I Need Help (My Future)... :(

College Confidential Community
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<p>A couple of months ago (6-7), I started a thread entitled: "Is 20 too late for college?" I appreciate every single comment left on that thread, and offer my kindest regards. </p>

<p>From this point on, i'm going to try to be as honest and sincere as possible, and i apologize if the post-length exceeds what you guys are used to reading on internet message boards. </p>

<p>Before I ever graduated highschool, i had been suffering from a severe bout of clinical depression and social anxiety due to certain personal incidences that had occurred years before. In my senior year (at 18), most of my friends had already been accepted to college & happy to leave home. I on the other hand, had been caught up and overwhelmed by negative emotions for so long, that I didn't even care about my future. I was also never really certain about what i wanted to do in life. These negative thoughts led to a continuous & unescapable loop of hopelessness; and by the time i turned 20 & made that other thread (is 20 too late...), i was already panicking & regretting how much of my life I was wasting. </p>

<p>Now, i am still 20 (turn 21 in 4-5 months), but no progress has been made. I don't have a car, i don't have girlfriend (or friends), i don't have a cell-phone, i don't have a job or college education, and i still live with my parents: i don't have a life. :( I'm trying desperately to try to change my thinking patterns, radically turn my life around and get on track, but the thoughts of me getting older & not getting anywhere are just too overpowering. I don't have any close friends to talk too, and the household i live in is extremely dysfunctional. </p>

<p>To get to the gist of this post, I recently (last week) went to FIU and asked to apply for admission as soon as possible, but they told me that the closest semester available to start in was Sring of 2008 (I literally dropped my jaw). In contrast, the nearest community college still has spots available for even summer '07 - which actually start on Monday. I have this preconceived notion about community colleges that they generally suck and are for below-intelligence individuals who performed poorly in highschool, so i find myself dealing with a catch-22 scenario right now & i'm extremely confused about what I should do. </p>

<p>I don't want to start FIU in the sprng of '08 because i think i'd be too old and i'd feel uncomfortable, and i don't want to apply to community college because of my preconceived notions. </p>

<p>I just want to get my life on track & stop wasting time. What do you think I should do? Is it possible to start at cc now in the summer and then transfer into fiu in the fall or something? Also, any personal-life advice that you'd like to offer would much be appreciated. </p>

<p>I'm sorry again for making this message long. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

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<p>If you check out the Transfer Students section of this forum, you will find a lot of successful community college students there who might be able to help you dispel your preconceived notions. Many of these students are transferring to top schools, including Brown, Wesleyan, Cornell, etc. There's an entire thread on community college transfer results. If you have high aspirations (and I don't see why you shouldn't aim high in spite of a poor high school record), you will have to work on developing your extracurricular interests, earning close to a 4.0 (many students who did poorly in high school accomplish this if they are determined), and earning high test scores (prepping is key if you're not happy with your initial scores; people say months' worth of prepping produces significant results-- like 200-300-point or more gains).</p>

<p>I'm just curious why the earliest entry term for you at FIU is spring '08? Are there any other universities that you could attend earlier?</p>

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<p>I think that the requirements to get into FIU aren't as harsh as some other universities in the area, which is why there's such high demand for it. The nearest other university around here is University of Miami, but it's hell to get into. I went to a really good magnet high school (Coral Reef) - which was actually ranked in the top 10 of News Week's top highschools in the nation survey a few years ago - but my SAT scores are lacking (nerves + emotional baggage). </p>

<p>There's also Barry University & St. Thomas University, but they're waaay too far from where i live. I don't even have a car. </p>

<p>And then there's Miami-Dade Community College. The summer term starts on Monday, and i still haven't even made a decision as to what i'm going to do. I'm just so confused. If only I could start the summer session at mdcc now and then transfer into uni in the fall. I just want to be happy and not worry about my age so much, but i've wasted/am wasting the greatest years of my life and feel really regretfull. :(</p>

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<p>Go to the community college and then transfer to a higher college. Don't worry about your age, you're 20. Most people won't be able to tell the difference, act like it's not a problem and eventually it will.</p>

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<p>take the community college classes as soon as u can! while u wait for the university</p>

<p>dont waste precious time</p>

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<p>Community Colleges do good then transfer.</p>

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<p>Dude your kinda in the situation I was in. Although I did start school at 18 I bounced from school to school. I did attend FIU and it sucked I couldn't believe I was paying so much money for that. I ended up getting a better education at the CC then that poor excuse of a school. I also couldn't find a job for the life of me. Had no license so my mom had to drive me everywhere!</p>

<p>At 19 I said enough and moved to Tampa. Got a job,my license, first car all in a 3 weeks span of being here. Got to do all the things I wanted like sports. People here are so much friendlier too then in SOFLA! And as for school I am suppose to be getting my degree in August and I am awaiting word from the Uni.</p>

<p>So what I am trying to get at is something you should consider is moving to a new city. As for your education take the clep exams. Pass them all and get your two-year degree in a year or less then transfer.</p>

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<p>Maybe you should consider the Honors College at Miami-Dade.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.mdc.edu/honorsCollege/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.mdc.edu/honorsCollege/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>You'd have to meet one of these requirements:</p>

<p>"3.7 GPA, and college level placement on the CPT, SAT or ACT, or
Combined SAT score of 1200, or
Enhanced ACT score of 26"</p>

<p>Hope this helps :)</p>

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<p>A former student of mine started college at Miami Dade when she probably was about 23. After she finished there -- with honors -- she got a scholarship to a 4-year public. She excelled there, graduated with honors and at least 9 job offers from top corporations in her field. About 6 years later -- last year -- she got a fellowship to Harvard in her field, and as a result of doing extremely well in the fellowship, was offered the chance to teach a summer class at Harvard's grad school.</p>

<p>So, as you probably can see, community colleges do attract some stellar students. Also, you're not at all too old to go to college, and even if you were 10 years older, you still wouldn't be too old. I met a woman today who started college when she was in her late 30s, and then went on to get a master's degree and to almost get a doctroate.</p>

<p>I hope that you're getting professional help for your depression and social anxiety. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you!</p>

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<p>I know an old childhood friend who's in a similar situation. I think the best thing for you now is to learn how to let go of your past and get a fresh, new start. Community colleges provide so many opportunities for anyone's academic endeavors that you don't have to feel miserable at all (as long as you act right now).</p>

<p>Also, like many have said, there's nothing wrong with starting college at your age. There are so many decent and open people out there (I'm not trying to be optimistic either) who'll see WHO you are not how OLD you are :)</p>