<p>I don't think i can go to a decent college and i wanted to but i don't know what to do. I feel cheated because neither of my parents really went to a university only my mom went to a junior college and for two years. I basically did the college search/applying thing on my own besides the help of counselors (kind of). I read alot of people with better stats than me going to decent colleges, i feel i am deserving but i don't think that they (admissions) care. It sucks colleges just judge applicants by grades and scores rather than true character. I have been through alot and there were times i had to miss school and my grades would suffer. I don't want to complain because i know that the people that get into those good universities probably worked their butts offs. Uggghhhh it just sucks that i let the things in my life limit me eventhough they have led to my growth as a person. It also sucks that i too might have to resort to a community college. Oye x_x.</p>
<p>Do not limit yourself when applying, just be realistic.
Also, you should have no blame or guilt. Many kids do not take AP’s (on CC this is likely not the norm) and get accepted to many schools everywhere.</p>
<p>Focus on making a suitable list of schools you should apply to re: stats, cost, location, etc…</p>
<p>You will be the first in your family to get a college degree. Somewhere on the app they ask about that. That looks good for you. Show your motivation in your essays and teacher recs. Apply to some state schools. You do not need to attend a top university to succeed. Look at some tier two schools. Privates may send money your way. </p>
<p>I will tell you what I have stressed to my kids- You can go anywhere and be anything!</p>
<p>Post your stats and maybe we can assist you in where to apply. Are you a junior? Location? Cost of school or amount your parents can afford each year… By the way, many great students go to community college and transfer after (or before) the two year mark. There is nothing wrong with that if it works for you.</p>
<p>You will be fine. Do not despair.</p>
<p>What is the point of this thread? Do you want suggestions?
You definately had some challenges in life that lots of kids haven’t had, but there are many people who are in the same situation as you. Unless your stats are way below par you can still go to a decent school. By reading your post, I can see that you need a real kick in the rear. Maybe some inspiration and believe me since your parents didn’t give you that boost if you keep complaining like you are many people on CC will. First off stop comparing youself to the people on CC. Second, if you have to go to community college then that is what you have to do, but make sure that you work your butt off so you can transfer to that “decent” school you wish you could go to. And trust me colleges do take into mind people’s personal character. You seem to have a great story to tell, channel some energy into an amazing essay. I wish you the best of luck and most importantly I hope you find some inspiration to make you dreams come true. If you want some suggestions as to what schools to apply to tell us what your looking for and I’ll make sure to give you some feedback. </p>
<p>Ciao</p>
<p>I’ve done everything by myself even though my parents both went to college. Get over it. You’ll probably get more out of the process anyways rather than having your parents do it all. Believe me, a person very close to me has basically done his whole college process through his parents, and he has little legitimate reasons for applying to the schools he is. Anyways, for the process, I’d suggest</p>
<p>1) Start with the Princeton Review’s Counselor-O-Matic, it gives you a great baseline.
2) Start looking at college books in your school or town library. If you like one, buy it. Start getting a feel for the kinds of colleges you like, what you don’t want, etc.
3) Through CC, start finalizing your list.
4) Apply!</p>
<p>Also, to be honest with you…stop complaining about your parents’ lack of education. Yes, it sucks, but there are worse situations in the world. In fact, it could actually help you in the admissions process - admissions officers view “first-gen”, or kids who are the first generation in their family to go to college, in a different light than kids whose parents got masters’ from HYPSM.</p>
<p>In addition, the character colleges are looking for is not what you’re showing us right now. Stop complaining and do something - make the best of your situation. Your parents aren’t going to get better degrees and start pushing you, so accept it and start pushing yourself. Colleges like a self-motivated student, making the most of their opportunities, much more than someone who whines about the opportunities they’ve been denied.</p>
<p>My parents don’t really care about my education either. They don’t even know what SAT’s were until I told them I had to take this 4 hour test to get into college. So I totally understand about the complaining part, how I wish I could just rewind and start my life over again lol </p>
<p>If you’re not applying to a top school, then you have nothing to worry about. If you are… then honestly, if you cared enough about your education, then maybe you should’ve done your own research. Self-motivated people don’t need asian parents pushing them to do ap’s, contests, clubs, etc. </p>
<p>You mentioned that you had to go through a lot; you could definitely write your essays on those.</p>
<p>Yeah that’s how i feel, and I did everything in finding my colleges to apply to. I just wish earlier they could have made me do more to get me ready, but oh well they didn’t (heheh). My main purpose was to vent, and ask if anyone knows of a pretty good college for B averaging students. I don’t mind junior colleges, but my mom thinks i can do better (so in her honor i’d prefer not to go).
As far as my stats:
ACT:21
GPA:3.3
I have done a substantial amount of extra-curricular activities, but i don’t hold alot of leadership positions (i didn’t know it was important to hold leadership positions)</p>
<p>Besides being a P.E. leader though. I was chosen (I assist the P.E. teachers: help take attendance, and etc.).
And the Student Focus Group member. Where i was chosen to participate in too.</p>
<p>My mom is sick so she is disabled and we are kind of really broke.</p>
<p>thanks for your help.</p>
<p>What is your home state, tb? Sometimes in-state colleges are a great idea because you get in state tuition. Or some states have reciprocity agreements with nearby states.</p>
<p>What majors are you thinking you might be interested in?</p>
<p>(Are you by any chance interested in ROTC?)</p>
<p><a href=“http://go2.bgsu.edu/choose/welcome/[/url]”>http://go2.bgsu.edu/choose/welcome/</a>
What about Bowling Green State University? </p>
<p>You may even qualify for a scholarship.
[Financing</a> Your Education: Scholarships - BGSU Admissions](<a href=“http://go2.bgsu.edu/choose/aid/scholarships/]Financing”>http://go2.bgsu.edu/choose/aid/scholarships/)</p>
<p>I don’t have any personal experience with this school but my friend’s husband graduated from there a long time ago. His son was just accepted for the Fall 2010. The son really liked it when he visited. I believe it’s 2nd on his college list.</p>
<p>ASU would love you!!!</p>
<p>Spiralcloud is right…there are plenty of schools that will accept you. ASU might be a good choice too, seeing as how if you work hard, you could apply later on to the Honors College (or do it now, if you feel you’re competitive for it.) </p>
<p>Although reading your post, it’s sounds like you’re done applying anyways, and truly are just complaining. There’s nothing I can do to help that, and I don’t understand how you could think you could get into a good college “just because” for 4 or more years. Even if you didn’t have someone who had been through the process before, you could have done some research. </p>
<p>No one told me to take AP classes, I did so on my own. No one told me how to find colleges to apply to, I did the searching on my own, and by talking to friends and adults around me. </p>
<p>There are plenty of places that would accept a B student. (I assume you mean B with no honors/etc) If you live in Arizona, or one of the WUE states [WICHE</a> - Student Exchange Programs](<a href=“http://wue.wiche.edu/]WICHE”>http://wue.wiche.edu/) You could probably get accepted into one of those schools, and get scholarships. </p>
<p>You complained that schools don’t care about you so much as statistics. This is somewhat true. The schools that care about strictly stats fall on two ends of the scale: The elite schools that want a certain level of student, and expect standards to be met, and the schools that are formula based admissions [Ie: ASU] and really blatently state the scores you need to get in. (You have them.) Those are the schools most likely to accept you. The schools that do have ‘holistic’ admissions and take into account everything, might accept you, but would prefer to see you actively overcoming your first-gen road blocks by doing something like taking an AP class, or being active in clubs, etc.</p>
<p>My school didn’t even have APs, my mother was in and out of rehab nonstop during my early highschool years, and we were poor for the majority of my life. I’m at Emory. Quit complaining and take initiative.</p>
<p>There’s still time! If you can write essays that explain your situation and show how you’ve grown while not blaming anyone or taking the “I didn’t know” route, then you’re solid! 
</p>
<p>Just especially avoid saying you didn’t know leadership positions were important to get into college. The point of leadership positions is that kids do them because they want to or that they’re natural born leaders (something that schools looooove), NOT because they feel like it’ll get them into college (something that schools don’t loooove). My counselor said that there is nothing worse than passionless ECs for the sake of college admissions.</p>
<p>I strongly suggest that as you look for colleges emphasize places that are likely to accept you and to give you the financial aid you need. This may mean local community or four-year public colleges that you can commute. Many smart, excellent students start at community colleges and then go on to get their bachelors’ degrees from strong 4-year colleges. Some even end up at Ivies.</p>
<p>Some also end up getting their graduate or professional degrees at top colleges.</p>
<p>Often the people who do best in life are those who are like you – lacked college-educated parents who pushed them along. What you’re seeing as a hinderance now may actually be a benefit for you because you’re learning research, assertiveness and other skills that will serve you well for a lifetime.</p>
<p>3.3 gpa is good you can get into most schools with that.</p>
<p>I agree with soccer: Your gpa will gain your acceptance to most schools. What you have to worry about, though, is how to pay for college. That’s why I strongly suggest that you lern as much as possible about financial aid, and make sure you’re applying to some colleges that you know you’ll be accepted to and can afford without a staggering amount of loans. </p>
<p>This is why most students go to a public college within 250 miles of their home: Most students have to consider finances when selecting their colleges.</p>
<p>It doesn’t really matter which college you get into; it’s more about what you do when you get into them. </p>
<p>So now you know what to do when you get to college.</p>
<p>I am from Illinois, and would love to work in the health or science field. I applied to some state colleges in Illinois. I am unsure whether or not I am going to be the right candidate.</p>
<p>Yeah, I know, I was venting, but I am not going to stop my progress. I’m going to try to do the best where ever I go, and keep on pushing. I just needed somewhere to vent, and some college suggestions. Thanks though, and keep up the great work, youre doing great.</p>
<p>Your stats are good enough for a lot of colleges, especially instate or slightly obscure private colleges.
You shouldn’t blame your parents though. Neither of my parents went to college here, one of them didn’t even go to college, and they don’t know much about the American school system. I had to find my own ways and push myself, which I think might be the case for many other students.</p>