Is College an Option?

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I'm an American 18-year-old male currently living overseas with the intent of applying to US colleges. I finished grades 9 and 10 in America (private school), then grades 11 and 12 here. By the time I start college I'll be almost 20. I was generally a B/C student during my US high-school career, and performed slightly better for the first half of my UK secondary school career.</p>

<p>GCSE results: English Literature (Higher Tier) - A, History - A, Double-Award Science (Higher Tier) - BB, Religious Studies - B, English Language (Higher Tier) - C (extremely poor time management), Math (Intermediate Tier) - C. By the way, year 11 is the last year of compulsory schooling in the UK. Also worth noting, I entered the GCSE system mid-way, which means I had to quickly catch up on year 10 coursework/exams.</p>

<p>My 6th form/A-Level career was a disaster. I foolishly lost focus and ended up with: English Literature - C (predicted A), History - D (predicted B), Politics - D (predicted B), Economics - E (predicted C). </p>

<p>I didn't stick around for A2's and took the SAT I instead: Writing - 700, Critical Reading - 610, Math - 600. I'm retaking on the 1st of this November (got a Math tutor) but that's how I currently stand. </p>

<p>Community service/volunteer work (grades 9+): BBC - News Departmental Runner (2008); Boys and Girls Club - Homework Mentor (2004); Senior Center - Taught elderly people practical computer skills (2004); Festival - Worked at a food booth (money went to Habitat for Humanity) (2004); School-compulsory sanitation work (2003); Breakthrough - General staff work (teaching excluded) (2003); Librarian Assistant (2002). </p>

<p>Extracurricular's (grades 9+): Football (2003-2004), Orchestra (2003-2004), Breakthrough (2003), Royal Rangers (2003-2004). </p>

<p>Awards (grades 9+): Student Awards 2006 (sponsored by BBC) Borough Winner in the Field of Creative Writing, Junior-High Honor Roll Society (2001-2003). </p>

<p>Paid work: Student Records Unit/Admin at City College (2008). </p>

<p>Hobbies: I write music reviews, prose-poetry, lyrics and currently I'm working on a short film. </p>

<p>Will colleges care about activities/awards pre-9th grade? I've been told they won't, which is a little absurd in my opinion, espeically when my pre-9th grade activites/awards are plentiful. </p>

<p>I want to major in English and minor in either History or Philosophy (is it all right to not be entirely sure yet?). I've been told that I'll count as a US applicant (instead of an international), and it's possible for me to attain a transcript of just my GCSE's, in case my A-Levels will only hurt me. I'm really not too exclusive about area/campus; ideal to me is an organised school with the right courses. I really want to start college as soon as possible. Do I have a chance? Please, will anyone point out options, including exact schools? Thanks for reading.</p>

<p>P.S. I'm currently doing that Admin job I mentioned (ends this week) and BBC work starts in November, right after my SAT retake. October will consist of intensive retake prep. I might do bookstore work after BBC if nothing better comes to my attention. So yeah, I'm keeping myself busy.</p>

<p>P.P.S. Once my US high-school transcript arrives (couple of days hopefully) I'll be able to be more specific. Also, if I remember any other activities/awards I'll mention them.</p>

2

<p>With your awful final year, it's unlikely that a decent four-year college will accept you. A logical plan is to enroll in a community college, establish a successful transcript there, and then transfer.<br>
The U.S. is a big place. Where are you fixing to go?</p>

3

<p>No specific state really. :/ My family has plans to move to Florida soon, so maybe there? NY too since I grew up there? I mean, I'm pretty sure I'd adapt well to most states. Still, I've checked out obvious schools like UFL and NYU and sure, it'd be nice, but do I really stand a chance? I read their international applicant requirements and A-Levels are useful for acceleration points, while GCSE's are the bare minimum. I'm not even an international, so how would that work for me? :S I've been told that, since I won't be competing with the best of everywhere non-US, the competition will be less intense. Think this GCSE-minimum policy applies to most US colleges? Again, considering I'm an American, what would they compare GCSE's/A-Levels to? :S Would they convert it to a GPA or something? I'm really lost there. I'm hoping I can just submit my GCSE results, freshman/sophomore GPA, SAT I, EC's etc., and be all right. Restarting 6th form sounds depressing. I'd be leaving for college at what? 21-22? And that's if I rush-enroll immediately. It'd also mean goodbye BBC. :(</p>

4

<p>"Upon satisfactory completion of twelfth grade, the student receives a 'high school diploma'. There is no exact UK equivalent to the high school diploma, but it is roughly comparable to at least five GCSE's, including English, maths, history, science, and any other subjects the students decides to pursue."</p>

<p>Taken from: EAS</a> : Study in the US : Overview of School Study</p>

<p>Does that help at all? From what I can tell, AP's are more comparable to A-Levels, while 5+ GCSE's roughly equate to a high-school diploma.</p>

<p>P.S. Sorry for the double-post--time limit. :/</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
I'm hoping I can just submit my GCSE results, freshman/sophomore GPA, SAT I, EC's etc., and be all right.

[/quote]

It sounds like you are thinking about hiding your last year. No go. You have to report it; perhaps admissions will be a little more lenient because it wasn't a compulsory year, but I doubt it. Universities want to see that you are definitely ready to do college-level work.
Why don't you pick a state with a good university system -- it's probably not a bad idea to be near family -- establish residency there taking community college classes, and apply to transfer to a state uni once you have a solid transcript (3.0 GPA minimum).</p>

6

<p>It's fine that you don't know what you want to major in. Probably about 50% of people who "know" end up changing that plan, anyway.</p>

<p>I don't have specific knowledge of how the GCSE/A level thing will be looked at, but it is certainly a general rule that you must report ALL of your schooling on applications (good, bad and ugly). So I agree with greenblue's take on that. Once you identify particular schools where you wish to apply, you could certainly call the Admissions office and ask whether you need to report those courses, but I think you'll likely find that you do.</p>

<p>I agree with the others above. The best thing you can probably do is choose a state with a good community college system, check the residency requirements to make sure your family can meet them. Go two years to one of those schools and then transfer. Some systems have guaranteed or if-not-guaranteed-improved-likelihood transfer arrangements with some excellent schools - such as their own state flagships (UCs, UVA, UT....) or even private schools (Cornell, Santa Clara University....).</p>

<p>With this plan you won't "lose time", you'd be getting your undergraduate degree at roughly the same age as your current peers.</p>