<p>in high school, I performed quite poorly academically since i spent my time doing research instead of focusing on school work (and I published in a prestigious scientific journal , however that didnt carry over to the admissions officers). As a result of this I did not get into the colleges I wanted to.</p>
<p>In college, my first semester was HORRID...a 2.3 gpa. It was all my fault. I felt like a failure for not getting into the schools I wanted, I was surrounded by people whose work ethic/goals were pulling me down, and as a result had no motivation to work. Later during that semester, my grandfather had a lethal heart attack and my family was in a state of shock. This trauma also got to me and had me worried about what was going to happen.</p>
<p>My second semester improved slightly (a 3.0) but still nowhere near what I wanted to get. Over this break I realized that if I want to make my dreams come true, I have to stop dwelling in the past and work towards the future. The problem is that I think (actually I kinda know) its too late in the process for me to come back. My dream school is .Cornell. I know its WAY out of reach at this point since even if I manage to get a 4.0 next sem, my total gpa will only be a 3.2. The realistic voice in me has absolutely no desire to spend $70 for a rejection letter. The other part of me however, has a desire to apply. I just want a reality check. I know things didn't turn out the way I wanted too. I'm just trying to convince myself to settle for less even though thats not what I want...</p>
<p>Why not take an extra semester to get your academic and emotional life together? Nowhere is it written that you MUST apply to transfer right now.</p>
<p>Yes. Study another year and apply as a junior.
And if it’s a CC, you can take winter/summer sessions and get in more classes that way (to bump up your GPA).</p>
<p>I can relate to, “I was surrounded by people whose work ethic/goals were pulling me down”, but don’t use it as an excuse. I found the majority of the student body to be dull at first, but when I started looking I ended up finding some really smart kids to work with. Try to surround yourself with hardwork/motivated people, it always helps :)</p>
<p>just to clear a few things up, im already a sophomore, which would mean i would have to apply next semester for the following fall .that gives me this semester and some next semester, just raising my gpa up to a 3.4 if im really lucky. that low a gpa with that low a hs record is a serious crapshoot and i know it wont make the cut.
im just trying to do my best to make my application as competitive as possible besides these two MAJOR set backs, and to accept this hard truth. my record didnt turn out the way i wanted too and i probably wont get in, i guess its something i will have to accept, though im not really sure how too .</p>
<p>i applied to cornell twice because i was rejected the first time. my gpa is still pretty low for their normal applicants, but i was accepted because i showed that i really belong there. if you work hard and get those grades up and then prove that you’re a changed person and now you’re dedicated to your work, they will see that in you. if you can, take a full semester’s worth of credits over the summer to bring that gpa up and to prove that you can continue to do good work. PM me if you have any questions because i also started out poorly, including high school and my first semester at college, and now i’m accepted and will be attending in the spring.</p>