Let me just start by saying 2014-2016 were the worst 2 years if my life. I lost sight of everything that was important (especially grades) and finally checked myself into rehab last summer. Now I’m in my senior year with a 3.7gpa, 4 AP classes, and I just got my 1200 SAT. However, senior year doesn’t really matter and Im still stuck with a 2.4 GPA to apply to college with. I honestly don’t know what to do guys.
Community college.
Community college is a good option.
However, if you have truly made a turn around, this is where a strong essay in which you discuss what happened, the lessons you learned and how you have changed, coupled with good recommendation letters, can help. If you can get recs from someone who knew you before and can write about the changes in you, that would be great. Depending on the school/program, perhaps an interview or a visit with the department where you can present yourself can help.
@techmom99 would it be a good idea to explicitly state why I was uninvolved in school? I have no doubt that I could write a brilliant essay to explain myself but I’m afraid I will be instantly turned away if I mention rehab.
Depending on what state you live in, the community college --> four year school is not just a great idea, but one that is actively promoted wit ha lot of assistance structurally. You’ve been through a lot at a young age, and you won’t have to be penalized the rest of your life for that. In fact, ace community college, and what you’ve gained from your life experiences so far could even be an asset.
Yes, if you do well in community college, you may have more choices of four year schools to transfer to than you may have now applying as a frosh.
With your GPA, the sorts of schools that would accept you won’t look at essays. They’ll be the sort of school that accepts a wide swath of students w/o looking at individual circumstances.
Community college is a great “baby step” to get into the groove to 1) pound out some gen ed credits inexpensively 2) give yourself confidence so you can see your full potential 3) control your environment more so than at a residential college 4) be around your support systems.
Best of luck to you
What are your parents saying about how much they’ll pay for college?
There are some schools that accept nearly anyone, but those aren’t schools that give much/any aid. Your parents would have to pay for much/all costs.
If you need aid for college, then you really have no choice but to go to a CC first.
It seems from your previous posts that you are from CA. The CC–> UC transition is well supported. Work for that.
Thank you so much everybody. Your posts were very reassuring to me. I applied to long beach (it’s a stretch I know), east bay, SFSU, and CSUMB today and am going to apply to UCSC. If I don’t get accepted to ANY of those Colleges god forbid, the CC to UC is my immediate option(and probably my only option) either way I have no doubt of my potential to succeed and that I will get the appropriate education to continue to med school for psychiatry. Any other suggestions is helpful
@mom2collegekids my parents have said they’ll pay for my tuition. I’m looking at heavy student loans for medical school tho
@T26E4 those types of colleges would still give me an appropriate education though, wouldn’t you say?
Assuming that you are a California resident…
You mention a 3.1 GPA in other posts. What is your GPA as calculated by the UC/CSU method?
http://www.csumentor.edu/planning/high_school/gpa_calculator.asp
At a 2.4 GPA, your CSU EI would be 2.4 * 800 + 1200 = 3120, which would get you into non-impacted majors at non-impacted CSUs, and perhaps some of other the less selective majors/campuses. At a 3.1 GPA, your CSU EI would be 3.1 * 800 + 1200 = 3680, which may gain admission to more CSU majors/campuses, but not the most selective ones. The UC minimum eligibility GPA is 3.0, but a 3.1 GPA would not be competitive at UCs (even UCM would likely be a high match at best).
If you go to community college and do well and apply as a junior level transfer, your high school grades do not affect your transfer application to UC or CSU. https://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/infocenter/transfers-major can give you an idea of how well you need to do in community college to transfer to a UC.
I honestly don’t know. If I was an admissions officer, which I am not and never have been, I would have great respect for someone who would be honest enough to talk about rehab. OTOH, maybe it might be better to apply to colleges where essays are needed and then transfer when you have a good record because maybe actual AO’s do care about that in a negative way.
In any event, good luck to you and I hope that you find your way to the education that is best for you.
@ucbalumnus my UC gpa IS a 2.4 so I do have a fair chance at getting into some of the schools I applied to like SFSU, east bay, and Monterey bay but since I’m going to medical school, and I know this is going off topic a bit, should I focus on getting into prestigious schools via CC since I understand med schools look at the college attended. Not getting into medical school is not an option.
UC GPA required to apply to any UC is 3.0. East Bay is a non-impacted campus so you should have no problem in getting an acceptance. CSUMB is possible and SFSU could be possible depending upon major.
I would add Channel Islands, Dominguez Hills and/ or Bakersfield to your list which are non-impacted campuses or consider the community college route.
@Gumbymom wait so if my UC gpa is a 2.4…Im not even eligible to apply??
Yes, you need a 3.0 or higher for a UC. For CSU’s it is 2.0 GPA and minimum EI of 2900.
^^ That is one reason the CC --> UC bridge is used so often.
Apply to a state school. You have a good SAT score and a lot of colleges will accept you. It is up to you to do well.