I won't give up, but I need help

Applying to College
1

<p>Hi everyone! Long time viewer, first time poster here! I've learned so much from this forum already, and I need help right now when it looks like no one else in my life is able to do so.</p>

<p>Well, as you see, I used to be a really smart student, valedictorian. Then I went to one of the nationally ranked high schools instead of a local one because I thought I would challenge myself.</p>

<p>Well...it looks like i'm getting slammed. Straight As in freshman year, then sophomore year As and some Bs, then in second semester everything just piled up on me. I started pulling several all nighters, not being able to finish work on time, and stopped talking to a lot of my friends to gain back time for school. </p>

<p>It didn't work.</p>

<p>I was slammed, got 3 Cs and 1 D. Now in junior year, i've been trying a lot harder and dropped out of a lot of my honors classes, but I'm still finding difficulty. i have 4 Bs and 1 C and this semester it looks like i'll end up with a D in chemistry. my SATs are subpar with only an 1800 and my school won't let me take AP classes if i'm not enrolled. The surrounding schools have also turned me down.</p>

<p>At one point, my counselors told me that I need a few days off to recooperate, and they were afraid of my appearance because i was so drained from school and the extraciriculars. I've since dropped all my ECs but Red Cross, but nothing's working. </p>

<p>It's just so frustrating that everything came down so hard, so fast. From being the top my whole life to suddenly scraping at the bottom. I am looking into taking the ACTs, CLEP, SAT IIs, anything to show that i'm not as stupid as I look in school. What should I do to make up for my lackluster GPA? (3.6 weighted)</p>

<p>Is there any other standardized test, academic pursuit, awards/achivements, online courses, that will show admissions people that I am a dedicated student, but just had a rough stretch at school? I don't want my grades to define who I am, and i'm willing to do anything to show that I am a motivated student! I just need a little brainstorming from you guys hahaha. </p>

<p>So...do your smart CC thing and use some of those superpowers lol! I've been searching threads and Stanford's EPGY program sounds nice since there's online courses right? Iono...what should I do to beef up my academic resume?</p>

<p>Oh, schools I want to get into...Texas: Austin, Florida, and UCSD. I am a Junior, asian male. (Yes...i'm a stupid asian, and i'm freaking out!!!) My extraciriculars are really good in that I have 400 volunteer hours since i've been volunteering since 8th grade, I published a book, ran a marathon, on a track team (until I dropped out to focus on grades), and am setting up a venture capital firm over the summer and I have an internship at MTV this summer too.</p>

<p>Help, I need it right now and i know that I can do this. Just need a little help, please. </p>

<p>:(</p>

2

<p>nationally ranked high school..hmm..is the curriculum that much tougher?</p>

<p>What is your unweighted GPA?</p>

<p>Oh, this might make you feel at ease. My sibling got into UC San Diego this year with a 2.9 unweighted, 3.4 weighted and a 1880 SAT score. Yeah, it was rough for her, but she had an amazing list of EC's.</p>

<p>Maybe you should reconsider your daily work habits. Talk to your teachers about how you could improve your current grades in your Junior year.</p>

<p>Take AP classes next year...if you're up for it.</p>

<p>There isn't really a way...unless you make a really convincing essay for the application.</p>

3

<p>Hmmm...since you published a book, might wanna emphasize that on a hook. I published a book too and from reading the threds with "hooks" generally that's considered a big one.</p>

<p>Also, nationally ranked? What is that? Top 50? Top 100? I go to a top 100 school myself so I was wondering if I could emphasize that on college applications also hahahah. Can anyone help me here? :)</p>

<p>Looks like in general, you have some serious hooks. Does anyone here on CC know how good it is to run the marathon in terms of using it as a hook, tip, or nudge? In my opinion, that's amazing.</p>

<p>Sorry I couldn't be much of a help hahaha, maybe some other kind soul will help out? :)</p>

4

<p>While it's unlikely that you'll get into places like HPYS, there are plenty of four-year colleges that happily would accept you. Concentrate on grades now, not ECs. It's mainly the very top tier one colleges anyway that use ECs as factors in admission. </p>

<p>Have you considered getting counseling evaluation and/or having a medical evaluation? It could be that a physical or emotional problem like depression is causing you to struggle so much with your grades. </p>

<p>As for going to a nationally ranked school, colleges take that into consideration. GCs include such information with their GC report. However, top colleges aren't going to find "D" grades acceptable even when a student is from a top high school. After all, there are plenty of students from top high schools who have stellar grades across the board.</p>