I am a junior and I MESSED UP high school. I was accepted into a special program that allowed me to take AP Biology, Honors Geometry and Honors Algebra II (at the same time), all at a different high school during my freshman year. However, this backfired on me as coming from middle school getting As required no work at all. I got a D on AP Bio and a C- on both honors math subjects. My grades weren’t too hot in my other courses from freshman year either as I got a C+ in Honors Comp. Sci and C+ in Honors English.
Sophomore year, coming back to my home high school, really didn’t go smoothly either as I came back to my home high school thinking that no work would really be needed. Instead, I realized at the end of this year that my work ethic and self-discipline suck I received a C- in honors precalc, a C in honors chem, a C in honors English, and a C in Spanish. The only things I really have going for me this year is I am on the varsity XC and varsity track team and that I am treasurer of Model UN.
Junior year isn’t the greatest as my grades are subpar. I have a B in AP Physics, AP US History, AP Macro, Spanish III. I have a C in Honors English III, and I’m literally just failing AP Calc BC with like a 50. Again I’m still a vital part of my varsity track and cross country teams.
At this point, I honestly do not believe that this time next year I will be celebrating with my friends as they brag about the best universities they have gotten into. I have a 2.7 GPA (3.7 weighted) and a 1360 SAT (710 Math, 650 English). I’m looking to get into any big name state university in the tri-state area and want to major in business. The colleges I’m primarily want to go to (probably not going to accept me) are Rutgers, Villanova, Penn State, University of Pittsburgh, NYU, and Syracuse. Please, someone, be brutally honest with me and tell me do I have any chance of getting into any of these colleges.
At this point, the only real option I have is trying to improve my SAT score. I’m aiming for a 1500 and not that far off (800 Math, 700 English).Can someone please give me some advice on what I should do now.
For Penn State, apply for DUS (not Smeal; there’s not much difference except it’s easier to get into. You still apply to your major sophomore year with everyone else) and summer session. Put a branch campus as a backup if you’d be willing to go.
You keep rocketing forward, despite your poor grades. When you just squeak by in a class, you don’t build the same skill set as your peers who got A’s and B’s. Each time you move on to the next class, you’re further behind. This is most obvious in math. Can you get a math tutor?
I’m not really versed in Penn State’s application process. I understand that Smeal is Penn State’s business program but I don’t really understand anything else though. What is DUS? And are you saying DUS is easier to get into or Smeal?
DUS is the “undecided” college. It’s easier to get into than Smeal. Most enrollment-controlled programs at Penn State, like business majors, don’t have you enter the major until later, after you have taken Entrance to Major classes and satisfied a GPA requirement. You can do that from Smeal or DUS, so being in DUS wouldn’t hurt you at all. You would follow the same academic plan and apply to your major at the same time as someone from Smeal.
I will definitely look into that. ty for that little bit of hope. At this point, I think that I should just talk to my guidance counselor on what options I have bc of the mixed messages I’m receiving as Reddit users are telling me I won’t even get into college.
You’re going to get into college somewhere. Though your stats are a little low, you have a chance at Pitt due to their rolling admission. I hate to be blunt, but NYU is probably not going to happen, but that is not the end of the world. There are a lot of great schools that you just may not have heard of. Maybe look into some of the smaller/lesser known state schools in your state. For example, Texas State vs UT or Michigan Tech vs UM (I know f*** all about state schools in the tristate area but they should have equivalents to this). Overall, just expand your search a little more and don’t get too attached to anything.
Pretty similar situation here, had 4.4 ish gpa after soph year, it’s now at 3.5 weighted and 3.0 unweighted, with a 32 Act, what are my chances at a school like Pitt, Alabama, or Mich, i’m from Missouri fyi
Brutally honest? You’re probably a late bloomer. In addition to Cheddar’s susggestion that you should be in the right level of classes for you, (your strengths/weaknesses now, not your hopes/dreams,) you would benefit from considering non-big name schools where you can grow, get your academics in order and become empowered. That’s what leads to life successes, not beating your head against a wall. (Rather than be embarassed by not going to a name like your friends, you can find the positives in the schools where you fit better, tout those.)