<p>All the way up to the 8th grade, I've gotten straight A's across the board. And then, from the 8th grade onward, my grades have been going downhill. I'm starting my Junior year in a few days, and as it stands, I have an overall GPA of 2.8... I really want to pursue a major in software engineering, or structural engineering. But now I have no chance for getting into Cornell or MIT. And after seeing the Wall Street Journal's rankings for starting salary, mid career salary for each school, it made things worse. I just now realize how immensely important these next two years are going to be.</p>
<p>If I pull myself together, stop being so lazy, and get my GPA way up, would I have a chance of getting into a good school? And, does attending the Singapore American School help at all. </p>
<p>Thanks In Advance,
Frank</p>
<p>It depends on how you define your "future." If you limit your future to the 4 years most people spend in college, your lower grades have probably decreased the number of schools to which you are likely to be a viable candidate. If you define your future as your entire life, it is absurd to think it is ruined. It is beyond cliche to point out the number of enormously successful people who were poor high school students or who went to universities out of the top 100. No matter how you define success - happiness, money, fame, power, control - there are innumerable examples of folks who have achieved it from the same position you're in, and worse.</p>
<p>I'm not even going to go into the ways that that list is messed up.</p>
<p>Contrary to popular belief, there is life outside the Ivies. You won't be able to get in to the Ivies. I suggest you learn about some other schools.</p>
<p>Well, If by 'good school' you mean Ivy's and MIT, I'm sorry, but I don't think it would be possible. Even if you get a 4.0 your junior year, you still will only have around a 3.2. The good news is that there are DOZENS of great schools that still would accept you. Out of the approximately 2,000 private, 4 year colleges in America, your GPA will only be shutting you out of around the top 50-70, there's still a lot of room up there at some good schools. You could even go to a decent state school, work your butt off, then transfer into a more prestigious school after the first few years, so don't worry too much.</p>
<p>pheww... thanks everyone! I do feel a lot better about my situation now. I just need to find a better system for organizing, study my butt off for the SAT's this year, and hopefully things will work out =]</p>
<p>yea definitely work harder, but dont be discouraged -- you may not go to the ivies or mit but there are plenty of good schools out there that you'll be able to do great at...good luck!</p>
<p>I recommend you get the book "What Smart Students Know". It is written by a founder of the Princeton Review prep service and explains how to study different subjects. What's happened to you isn't that uncommon; when you were younger you were able to coast on your native intelligence and never had to learn how to study effectively. As you get older the standards rise and that isn't enough anymore. But you can improve your study skills and get back to the kind of grades you want.</p>
<p>MikeMac,</p>
<p>Highly recommend that same book as previous poster. Get your act together, learn how to study and prioritize your time. Going to the top college isn't the goal - getting into the right college for you, graduating and getting in your career in the goal.</p>
<p>where can u find the wall street journal rankings?</p>