Good afternoon all,
Please excuse my informal writing, I am currently typing this in class.
So I have just found out that I received a LOW SCORE on the ACTUAL sat, not the Psat.
I had received a score of around 700 (Terrible, I know right).
I have already decided that I will be going to community college to improve my cumulative gpa (1.77)~*Another Terrible
I am currently in my junior year of highschool, this was my first time taking the SAT.
I’m just kind of feeling like, there’s nothing I can really do to improve my grades
First quarter gpa - 1.37 (Family issue)
Second quarter gpa - 2.55
Third quarter gpa - 3.04
We just started fourth quarter and I currently have 2.73 gpa.
I have also gotten into program where I would be interning at a government building this summer.
I plan to become a mental health and substance abuse social worker.
Where should I go from here?
Hi there!
Although I’m a high school student at the time, I saw your post and wanted to answer and help in any way I can
As I read your post, I wanted to tell you that first of all, you seem smart and educated.
Now, your GPA is a little low. But here’s the thing - that’s okay.
Your SAT score is also low. But again - that’s also okay.
Your mental health and substance abuse social work pathway is so similar to mine - I plan to become a social worker too!
Don’t give up, because you seem awesome. Do go to a community college, and maybe pursue an Associate’s Degree in Psychology. From there, you can always transfer to a bigger college in your state, a private college, and even an Ivy League, depending on how you do, of course.
As far as raising your GPA, here are three things I can suggest:
- During your senior year, try as hard as you can. Try to get that 3.5, that 4.0. Not even for the sake of college, but for your own sake.
- Study on your own. Literally. Grab that Psychology book and study on your own.
- Try taking a few college classes. Go the community college you plan on enrolling in, sign up for a few classes, and do your best.
And your SAT score problem:
- Study through the summer. Really. Khan Academy, books, a class, whatever you want.
- Take it again in August of 2018.
- Just do your best, and what happens, happens.
Remember that your life and an educational path is in your hands - it’s all up to you.
If you have any other questions, feel free to comment!
If you do go to community college and get your associates, your high school record will not matter. You won’t need the SAT for most schools (very few exceptions) and your high school record won’t count against you. That sounds like the direction you’re headed and there’s nothing wrong with that.
You won’t need the SAT for community college so don’t worry about it. I think you plan is excellent. Just make sure that you talk with an advisor at your community college to make sure that you are taking the classes that will transfer over to a four year school when you are ready. The important thing is to figure out why you’re grades and scores are low. Is it a problem with making time to study? A learning disability? Something else? Your high school grades won’t matter, but your community college grades will, so you need to take the next year and figure this out.
Good luck!
Well thanks for responding to my post, I am also curious about the following question:
What are my options as far getting a scholarship to college, will my chances will be higher if i go to a smaller “lesser known” school in a sense compared to a larger university? (Excluding community college)
Your best bet will be to start with an Associates or Certificate program at a community college, and then transfer to a 4-year program. You would then be looking at scholarships for transfer students. But you with that first degree or certificate, you would also have to option of starting your career, getting some experience, and attending school part time. That might benefit you, in terms of giving you an opportunity to apply what you’re learning. Different people have different learning styles, and you need to identify yours, so you can get those grades and scores up. While many CC’s don’t require SAT scores, they may be used to place you in math and English classes, and at that score range, you are likely to be in remedial classes. The good news is you will probably have to opportunity to take placement tests as well, and what you do and learn over the next year will help you place out of those remedial classes. If you do end up taking them, they will help you build the solid foundation you need to do well in all of your other classes. You have a late start, but a good plan.
Just focus on graduating. That’s what community college is for. College has nothing to do with smarts, it’s all about work and priorities.