Hi, I’m a junior in high school right now thinking about college. I have terrible grades, and due to COVID-19 I probably won’t be able to take the SAT/ACT. I need help forming a college list. I want to stay closer to my home in NY and am NOT interested in community college or the military.
My STATS:
GPA: UW-68| W-74
SAT: None:
Hooks: URM
ECs:
JV soccer-9th grade
Jack and Jill Workshop.
I also have a disciplinary record with my high school, as I have been suspended before. I have learned from my mistakes of 9th and 10th grade.
I really want a shot at a 4 year college. What colleges might accept me, and how can I improve my stats?
class of 2020 here (HS senior) and I’m from NYC. I believe many schools request senior year transcripts, so it’s important that you don’t slack off next year. With the whole COVID-19 situation, it’ll be hard to boost your stats & ECs since we’re all stuck at home. But, this just gives you more time to work on your essays, which are an extremely important aspect of your application that you should focus on. Focus on what you can control and don’t stress too much over what you can’t.
That being said, I’m no expert but I will try my best. What are you looking to study in the future (major)?
I absolutely believe if you feel ready to work hard you can be ready for 4 year college and do well in it now matter what your first two years of high school were like. I hope you find a school that you love. Good luck!
I think with that GPA you should do your best to get an SAT test in this fall. Test optional is usually best for those with super high grades and impressive ECs.
There are lots of colleges. The trick is paying for them. What’s the budget you and your family have for college? That will likely drive the search.
Given your GPA, are you on-track to graduate on time? Will you need to take credit recovery classes? What is you’re school/district/state policy on re-taking classes and how they count in GPA?
Can you provide more detail on your actual classes taken and results? This is important, because with a 68% UW GPA/74%W GPA, that indicates that you a) may have failed some classes, and b) are taking challenging courses. It might matter where your low grade distribution lies vs. what you’re trying to study in college, AND whether or not you can recover from it. For example, if you’re interested in studying English Literature, and you got “As” in Honors Eng 1, AP English II, and AP English 3, but you got a “D” or “F” in Phys Ed, and Physics, that might paint a very different picture for colleges than if, for example, you want to be an mechanical engineer, and got “Ds” in Algebra, Physics, and a “C” in Geometry".
How are you doing now, in your Junior year? Has there been a significant rise in your academic performance this year? If so, how much?
Do you know what you want to study in college? If so, what is it?
When you say that you want to stay closer to your home in New York, do you mean that you want to live at home and commute? If so, you’ll have to be more specific about what region of New York. OR, do you mean that you want to stay in New York, or on the East Coast?
Have you participated in any ECs that support what you want to study in college?
You said that you have a school disciplinary record, and a suspension. Is your discipline referral(s) the result of a violent assault? ← I’m not asking you to answer that here. I’m asking you to consider it, because it might be a factor in where you can be admitted in the future.
Are there any teachers or administrators who will write glowing letters of recommendation? Do you have any community leaders (a boss, a Director for a non-profit that you volunteer with, a religious leader, etc…) who would be willing to write letters of recommendation.
Do you have a job?
What is your budget for college? What can your family (parents/guardians) actually afford to pay, per year for college?
@sybbie719 is one of our NYS experts. She might have ideas for you.
What can you and your family afford to pay? Yes, there are plenty of places out there that would be happy to take you with your record, but you aren’t going to qualify for any merit-based aid. Your first place to look should be in the CUNY/SUNY system.
Let’s not kid each other, you do not have a terrible gpa from COVID-19 because those grades are no in yet. To have an overall 68 gpa, junior year, you have been coasting/doing the minimum for a minute. The for real for real is that the only reason you are going to get into community college is because you will graduate high school. With the current GPA, you will not be eligible for the more selective competitive programs at the CC.
Unfortunately OP’s grades are too low to get into a 4/year CUNY or SUNY.
What do your regents scores look like?
Have you achieved college readiness on your regents (since you are not taking the ACT/SAT)
Don’t look down your nose at community college. Every SUNY/CUNY 2 year school has an articulation agreement with 4 year schools. Most of the CUNY CC have articulation agreements with the CCTOP at NYU (automatic 1/2 scholarship) and the land grant programs at Cornell.
If you want the “going away” experience, then you can start at community college where there are dorms.
The parent in me says with a 68 gpa, you would have to give me a really good reason for paying for anything outside of the local CC. If you have not demonstrated that you can take care of your business and you are living at your parents roof.
URM and Jack and Jill, do not make up for you not taking care of your academic business.
My parents are open to anything. My family just really wants me to go to college. I have an older sister already attending an expensive, prestigious college.
My suspension wasn’t anywhere near a violent assault. Just some stupidity I did in my lower grade. As of right now I’m on track to graduate. I have to admit that I’m really trying hard this semester, but I could be doing better.
I haven’t taken any honors or advanced classes. Would taking an online course help to improve my resume?
I’m interested in business, so probably economics or business as my major. I have decent math grades.
I’m open to commuting or living on campus. I just really want to go to college. I know I’ve messed up, but I believe college will open me up to opportunities to improve myself.
I don’t know how I can take more EC’s during this pandemic. I do have my own business, but it’s still in it’s early stages. I’ve made some profit from it.
My sister believes that I should go to CC, but my parents are against it. The CC’s in my area are like big party schools. Basically the 13th grade. My parents don’t want to pay for a CC out of state, because it’ll basically be the same price as a public 4 year. My PSAT was pretty decent. I believe I would’ve done well on the SAT/ACT if given the opportunity.
You should sign up for the SAT. You have Aug and Sept. Without that, I don’t know anywhere that would take you as test optional given your GPA. You’re sure your parents are willing to pay $50-70k a year out of pocket? You can look for 4 year schools with open admissions.
I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but given the information that you’ve provided, your academic results, and your location constraints, community college is probably going to be the only viable option. And, that’s not a bad thing! Nor, something to look down upon.
The reality is that college is expensive. So far, you haven’t really demonstrated that you have a strong commitment to academic performance and high achievement. I’d suspect that it’s not because you can’t, but because you’ve prioritized other things (probably far less important things) over your performance in school.
I agree with your parents that, by hook or by crook, you should go to college. BUT, it looks like you need time to develop and mature before being tackling the rigors of a 4-year university, and BEFORE it costs your family an obscene amount of money. Being a strong student is about more than just being smart. It’s about having strong academic habits (studying, engagement, drive, commitment, follow-through, quest for excellence, etc…). It doesn’t sound like you’re there yet. It sounds like you want, very much, to get there. I think that you can, but it’s not a matter of just saying, “Now I’m going to act right.” Strong habits develop over time. Simultaneously, you’ll need to break the bad ones that lead to low performance. A community college can give you the time and support to develop the habits that will lead to persistence and success.
With another child in college, your parents have to understand that your current prospects are challenging, and limited in so far as admissions. It’s non-existent for any type of merit aid. You may need to talk to them about realistic prospects. If they’re unwilling to support community college, then it’s time for a really serious conversation about how much they’re willing to spend on private and/or out of state colleges that have very low graduation rates, and are likely ‘party schools’.
I think that the facts may serve you well:
You need to a supportive environment to strengthen your academic skills.
You'll want to save money taking general education requirements.
You'll have a stronger shot at more reputable and successful universities if you demonstrate your ability to succeed in community college.
You'll have a shot at merit aid as a transfer student.
Good for you for wanting to turn your life around! I think CC can be a wonderful opportunity. Most subject matters build upon prior knowledge. With a 68 average, I’d be concerned that you missed some fundamental information that you need as a building block for a successful college career. Right now you want to get that foundational knowledge as cheap as possible, and the CC route will probably be the cheapest for you. Once you get that foundational knowledge, you can take off!
If you can pull off good grades for your junior year, then you will increase your chances. Different kids mature at different times. Schools need some indication that you have matured and that you can do it. Even one year of good grades will at least start to make this point.
Also, I agree with @vc1288 that you want to continue to work hard for your senior year of high school. You want good grades for your senior year. There are at least three reasons for this. One big one is that you need to get yourself ready for college. Everything that you learn this year and next will be helpful when you get to college. The stronger that you are at math, English, writing, reading, and study skills the better off you will be going forward. Another issue is that some schools (not all) will ask for your first semester senior year grades if you are close to the cutoff. Finally, if you do not get into a 4 year university, then if you reapply after a gap year or if you look to transfer after only one year of community college then your senior year grades will matter.