<p>Please try to be serious, yet kind.Don't say "your fault: because I KNOW</p>
<p>My Freshmen year I was new to the school system and town. I had terrible teachers and have many examples. My grades terrible I got a D in Spanish and some Cs, Quite a few Bs.</p>
<p>My sophomore year was meh, I got As and Bs for year grades,but for example, I got a D on the Math Final Test because the teacher also left the school and didn't mention the backside of the test....I also got a C or 2.
i also got a D on my band final test(Got a which I am concerned about, But I was told colleges should through it out because it is non-academic. Overall I didn't do terrible, but not great by any means.</p>
<p>I am finally motivated because I have actually have looked at colleges and see a lot of large research oriented universities I like in New England area,Atlantic area and California/Washington State area. Up until now I just figured I would be happy going to my state university(easy to get into,double legacy..etc), But I realized the academics are meh.
Not to mention being here makes me realize I am competing with Mr. 5.0 GPA, 2399 SAT scores and Found cure for cancer.
While people say there isn't...There is a HUGE difference from what I have seen between an OK and good school in academics ,campus,"feel". I would like to get into a GOOD school. By good I mean top 50 or top 100. Something with solid academics,a nice large modern campus,research and a bit of prestige. That would make me happy.</p>
<p>I am willing to work hard now, But I feel like I committed academic suicide.
I mean I have a pretty smart,probably one of the smartest people in my state(OK, Exclude Brown from that picture) . I feel like I am one of those people that should succeed and am smart enough to get into a top 10 university, but my early lack of motivation and organization(Thank High School for not allowing laptops or smartphone...etc on this one) killed what I should be able to achieve.</p>
<p>To your original question (because honestly your post is too long and I skimmed it...) : It's not too late to turn it around. 2 full years are ahead of you...relax. </p>
<p>Academic suicide? If you're gonna be a junior, you probably haven't lived a fourth of your life yet...again, relax.</p>
<p>I have the same problem as you except instead of GPA it was EC's and studying and etc a problem, and it was freshman year so I guess that's 1 year more lucky. Despite the fact that the number of productive things I've actually done in my life are minimal, and people saying I "wasted" my life on games/computer/movies, I really don't care. I had fun, and I'm slowly working harder. That's all that matters.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say your chances are ruined, but you have put yourself in quite a hole. Keep in mind that your last semester in your senior year (and even the whole senior year in some schools) do not count towards the GPA admissions officers will see. It's just important that you do very well your upcoming junior year so you can at least show an upward trend and that you tried. You can try to shoot for the highest SAT/ACT score to kind of minimize the extent of your GPA, but colleges generally like to see well-rounded students.</p>
<p>Top 50 is doable but you really need to work harder than you ever have before. Top 100 is a lot more likely.</p>
<p>All I want is to go to a well know respectable very modern research university that I will be very happy with for 4 year that that I will have been proud to have gone to. It be repubtable enough in case I chose to pursue a Ph.D or J.D in the future.</p>
<p>I'm in a similar pickle with you considering sophmore year, but considering that the past is past, you have no reason to sob and glower about it anymore, even though I've had quite a time doing that :D</p>
<p>The only thing I can say is, take hard classes that you can handle and get all A's next year, and start working on ECs that you are passionate about concerning your interests. There are organizations and clubs for everything, and I'm sure even if you had a miserable time academically, you probably do have a group of friends to do something with. I found my ECs through my passion for art, design, and public service. It's like that old saying; when there's a will, there's a way.</p>
<p>Well some colleges take note of "upward trends" when evaluating an applicant's grades so if you can get straight As this upcoming year, it'll say a lot about your determination. You'll be able to show that you can evaluate yourself and respond to any negative characteristics you may have had.</p>
<p>Also if you take part in ECs that you really care about, it can further make up for your lackluster grades. You also haven't taken your SATs yet which is another really important part of your application. And lastly UChicago is a college that places a lot of emphasis on their essays but I'm not sure if that quality is unique to just them or if there are other "prestigious" colleges like them that you can look for.</p>
<p>Let's be honest -- Stanford isn't happening. However, I have seen UCLA accept some people with a rather low GPA because they had very impressive ECs. Since your GPA will probably be the low part of your application, I would work hard to take part in some ECs you really care about and shoot for the highest possible score on your SAT/ACTs. Lots of colleges look at upward trends so getting straight As your junior year will show that you really do care.</p>
<p>I also don't stand a shot at UCLA since I am not from California.
I have heard that type of thing before about UChicago, Not to mention there Physics department is outstanding as Fermi built the world 1st nuclear reactor there, </p>
<p>I am not saying those are the only schools I am looking at jk_91...I meant I would like something that has a campus to UCLA or such. Something with as much money as a small country to fund a modern campus and huge programs(like Stanford)....etc.</p>
<p>Hey, Night. Don't worry, I feel the exact same way. As a matter of fact, I drove my parents crazy last night from random stress relevant spams regarding academics. Just study, and try your best. Hopefully, everything will work out. Remember, college is the real test.</p>
<p>Yeah, but once you are in college you still go to that college. You could graduate top of your class my my state university and it would still be less impressive then graduating bottom of your class at say Harvard.</p>
<p>i once heard that some guy got 3.2 GPA and made it into MIT.
Of course he won some big time awards...RSI for starters.</p>
<p>and besides undergraduate doesnt matter...</p>
<p>im pretty sure if you can get a PhD from some lower level college, its still 100x better than just getting undergraduate from Harvard or MIT (but of course 99% of the undergraduates from those universities pursue further opportunities like getting PhD)</p>
<p>I won 1st place in my states Science and Engineering Fair in 8th grade, I could have won grand, but a High School kid did the EXACT same project on the Safety of Public Drinking Water in Public buildings and school. Obviously he was a better choice to give a scholarship to.
I did win an award from my Public Work department.
Placed 2nd for a project on Obesity in Domesticated Animals:Causes,Effects,Treatment.</p>
<p>It isn't Intel-Siemens, but it is something.
I am pretty upset I can't do it anymore since you must win a school wise competition and my high school doesn't do it anymore. </p>
<p>I actually have genius engineering plan on water conservation.. </p>
<p>Undergraduate does matter especially for some stuff.</p>
<p>thats pretty impressive...
hmm in 8th grade (i just posted something about this in my chances thing in where colleges only care about 9th and up which is unfair...dont know what the impact of that will be)</p>
<p>lol try and apply to RSI, doesnt matter if you get rejected (everyone does...) but if you get accepted, thats like one of the biggest accomplishments you can win...</p>
<p>ya going to good undergrad school gives u better opportunity to pursue further opportunities...but in sciences undergrad is useless..</p>
<p>It wasn't ISEF,but RISEF. I imagine if you won grand prize, you went to ISEF.
I plan to apply for RSI, I imagine I could get some good recommendations. </p>
<p>Like I said, I mean I am not sure what I want to do.</p>
<p>I might want to go into Computer Science or Engineering,This requires only a B.S., but I want to be competitive.</p>
<p>I may want to go into Astrophysics, It basically requires a top 20 rank grad school since it needs lots and lots of $$$$. And school like Cal-Tech are in bed with NASA with the JPL. But it tend to be much easier to get into grad then undergrad thanks to the fact that you are basically a slave that has some use.</p>
<p>I may want to go into law,business or medicine,The undergrad college completely matters as well along with there admissions tests and GPA.</p>
<p>I mean I wish I could have a do over.
It is really depressing knowing I have so much potential,but It will must likely not matter.</p>
<p>You sound like you thoroughly enjoy those science competitions, and I have no doubt that you will accomplish a lot in those fields regardless of what college you go attend. It does not matter. Those with the drive and determination will succeed regardless.</p>
