<p>Hey!
So, I'm freaking out because I don't think I'm EVER going to have the chance to get into the colleges I want to get into.
Here it goes:
-High school sophomore
-3.375 GPA unweighted
-Going to be a full International Baccalaureate student/diploma
-Costume manager at the last school production
-I've moved like 5 times in the past 2 1/2 years. I've been to two high schools three times (I went to 1, then had to transfer to another, and then transferred back to the old one)
-My parents are separated, never married (I don't know if that matters)
-I want to be really politically active (I plan on canvassing for the next local election)
-I don't have any sports/ecs </p>
<p>So, I'm wondering what I should do. I'm not athletic, but I can apply myself. Should I do something unusual as an ec? ANYTHING??! I live in GA, but I hate it and plan on moving out for college. Theses are my dream schools:
-Sarah Lawrence
-Barnard
-Wellesley
-Bryn Mawr
-Columbia
-Oberlin
-The New School (Eugene Lang)
-Yale (Like that's going to happen..)
-College of W&M
I'm from the NE by the way.
I would love a more liberal college</p>
<p>I plan on getting my GPA way up. Hopefully.
Thanks.</p>
<p>If this helps, just calm down. You’ve done everything you can to prepare for this point. Just give it your best effort and you’ll come out on top. Good luck.</p>
<p>If anything, I’m worried too. But there’s not much else that we can do, so I’m just hoping for the best. If I get rejected, then that particular school is just not my place. Good luck to both of us.</p>
<p>Don’t start joining activities for the sake of joining. Think about the things you like to do, and find a way to do one or two.</p>
<p>If you start a sport now, can you get good enough to be recruitable? See what teams play for the schools that interest you, and start learning one of the more obscure sports.</p>
<p>Instead of an activity, it’s fine to get a job, even something as basic as fast food or retail. If your parents are struggling, money may be tighter, so your paycheck will be welcome.</p>
<p>Odd thought: are there a lot of students newly moving into your school? Maybe they’d like to be part of a Newcomer’s Club that offers friendship, support, and ideas about fitting in. (You know about that, don’t you?)</p>
<p>Actually, wouldn’t colleges know something’s up if you signed up for so many ECs when it’s only a month or so before deadlines?
I agree with Woodworker, though - join for the fun and depth of it :)</p>
<p>With your GPA, all the schools on your list are going to be significant reaches. You need to focus on finding several colleges where you will be a more competitive candidate, where you will be happy, and that you can afford. And there are hundreds of colleges where you can get just as good an education as at those very prestigious and expensive colleges on your current list.</p>
<p>You’ve completed one full year of high school and transferred 3 times? That’s pretty disruptive along with the moves and parent separation. Is there any way you can stay in one school? It’s hard to assess GPA when someone is moving several times. In each case, you have missed something because each school will be different, and also adjusting to new teachers and classmates. Your GPA will be more meaningful and possibly better with consistency.
That said, as you approach your senior year, I agree with annasdad that there are also many other fine colleges out there. Your dream schools may be fine if your grades and scores qualify you, but they are highly selective and expensive. At that time you will want to have some other schools on your list as well.
In the meantime, try to focus on the present- doing well in classes, making friends, joining meaningful EC’s, developing your talents, and preparing for PSAT/SAT/ACT. It may be a change in culture to move to GA from the NE, but there are potential friends and benefits there too. Make the most of your opportunities.</p>
<p>A few things: Sounds like money may be an issue in your family. Before you come up with a list of ‘dream schools,’ you need to discuss finances with both of your parents. The fact that they aren’t married doesn’t mean the schools won’t want financial information from both of them and the availability of financial aid is based on what the schools think your parents can pay, not what they want to pay. What this means for many is that their state schools are their best (and sometimes only) options. Find out what your situation is.</p>
<p>Second, look at the Common Data Set for each school on your potential list (google it). Go to Section C for to see the stats for admitted students. If you want to know your chances of admission, that’s where you find out. If you are in the bottom 25% of the class, you will probably need some off-setting strength or hook. </p>
<p>Finally, your academic record may be a bit tricky for them to piece together if you’ve moved that many times in a year. You would do yourself a favor to start now getting to know your guidance counselor so he/she understands your personal situation and can address it in the letter of recommendation that they are required to provide schools.</p>
<p>Thank you everybody. I just want to clear a few things up:
I’ve moved because of family situations (my brother was being bullied, so moved to another school district), so I can’t really control staying in one spot.
Also, thank you Woodworker for the Newcomer’s club post, that’s an awesome idea!
I just really need to move back up to the NE, and all of my family is in NY so I want to go to school there.
thanks!</p>