This might be quite long but I’ll say the more important details first.
I am currently a student at my local community college. I have a 3.9 GPA and I am wondering what my chances would be of getting into an Ivy League or other prestigious schools for graduate school. I am transferring to a university next fall and would like to know what steps I can take to enhance my chances. I am majoring in applied mathematics and economics. I taught myself physics and macroeconomics before I took the classes and earned 100% in physics and 98% in macro. I am currently in precalculus but I have already taught myself up to Calc 3. Math is something that I have always been passionate about. I indulge my love for it every day. I have yet to get a point off of anything any math classes I have taken (trig which I have finished and currently precalc). I do not believe that I am smarter than anyone else. I just think these things click easier because I genuinely love learning about it. I want to go into research and academia. I want to work with the best of the best after undergrad. I want to become the best of the best. I want to matter and I want to work on things that matter and do things that are helpful to society. That is why I would like to know what I can do to best enhance my chances to get into a selective graduate school. I also would like to know if teaching myself my courses before I take them is something that can help me enhance my chances since I will be likely to get great grades once I take the classes.
More relevant to my title, here is my story.
I had no interest in learning in high school. I was a loser, to be quite honest. I would drink with my buddies and not care about my grades. I finished with a 2.2 GPA. After I graduated my mother kicked me out and moved 10 hours away. I do not know my father so I was homeless. I slept in my car two a couple weeks until the girl I was dating at the time asked her parents to take me in, which they did. Eventually her and I broke up and now I am homeless again. Have been for awhile now. I usually sleep on my friends floor or my grandmas couch. I usually sit in panera bread all day and just read or teach myself new concepts in math or other science related fields. Living this life has driven me more than I could have ever imagined. Some people enjoy playing video games or sports, but I have learned to love learning. It’s like a game to me. I want to continue to do this forever and spread my knowledge to others once I am credible enough to do so.
Anyway, I have done some research on my question, and I understand that I should have a great GPA. Great GREs, publications, references, etc. but all advice helps. I like to hear the opinions of people and learn from others who have experienced things that I yet have not.
Well, that is a trick that many people with good grades use. They get ahead on the homework & reading, so when the prof gets to that lecture, they’ve already learned a lot of it and can focus on just confirming what they know and finalizing any fine points. I would say that you have a lot of typos in your post – you should work on grammar and writing skills, which are needed in grad school and at 4 year colleges (especially in Econ).
I am not sure that this is a “chances” thread, as you have no specific schools mentioned. I guess the one additional piece of advice I’d give you is to (1) develop good relationships with profs at your 4 year school – you need 3 strong letters of recommendation for grad school. Ideally at least 1 or 2 would be profs you’d done some research with. (2) Maybe add a dose of humility to how you communicate. The last thing you want is to come across as arrogant to the profs who have to write your recs, and eventually in your grad school interviews. Your post is pretty boastful. Let your grades, GRE scores, and accomplishments do most of the talking for you.
I work with economists and they tended to not have publications in college. If you are considering econ grad school, then you need to make sure you get through calc 3 with a couple of classes beyond that. Finding courses in college where you can learn stats packages STATA or R would be useful for future RA jobs. Do you ever read any economist blogs like Marginal Revolution? Good luck!
Sorry if there are typos. Literally just typed this all in one shot and did not read over it again. I promise I am not arrogant or overconfident, actually quite the opposite. I don’t really talk about this kind of stuff to anyone. Pretty introverted person. I just used this as my outlet to get it all out as this will not directly impact anyone I know in real life. Admittedly, writing is definitely a weakness that I know I have and I appreciate you pointing that out. Maybe I should emphasize improving that.
Do you have an advisor at your community college? Is there any kind of career center? These resources may be able to help you outline a plan to achieve your goals.
I am going to be realistic. It is fantastic that you are turning life around now.
It is fantastic that you have a love of learning.
It is fantastic that you are doing well in your classes.
It is great that you are doing well in pre-calc…but that is a HS level class. I don’t think any Ivy school will be particularly interested in you. I would apply to my state flagship University…they will give you the most credits for your CC classes.
You can get into the honors college perhaps…you can shine, learn, meet professors, and get career help all at the State U.
@bopper first I’d like to thank you for your feedback. Anyway, I understand that. I think you are missing the part where I said I am interested in ivy for graduate school. I am not ignorant nor do I think I am entitled to attending a prestigious school just because I am trying to change my life around. I am aware of the fact that I have virtually no chance at going from straight from CC to ivy for undergrad. I am not naive. I have not accomplished anything deserving of undergraduate admission to an ivy. I want to do very well at a state school for my undergrad and then pursue a graduate degree at a top notch school. I believe doing very well at a state school will help prove myself. I’m also hoping that it is still possible despite my past.
A scenario that I’m hopeful for is that;
I transfer from CC to a either Pitt, Temple, or Penn State. I earn GPA of above a 3.8, get near perfect GRE scores, a few publications, some credible recommendation letters, and some relevant extra curricular activities under my belt.
Any thoughts on my plan?
Focus on your career goals. There are many careers that require a solid educational background.mthere is no career that requires you to attend an Ivy League school.
Name brand fixation can actually hinder your intellectual progress. Right now you’re sitting in precalculus presumably to goose your GPA since there’s nothing you need to learn there. Go take the math placement exams and move up to something challenging.
Your chances of getting into an Ivy League or other prestigious graduate school are not primarily determined by where you went to undergrad; they are primarily determined by what you DO in undergrad. It is quite possible for someone who started off at a community college and who earns a BA at a four-year school to go to a top graduate program. The trick is figuring out what graduate program you want to do (if any) and then doing the kinds of things that make you attractive to grad school.
For example, it sounds like you want to go into academia. Great - in order to be a researcher, you need a PhD. Bt in what? It sounds like you have interests in physics and in economics. Typically people go into academia because they love doing research in a specific, particular area, and they want to answer questions and pursue scholarship in that specific area. Where do your interests in physics and/or economics lie? You’ll have to decide which one you want to pursue.
You also will need to get research experience - especially in physics, but even in economics. It’s difficult to do that at a community college because the professors there rarely do much if any research, but if you are nearby any four-year colleges you may want to reach out to professors at those institutions and see if they would take you on as a research assistant.
BTW, you don’t have to go to a selective graduate school to do things that matter.
What you have already done is amazing and I admire you for this.
You don’t need to go to an Ivy graduate school to be successful in research. Figure out what your preferred area is, and whether it’s math, physics, economics or anything else, there are plenty of very well-regarded departments which are not in the most “prestigious” schools. Your main goal should be to stand out as an undergrad in your state school, and to do some research there with professors who would write you a good recommendation letter.
You certainly have a shot at it with your GPA. Plus you have an amazing story to tell on your essay. Wow! Good news is that since you’re homeless, it qualifies you for a dependency override with full financial aid. A private university would probably be your best ticket because they would offer the best assistance for need-based students.
PA resident here. I really admire all you have managed to accomplish.
Something to consider is that Pitt, Temple, and PSU are state-affiliated. They are not the most affordable in-state options in PA. The PASSHE schools are. If your goal is grad school, you might want to consider West Chester, Bloomsburg, CalU. Kick ass there and then go to grad school.
Although, @coolguy40 is probably right. Given your homeless status and financial circumstances, private colleges that meet financial need might be more affordable than the PA state-affiliated and PASSHE schools.
How have you been supporting yourself? Do you still have contact with your parents? Have you already been accepted to the school you are transferring to next fall and how will you be paying for that? I admire your drive and determination in turning things around and working toward a goal. I agree with everyone the best way to get into a good grad school is to do the best you can now. Please don’t get caught up in the only good grad schools are in the Ivy League.
Thank you guys for all of the feedback. Sorry for taking forever to respond. I’ve been a little busy. I’d like to start by saying that I was accepted to one of the three schools I previously mentioned and I will be attending in the fall of 18. I’ve been supporting myself by working full time but I doubt that’ll be enough to pay for school. I do talk to my mother every now and then but I do not like to. Our relationship is not the best. I’m actually currently in the process of being approved for a dependency override, so wish me luck! As for the grad school situation… I’ve come to the realization that one does not need to attend an ivy in order to feel as if they have made an impact on society, although it would be nice to attend one, obviously. I am going to weigh out my options as times goes by and just see where life takes me.