<p>I ruined myself. I have a horrible GPA. I don't think I'll even get into ONE Cal States. I'm having a heart attack right now. I CAN'T go to community. I have to get out of this town.</p>
<p>:( I was such a fool for getting bad grades in Sophomore and Freshman year. I'm a Junior right now, and will be ending the year with a 2.54 GPA (i calculated). I took the pre- SAT and got a 1540. I'm studying the official SAT guide and it's all common sense to me, so I doubt i'll do better on the real test. I'll probably do worse. </p>
<p>I top choices right now are Cal State Northridge, Humboldt, Arizona State, Cal State Channel Islands and Cal State Monteray bay.</p>
<p>I honestly don't think I'll get into any. I'M DOOMED</p>
<p>I'm not even stupid! I'm really smart. I work as an MA and receptionist at an Urgent Care. I just focused on my social life the first half of high school. UGHHHHHH</p>
<p>You say that you were too focused on social aspects which is why you’re screwed, but you’re doing the same thing right now. Why can’t you go to a community college? Californian community college programs have a guaranteed UC transfer option. The only reason why you want to go to college is probably to party, or “feel” like a college kid. Educationally, you don’t lose out on much, and you also save a bit of money. But yeah, in terms of getting into college, you’re pretty doomed. Even if you could get into one of those colleges, it wouldn’t even be worth the tuition for you to go to one of them. You reap what you sow, take your punishment and vow to do better in the future.</p>
<p>schlaag: I’m NOT doing the same thing right now. I’ve been isolating myself this year to bring my grades up. i want to go to college to get a degree and do something with my life. Sure, I want to experience what it’s like to be a college kid as well, but who doesnt? I don’t want to go to community because I don’t want to watch people around me going off and doing well while I wait in my home town like a loser.</p>
<p>Well I guess its true that everyone has some kind of social reason for wanting to go to college, but quite frankly with a 1580 SAT, any college you’re going to get into isn’t going to help you much. I think CC is the best option for you, even if you abhor staying at home for another 1-2 years. If you’re planning on transferring, it doesn’t make sense to drop 100 grand on a college when you have guaranteed admittance from CC to the UC system, right?</p>
<p>schlaag: it’s completely guarenteed that i’d get into a UC? Even if my GPA only gets raised to like a 2.8 or something like that?</p>
<p>From what I HEAR, which may be inaccurate because I live on the east coast, as long as you maintain above a certain gpa in a UC sanctioned CC, they will give you guaranteed admission to the UC system. I remember reading a story about some guy that got like straight Ds and Cs but used the CC system to eventually graduate from Cal.</p>
<p>and it is not based on your high school grades.</p>
<p>I also agree with schlaag, but I’d also like to jump in and say that I, too, have a very low gpa, but I’m definitely going to a regular 4-year college. If you believe that you can work hard and succeed in a 4-year college then go for it! But if you’re going to mess around and focus more on the “college experience” then don’t. I’m staying home for college and I’m planning on working extremely hard my next four years so I can get into grad school. If you can make that commitment, then do it.</p>
<p>Just try to keep calm and improve while you can</p>
<p>newuser789: that’s my plan. I just can’t help but worry.</p>
<p>schlaag: Oh, okay. That’s interesting. </p>
<p>SAMGinny16: I definately wouldn’t mess around.</p>
<p>Community college is not the end of the world. Some very smart people started at community college.</p>
<p>[At</a> just 14, UCLA math student Moshe Kai Cavalin has written his first book, ‘We Can Do’ / UCLA Newsroom](<a href=“http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/at-just-14-ucla-math-student-moshe-229359.aspx]At”>Newsroom | UCLA)
[University</a> Medalist takes an educational path less traveled - The Daily Californian](<a href=“http://www.dailycal.org/2011/05/25/benavidez/]University”>http://www.dailycal.org/2011/05/25/benavidez/)
[Aaron</a> Benavidez | Department of Sociology](<a href=“http://sociology.fas.harvard.edu/people/aaron-benavidez]Aaron”>Aaron Benavidez | Department of Sociology)</p>
<p>There are many fine colleges that admit B and C students, and even provide merit scholarships. One place to start is with the book Colleges That Change Lives, and also check the website, c t c l . org. Also, check the Parents Forum, there are threads for 3.0 students - you may be able to bring your gpa up. My S had a 2.9 and 26 ACT when he sent in most of his applications, he’s been accepted to 10 colleges, all wonderful schools, most with merit scholarships. If you put your mind to it, and really work hard from here on out, you will succeed. Good luck!</p>
<p>Before you get too invested in applying to four year institutions, have a talk with your parents about the money. Find out what they are ready, willing, and able to chip in each year, and if they will pay for an extra semester/year/summer term. Once you know that number, run the Net Price Calculator at the website of each place on your list. That will give you a ballpark figure for what the colleges and universities will expect your family to pay. But do know that if your family owns a business or land, or if there is a divorce/remarriage situation, the NPC may drastically underestimate what you will pay.</p>
<p>Community College is not the end of the world. If you end up there because of grades or money, you can give yourself a new start there. And if you feel like it you can be on the welcome to CC-XYZ at orientation in the second term when at least one of your pals from HS will turn up after a disastrous first term at his/her four year institution.</p>
<p>Money isn’t an issue. I’m just concerned I won’t get IN.</p>
<p>You sure are being sassy toward people who are trying to help you.</p>
<p>Feather River College for Outdoor Recreation Leadership. Look it up, not even messing around here!</p>
<p>“Money isn’t an issue. I’m just concerned I won’t get IN.”</p>
<p>If money is no issue, there are places that will take you. Don’t worry about that. Whether or not a place that is currently on your wish list will accept you is another thing. Spend some time with your guidance counselor, and find out what his/her professional evaluation of your situation is. Then go read through the threads on the Parents Forum that have titles along the lines of “Colleges for a student with X.XX” and see if you can find things that will work for you.</p>
<p>What you need to do now:
-TALK TO YOUR GUIDANCE COUNSELOR. He/she will be able to find you a ton of colleges that accept kids with slightly lower GPAs. You will be able to find A LOT of options.
-Do whatever you can for the rest of the year to pull up your GPA to maybe a 2.6?
Over the summer:
-Research the colleges your counselor finds, visit them, choose your favorites.
-Practice for the SATs.
Next Year:
-Kick it into high gear. Get really good grades. If you can get your GPA to a 2.7/2.8 by the end of the first semester you’re in good shape.</p>
<p>Remember that colleges like to see challenging classes, good teacher recommendations, good extra curriculars…there are hundreds, thousands of colleges in America. Big, small, private, public- do your research and I guarentee that you’ll get in somewhere.</p>
<p>Also remember, a 2.5 is a C average. A C average is not bad. People get this notion in their heads that unless you have above a 3.0 you’re not getting in anywhere but that’s just not the case. Not everyone is a straight A student.</p>
<p>Some kids test better on the ACT. Give it a try.</p>
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<p>Community college will admit you.</p>
<p>Non-impacted majors at non-impacted CSUs will let you in if you are a California resident who took the specified high school courses and meets the standards listed here: [CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - Eligibility Index - California Residents](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>GPA Calculator | CSU)</p>
<p>Note that GPA is calculated as described here: [CSUMentor</a> - Plan for College - High School Students - GPA Calculator](<a href=“Cal State Apply | CSU”>Cal State Apply | CSU)</p>