<p>I'm 19 years old right now. I finished high school as a Junior, and at barely 17 years old. I'm a very intelligent student. I took many different subjects during those 3 years. I wish to go to an Ivy League school, but I have no proof of my knowledge. I do not have any APs, and only one SAT subject test. I wasted 2 years since my graduation, because I went to an online university and left it after 3 months when I found out how terrible the education is, and how expensive (70 grand!!!). My dream is to go to Harvard or Yale. Is it too late for me? Did I screw up as a high school student because I took no tests for valid proof? I have one great talent - art. It is something I was born with. I also am fluent in Russian, as my parents are from there. </p>
<p>I am thinking of going to community college right now and taking CLEP, AP, and SAT subject tests while I am there the 2 years. Plus, I will have a 2 year degree (hopefully with honors) to show to universities. Is this the right thing to do? Please, I need help. I am getting depressed because I feel like there is nothing I can do anymore, and that I am a failure, especially since I wasted 2 years...</p>
<p>There are thousands of schools besides Harvard and Yale in the US where you can get a good education. Honestly, you probably have not helped yourself. However, if you have the following: a great high school GPA from when you were in school, could take the SAT or ACT and get a very strong score (say, 2200 or 35/36), AND a great art porfolio, go ahead and apply to Harvard and Yale. If you do not… you could either start at a community college, or try a state four year college instead (can’t tell what state you live in). You would still need to take standardized tests, provide high school transcripts, etc. If you have not taken standardized tests yet, you probably can’t do this for next fall.</p>
<p>So, that makes the community college your best option if you want to start college in the fall. You certainly could go to CC and do a great job, and apply to four year schools. Again… Ivies accept very few transfers, and fewer from CCs… but there are tons of other great colleges to consider. I personally would NOT recommend you do any AP classes while in CC. Those are mostly to give you college credits and placement, but assuming the APs are in the same subject you are studying in the AP… then you already have the college credit. You don’t really need APs to get accepted to a good college (some high schools don’t offer any).</p>
<p>I would stop looking back at how you spent the last two years, and start figuring out how to be as productive as you can going forward. If you don’t start classes until fall at a CC, get a job (if you don’t have one, or work more if you do have one) and save as much money as you can before you start classes. College is expensive, and that will make it easier when you do go back.</p>