<p>Before I make the decision to go to a university I would like to get some opinions. </p>
<p>Ok, a little about me. </p>
<p>I was pretty much a normal kid until the end of 7th grade when my parents got a divorce. I did a lot of moving, and my grades started dropping drasticaly. Around that time I started smoking pot and skipping school to toke up. Then, in 10th grade my friend got killed. Thats when my life became an emotional wreck and I dived deeper into drugs and stopped being social. I dropped out of highschool, and went to an alternative school that pretty much handed me my diploma. I could pretty much say that I learned nothing in high school.</p>
<p>Well, make a long story short, I got into some trouble and could not take being dependent on drugs any longer and being a loser anymore.</p>
<p>Its been almost a year since I have touched drugs and I am doing good except that I don't have much friends and get lonley sometimes. I really been trying to better myself.. I have read over like 50 books in my sparet ime.</p>
<p>Last summer took a couple classes in Community College. Eng 101 and Basic Math. I did good in english and got a 3.5, but in math I had a hard time and got like a 2.2 (I dont even think that math was college level)</p>
<p>Now, I am trying to make the decision whether or not to go to a university away from home or not. I really want to because I want to make some friends and meet alot of hot chicks. I pretty much want to start over in life. Plus, living with my grandparents is hard; sometimes they can drive me nuts.</p>
<p>Do you think that I will be able to make the transition even though I did so bad in high school? Do you think it will be a good place to make new friends? Do you think that I can get along without drinking or taking drugs?</p>
<p>Minus the drugs I was kinda in the same boat. I struggled through high school and when I graduated I felt like I hadn't learned anything. I went to community college for half a semester but dropped out because I didn't really want to be in school I just figured thats what you were supposed to do after high school. I took a year off and worked at Circuit City which was really fun and I met a lot of new people but the main thing is that I decided it was time to go back to school. I applied to just one University but didn't get in but I wrote them a letter back and even had my school counselor write them a letter and finally got in on academic probabation (hey man who cares how you get in). </p>
<p>College is a blast besides my roommate who I hate and in taking a year off I had fun and got really motivated to get back in school. As far as drinking and drugs in college it depends on where you go. Theres always going to be drinking unless you go to a strict Nazi college and as far as drug use goes usually you have to seek out the drug users but if your strong you can ignore the tempatation. I think the biggest thing is to find the right friends who aren't going to be involved in the things you don't care for. </p>
<p>Getting away from home was the best thing for me, I only live about an hour away so I can go home and visit my family but am far enough away that I feel really on my own. High School was tough or you but if you apply to a University and don't get in just appeal it, dont' have any regrets, at least you know you tried.</p>
<p>It's awesome to know that there are other people in the same boat as me.</p>
<p>I think I will do fine except for the Math and Sciences.<br>
I have never completed a math class higher then basic fundementals.
..and I dont know the first thing about biology.</p>
<p>As of current im taking taking Goverment, Speech, Philosophy, and computers at comm college.</p>
<p>Since summer I have taken Adobe Photoshop, Adobe in Design, Human Relations, English 101, and Math 045. Which I just have found out that only English 101 is going to transfer for what I want to major in.</p>
<p>yeah and I am sorta afraid of taking a biology or another math class..but I know I got to do it.</p>
<p>I really would like to get into a university next year. I think I might have a chancee of making it because I am more serious and mature then I ever was, and I know education is a priority. </p>
<p>But, how do I find out if they will accept me or not? </p>
<p>Will the make me take some god awful test, and look at my high school grades, or will they look at my current comm college grades?</p>
<p>the school i want to go to is western in michigan</p>
<p>If you're going to go to university, then also do so because you actually want an education. If you aren't motivated to at least get a good enough GPA to get a degree, then you will most likely fail out. And you can meet new friends/hot chicks pretty much anywhere else.</p>
<p>I dont know the answers to those questions. The best thing you can do is not be afraid and call the school or talk to a counselor at your community college. Photoshop is amazing by the way.</p>
<p>jjjames: sorry about your roomate.. that sucks. I read your blogs, there funny!</p>
<p>Yeah, one reason I want to go to college is to be social because I feel that is something I am lacking. I feel college would be a good place to work on my social intelligence, and networking. However; don't get me wrong the number one reason I want to go is so that I can get an education so I can have a career I love instead of a **** job.</p>
<p>I am motivated to get good grades hence the 3.5 in my english class. I did not even know what a adjective was before I took that class, but I studied up and ended up doing great. The only thing I am afraid of is the classes that might have a learning curve. I feel that I am at a disadvantage because people have atleast read some of the material and are somewhat familiar of what is in the text books, and it is all new to me. </p>
<p>Is there any books I can pick up so I can educate myself. Like are there any tapes or books that are do it yourself?</p>
<p>What I really would like to know is how do you get into unvi? I read somewhere you had to take an ACT. What is an ACT? And, because I already took community college classes do I have to take it?</p>
<p>My best advice to someone in your situation would be to find out which classes offered at your community college will transfer to the major you're interested in, and then stay at your community college for another year. Maybe try to get an associates degree there.</p>
<p>It will help you to sharpen your study skills, get caught up in subjects like math and science, and they will be easier classes than those you will find at a 4- year university. Plus the more you have done at community college the less emphasis they will place on your high school information. Do you have a job? If you can't stand living with your grandparents so much is getting a studio or a roommate an option?</p>
Yeah, one reason I want to go to college is to be social because I feel that is something I am lacking.
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<p>Again, this is up to you. College teaches that. Don't expect to fix these kind of issues by just going to college. After you go there, it's up to you to make anything happen for you. That includes making friends, networking, etc.</p>
<p>Maybe, I should stay at a community college another year. But I dont know I really want to go .. It sound like so much fun and an opportunity that I could look back on and be happy.</p>
<p>Well, whatever happens happens I guess. Probally going to go talk to a counselor and see what he thinks.</p>
<p>I think maybe it would be a good idea to stay at community college for another year, work, fill in any skills gaps, and take a good hard look at whether you're ready to live in an environment that will have a fair number of stressors and bad influences. If you're sure you're far enough down the road to recovery, then you'll have a fairly solid background to transfer into a college or university</p>
<p>Remember, college is a big investment and not someplace you should go just to "meet alot of hot chicks". It requires a lot of diligence and focus, and in order to succeed you really need to want to be there. If you don't enjoy traditional learning, then there are other options for hands-on learning, like carpentry, electricity, and mechanics, all of which are skilled labor that can pay well. </p>
<p>Don't jump into anything too fast, and make sure that whatever decision you make isn't going to undo the progress you've made. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Far from the truth Mista1. Of course depending on your major, each course will be totally different from other courses. Yes, a few courses will be simply memorizing facts. But then others will require lots of critical reading/thinking skills. And some will require extensive logical ability (math courses typically). It is not all a bunch of fact-memorization. Professors usually want you to actually want to learn the material and not just memorize it. So it will be a mistake to say that it's all about remembering important facts. In some courses, there aren't even 'facts' but simply being able to successfully convey your personal argument on some subject with substantial evidence.</p>
<p>We're not joking. Unless you're a genius then I guess it will all be an easy-ride. Since you are not in class as much as in high school, you will need to do a lot more work outside of class typically. And if you are too busy meeting 'hot chicks' the whole day then you will be in a lot of trouble quickly. Some weeks will be lighter than others, so you will have more free time during those weeks. But you have to be able to practice good time management skills and have good discipline if you want to make it through college. If you can finish homework (and finish it well) within a short amount of time, then cool. Just be sure to always keep on top of things.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would really think on this more. After all, it's up to you and not us.</p>
<p>Of course not. It just means that you have to take it all a little more seriously if you want to make it through. There's still plenty of room for a social life and all, but it's no good if you go to university with the wrong intentions. Just think things through. Do what your heart says.</p>
<p>If I were you, I would go if I had the chance. Of course, I don't know you and I have no clue how intelligent you are, but I can tell you that intelligence is not as important as it seems. Anyone can get a university degree if they work for it. If you want it, you can do it. Just keep on top of things, do all the readings on time, and you'll be fine. Especially if you're in a program that interests you.
Seriously, go for it. If you don't do it while you're young, you might regret it later on. I think that with what you've gone through, this is probably the perfect opportunity to change your life around (I don't mean to sound corny or anything, but it's true).</p>
<p>Go FOR IT.... GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO O GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO O GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO O GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO O GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO O GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO GO . . .</p>
<p>But remember coming out of college is 10 times harder than getting in a college. If you don't work hard, you'll most likely not make it!<br>
Good Luck!!</p>
<p>As the above posters have said, it would be best for you to stay in your community college for another year. You don't seem to know where you stand in math too well so I would go back and take those math courses over again until you can work your way up to PreCalculus level since that's almost the minimum nowadays for most universities. Also take the time to brush up your critical reading and writing skills with history, philosophy, English, and other humanities classes so you're nice and sharp. College is very different from high school and demands a lot of your skills.</p>
<p>adconard is correct on how classes work. You don't memorize information at all. You sit down and actually LEARN them in a way that you can converse what you've just learned with a professor or a friend and be able to apply it to real-life situations. They have to become part of you and mean something. For example, I'm reading a historical non-fiction book called "Stories of Scottsboro" for my US History class on the Depression. I'm not going through it and picking out important names, dates, and evidence. I have to read it closely to understand the issues behind these court cases and why they ended up that way and understand the reactions between every verdict. Then I have to write a short response paper stating the author's argument and apply the scenario to the larger picture of the Depression.</p>
<p>You can eventually become very sophisicated reader and writer when you have excellent professors who push you along and give you hints on how to think the way they do.</p>
<p>Don't think that you'll go to college where people might've read some stuff that seems familiar to them. Trust me, before college, most people will have never read other works of English literature other than those commonly assigned in high school, many historical non-fiction books, any texts on sociology and anthropolgy, studied philosophy in depth (not just defining with two or three sentences), and learned about other religion in detail. Believe me, all of that will be new to everyone around you. If college was going to be a repeat of high school material, I doubt that anyone would bother spending over $100,000 just doing that.</p>
<p>You CAN do it. Just get some guidance from admissions officers of colleges that you're interested in and contact your advisor at your CC on how to go about preparing to transfer.</p>
<p>Oh, ACT is a standardized test. You DO need to take ACT or SAT for most schools. Just read the admissions requirements carefully. If you do need to take one of the exams, you definitely need to work on your math and reading skills as those will measure how well you perform in those areas.</p>