Low average student , do i have any choices?

Applying to College
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<p>Hi i have a 2.89 average for frosh - junior, I did REALLY bad last 2 years, this year i have been getting all A's except for 2 classes, and that is really increasing my average, hopefully by the end of this year i will have a 3.0 average...</p>

<p>Anyway, it seems unfair that an average student has to go to a state college, can i get into anything else??? I mean going to a CC is not really what i want to do, just to make it into a decent college. It just seems depressing that because I don't have excellent grades, that i can't make it into a decent college. I live in San Francisco, came to America in '98 after living for 8 years in parts of Africa, and the competition for schools is A LOT different... Can anyone reccomend some schools in Cali that I might have a chance of getting in to. I am taking SAT prep classes, i take the test in 2 weeks, and the ACT in june... Still have to sign up for the SAT subject tests.</p>

2

<p>Trump University is always an option. Just kidding. You have a ton of options. Check out <a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/aplus/aplusnatudoc/aplusnatudoc_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/aplus/aplusnatudoc/aplusnatudoc_brief.php&lt;/a> or (if you like liberal arts colleges)<a href="http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/aplus/apluslibartco/apluslibartco_brief.php%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/rankings/brief/aplus/apluslibartco/apluslibartco_brief.php&lt;/a>
These schools all except average or slightly below average applicants.</p>

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<p>why not go to a state college? there are some good ones. did you mean community college? you can't expect to be able to go to some select small liberal arts college if you don't have the grades, just because you don't think it's fair.</p>

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<p>wow thanks simpson, im gonna have to check em out</p>

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<p>for UCs I think you can get into UCR and UCSC and UC merced probably, and probably UC Davis also. But a lot depends on what else you do other than your grades, your personal statement, and sadly your SAT 1 and 2s</p>

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<p>Why the hell is it unfair?</p>

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<p>I don't see the problem. Are you under the impression that you won't get a decent education at a state school? That PRIVATE = BETTER? FYI, there are a couple CSU's you won't even qualify for with your grades and it's completely fair.</p>

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<p>why is it unfair??? a 3.0 gpa is considered GOOD last time i checked, so why is there such a demand for the 4.0+ students??? I mean , most student blossom in college, i started out pritty bad in highschool, but now in my junior year i am finally on track, which is sad to say the least. Colleges should give people like me a chance, I'm sorry but work ethic didn't hit me untill this year, so... that is why</p>

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<p>with a 3.0 you still have a shot at some of the UCs and CSUs just hang in there, don't get discouraged</p>

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<p>Manifest don't let people disarm you.</p>

<p>Your upward trend in grades is positive in admissions office. When applying to colleges, check their avg GPAs and scores. Also take note of the mid 50% ranges. That way you can pick safety, reach, and admissable schools. </p>

<p>There are definately options beyond cc and state schools, but you should still definately apply to your state schools...esp. if you have a strong state school.</p>

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<p>Sorry, but a 3.0 hasn't been considered "good" in a long time. And forgive me for arguing, but i need to let some of my feelings out. Please don't think you deserve so much better just because you weren't as lazy this year as you were the last couple of years. If you had tried hard all 4 years, then I could respect you. But I know way too many good friends who busted their ass since middle school but still had to go to a simply "average" college. And you know what? It's NOT unfair, even if my loved ones get hurt by it.</p>

<p>The fact is, there are millions of students out there who have 3.0ish grades and top colleges can't accept a fraction of them even if they had better grades. So how the heck do you expect the college to look at one person and say "oh wow, this person finally got his act together and will definitely blossom in college"?</p>

<p>And believe me, regardless how hard you think YOU tried, the person who got 4.0+ and a truckload of ECs and high SATs who got into the top schools tried so much harder. I know I did.</p>

<p>I don't know what you did to try harder. What? did you start doing your homework for once? Maybe studied for that test instead of playing games? </p>

<p>You haven't tried hard until you pull one all-nighter after another, until your schedule is packed for 12 hours of the day but you still take on that internship, until you've spent every single free hour of the day (which isnt many) doing endless SAT practice tests.</p>

<p>And trust me, you haven't tried hard enough until your friends simply stopped calling you to go hang out because they know that you won't be able to go.</p>

<p>I've been through all that, and so have many others on this board. I got into Stanford and many others got into other top schools. But we never had it easy, not one bit. Our road here was marked by sweat and tears.</p>

<p>4.0 students have 4.0s for a reason - they have determination and the brainpower to do well in school regardless of the situation. THATS why they are in demand.</p>

<p>So please, PLEASE stop saying it's unfair.</p>

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<p>"You haven't tried hard until you pull one all-nighter after another, until your schedule is packed for 12 hours of the day but you still take on that internship, until you've spent every single free hour of the day (which isnt many) doing endless SAT practice tests."</p>

<p>You know... thats not tried hard, thats mental. trying hard is to the best of your ability not some numerical figure...</p>

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<p>don't worry you have a shot at some UC's. I got into UCSD with a 3.33 WEIGHTED GPA, so don't get discouraged already.</p>

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<p>I think that a 3.0 will certainly get you into schools outside your state, but not top schools. Lamdun is right that for top schools, you have to have tried for a lot longer than just one year. For Ivies, Stanford etc. 'tried' will probably mean 'killed yourself', but for schools a little farther down the list 'tried' will be a little different. The best advice I can give you is to present yourself in the best light possible - make sure your essays are excellent, if possible get recomendations from teachers who have had you before this year and can vouch for the IMPROVEMENT, and interview if possible.</p>

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<p>If you try harder to get a higher GPA and do well on the SATs you have chances at private schools such as University of the Pacific, University of Redlands, Santa Clara University, Chapman University, University of San Diego, Whittier University, Loyola Marymount University and other schools you can find doing a college search on the college board website.</p>

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<p>I think you have a chance at a lot of place. Maybe not the places people here tend to crow the most about, but there are lots and lots of colleges in the U.S, and lots of them have places for strong B students, for students who are getting their act together late, for students who are hard workers but don't earn flashy grades. Your upward trend helps, and then you'll need your essays and recommendations to send the clear message that you are capable of college work and driven enough to rise to the challenge.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the support, im gonna try and keep this trend up and hopefully my SAT prep classes pay off, and ill try and do some SAT prep</p>

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<p>no offense . . . but with those grades even some state colleges will turn u down . . . like Berkeley or Carolina, and i dont understand whats wrong with them? i know plenty of talented ppl who have gone to them and succeeded in the past and plenty who are going to go to them . . . </p>

<p>gl in future though. upwards trend is good to admissions ppl.</p>

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<p>Also-are you in Honors or AP classes? That can also help.</p>

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<p>You haven't tried hard until you pull one all-nighter after another, until your schedule is packed for 12 hours of the day but you still take on that internship, until you've spent every single free hour of the day (which isnt many) doing endless SAT practice tests.</p>

<p>Yeah. I don't even have anything to say to this. Cheers to your social life, dewd.</p>

<p>MaNiFeST: A 3.0 GPA (and even a 2.8) is fine, and the upward trend in your grades will help your admission chances. I suggest taking the ACT and as long as you get a 24-25+, you'll be fine. As for potential colleges, are you looking to stay in the west coast? If so: UCR, UCSC, and maybe UC Davis. Southeast, I'd suggest College of Charleston -- an awesome, awesome college with bright academics and a beautiful campus -- and Flagler College, in St. Augustine, Florida. Northeast: I'm not familiar with liberal arts colleges there, but state universities: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and UMass will make good matches.</p>

<p>Again, don't let your GPA discourage you. Example: I did horrible in high school, because I just didn't give a damn about it. (Alert the media, Lamdun!!!) Had a 2.75 GPA, 25 ACT: I got into University of Florida, FSU, and CofC. Don't let the 4.2++ GPA kiddos bring you down - anything is possible. Put everything into your applications, get recommendations, whatever. Grades and test scores, while both very important factors, are not everything.</p>