register for the guided tour. A college will assume that you are serious about attending and will give your application and financial aid more thorough consideration.</p>
<p>Also…calculate your family’s EFC in advance. This can help you understand the type of aid that you can get. Curate your list of schools further by only applying to the colleges that will meet your EFC with financial aid.</p>
<p>It will take some research, but I know a student going to a great 43K a year college for just 7K a year using this strategy with the test scores and grades that I described. She was not accepted to the two in state schools.</p>