<p>There are something like 4000 colleges in the US. The vast majority of CC posters are focusing on the “top” 100 (I put top in quotes because that’s how they are seen – but, guess what? Highly selective schools like chef schools or specialty programs like the Coast Guard Academy would not be on that list of “top” schools even though no one does what they do better!). </p>
<p>Yeah, having a pushy parent helps. So does having a trust fund. So does having a perfect body and perfect hair. Somehow Oprah and David Letterman and Steven Speilburg and Barack Obama managed anyway. Come on, Ugly Duckling – start paddling and work your way up to Swan. People do so all the time.</p>
<p>Lol, dont even start complaining. My parents have no idea about my education and I somehow managed 5 5s in APs with 3.9 GPA. It isnt your parents ,it’s you. You should have motivated yourself.</p>
<p>Quit complaining. Plenty of us have parents who don’t know or care about college or APs, forcing us to push ourselves. If you didn’t have the motivation to do this, then you’ll end up right where you belong.</p>
<p>Life is a continual learning process - it does not end in high school. It does not matter as much where you go to college if you want to succeed. It’s the motivation that comes from within that matters. Go to the best college you can go to even if you start out in Community college. Do as well as you possibly can. You can choose to transfer if you want after two years, but either way, do as well as you can and the options will open up.</p>
<p>Illinois has lots of good schools - Northern Illinois, Illinois State, UIC Chicago, Southern Ill. All of them you have a good chance for admission. Just be sure to apply for financial aid. You will probably be able to do work study plus work in summer to help pay.</p>
<p>Your stats are not as dismal as you made them sound. The health care field is excellent to go into. Even with the economy as it is health care is still in demand. Have you thought of nursing schools? Community colleges have nursing programs as well as 4 year colleges and there are usually ample scholarships for that. Also, hospitals sometimes have programs for nursing, surgical technology, rad techs etc. Do you research. Sit with your guidance counselor and bring a list of questions and fire away. It is not a let down to start at community college. I did and transferred to William and Mary and earned a master’s degree from there. They gladly accepted my 2 year degree. Many state colleges have articulation agreements. It will cost your cost tremendously. Good luck.</p>
<p>yeah so far i applied to UIUC and university of minnesota. I’m going to apply to some more schools (late admission) when i get back to school from break.</p>
<p>Wow, stop whining. Not everyone who is successful is only successful because their parents pushed them to work hard. Some people are actually just driven to work hard. Nobody is a pro at applying to college. Parents who applied to college 25 years ago aren’t pros either because it’s totally different. you’re overestimating the power of <em>smart,</em> <em>supportive</em> parents. it doesn’t really matter.</p>
<p>However, I’d start applying to need-based scholarships… today</p>