When I was a freshman in high school, my dad got diagnosed with cancer. It hit me hard, and really affected the kind of person I was. One of these areas was in my schooling. For the first 3 years of high school I barely passed my classes and had many absences. My GPA was no where near of what I was capable of. I’ve always been a fairly bright kid, so my GPA is truly not an indicator of what kind of student I am. For perspective, my SAT was a 1230 with no prep whatsoever (Not a fantastic score, but not bad.)
After my dad went into remission, my views changed. I realized that life was precious and that I should strive for greatness, but it was too late. The damage was done. By senior year, I had a 2.6 GPA and no notable achievements. I held back when applying for schools and only applied to 2 that I knew I could get into because in my mind it was easier to get 2 acceptance from average schools then to get rejected from schools that I truly wanted to go to and realize the failure that I was. However, I am now a freshman at my local state school and I hate it here. I’m on tract to get a high GPA my first semester freshman year, but I don’t fit in at my college. It’s not a good school and it is not a place I want to spent 3 more years and get my degree from. I feel like I am destine for a path of greatness that this school cannot give me. But, I worry that there isn’t much I can do at this point, and I’m forced to pay for my actions. I’m lost and confused. What should I do from here?
Get the best grades possible, go to office hours, get to know your instructors and SHINE! Maybe you can do research in a field that interests you. In any case if you MAY wish to transfer, it’s good for your instructors to know you well, in case letters of rec are required.
There are many kids who have excelled by being outstanding students in Us where they may be on the higher end of the ability skill. They may get research opportunities and good Rec’s for grad school.
If you think that your college is a joke and you’re not, it’s little wonder you feel you don’t fit in. Other students are bound to sense this attitude of self-importance and be turned off by it. One semester of good grades in college is not going to make up for four years of bad grades in high school. I recommend you adjust your attitude, accept that you haven’t earned the right to a better college, and work hard to distinguish yourself academically at your current school. You can always attend a better quality graduate school, or perhaps transfer out once you have a sustained record of academic achievement.
Maybe you are destined for greatness, but it’s not going to be handed to you on a plate. First of all, adjust your attitude. It’s pretty arrogant to assume that you are superior to others at your college. If you are indeed meant for better things, then it won’t be difficult to get great grades, be inolved in things, and transfer to a better university. I’m sorry about your father, but no doubt he’d want to see youmake the best of things. You just started college. Prove yourself, then go be great.
You are on track to get a high GPA … in mid August… your very first year? What are you basing this on? That attitude makes you sound elitist. I am quite sure that there are hard working, smart students at your school.
My advice is to drop the attitude so that your peers and professors like you. People who are both kind… and smart… do not put themselves on the pedestal that you placed yourself on. Then it’s time to buckle down, study, become active and involved on campus, get to know your professors, and take advantage of what your school offers. Once you have proven yourself ( and so far you have not), you can either transfer… or continue at your current school ( you may actually like it).
You are conflating a bunch of things, so here a couple worth untangling:
Transferring: in general, 1.5 years of college grades will make your HS record irrelevant. So, getting 3 terms of top marks + some genuine ECs should set you up to transfer to a school that you like better- IF you still want to at that point. If at the end of this academic year you think you are likely to want to transfer start doing the homework, especially working out the finances part.
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I feel like I am destine for a path of greatness that this school cannot give me.
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No school can give you greatness. At best a school can open doors- but you have to walk through them and deliver the goods.
The chief of orthopedic surgery at our local hospital (who is on any ‘top-10’ list of surgeons in the US) went to an undergraduate college that I had not only never heard of, but when I looked it up is described as a small regional college best known of it’s party atmosphere. But it was the one he could get into & afford. He went from there to a top-drawer med school (he tells the story that his profs who wrote LoRs for med school had no problem saying that he was one of the most exceptional students they had had).
The point is, real stars can shine anywhere. And, that there are almost certainly other people who want to succeed academically, and instead of dismissing the entire student body- what, 1? 2? weeks into the first term? as losers, you should be looking for your people. They are there.
Sorry, but you haven’t given us any indications that you’re destined for the path of greatness. 1230 SAT certainly doesn’t do it. There’s a lot you can do in any college to prove yourself, but I’d start with learning a little humility.
Heh, another story. I was never a great high school student for several reasons. I worked in hospitals and the head of my health class (people wanting to be doctors and nurses) since the students picked me. That led to a hospital job in high school to represent our school. When most of my friends went on to 4 year universities, I went to community College and continued working in hospitals making great money at that time and paid for my own education. After a year, I went to a local good college known for medicine and psychology etc. After 2 years of hard work I was accepted into my medical school a year early. Albeit this was over 30 years ago and most likely wouldn’t happen today. If you want it then go for it and stop making excuses. Been there /done that! Work hard, get your grades up and have some fun along the way. I hated being in community College but it litterly was mostly the same professors that were teaching at the 4 year college for a fraction of the price. I visited my friends at Michigan and Michigan state. I worked and soon enough I transfered. Being an adult now looking back on this going to community college was actually the best thing that ever happened to me.
Moral of the story… Work hard and achieve your goals. I wanted to be a doctor since I was 9 years old. Don’t let anything or anyone get in your way. Stop complaining and make it happen. Look into transferring if you can afford it once you have a solid or few solid semesters under your belt. Keep in mind that after 1 year of college the transfer college might still use your high school grades but after 2 years of credits they usually don’t. Look into it and educate yourself. If you read through this forum you will see that your situation is better then most. Make the most of your opportunities that you have!
OP, do your best to excel this year in both classes and with your involvement in activities and organizations that interest you and then reassess whether another school would fit your needs better. Has school even started where you are?
“my SAT was a 1230”
“2.6 GPA”
“no notable achievements”
“I am destine for a path of greatness”
Hmm, something seems off here…
OP, your objective record just does not reflect your very high opinion of yourself. Maybe you should fix your attitude instead of calling your school a joke and acting like you’re better than everyone else.
IMHO you have to inflate your attitude towards the world and deflate your ego a bit. I agree with other posters. Do your best at that college, get involved, do what you can to get straight As and work on relationships with other people. Plenty of people go to schools they deem beneath them and still succeed and move on to bigger and better things. The key is to not think of the school as beneath you but what can you contribute to the school. Feeling above all is going to come across to the other students. No one likes a know it all, negative, and condescending person. If you get your grades up, work on your self and work on relationships you can always transfer if it does not work out at that school. You have to put in hard work. Things are not just given to most people. You can be a doctor, go for it. Be prepared to focus in more on being a better you and not your path to greatness. Good luck
Your college is not who you are. If you insist on thinking of it as a joke, what does that say about the people there (including you)? Maybe they, too, would have been someplace “better” if not for unfortunate circumstances. Maybe they’re where they are because that’s what their family could afford. Maybe it’s a perfectly fine school with a lot to offer. They gave you a chance. It seems the least you could do is give them one.
Get great grades. Get to know your professors – you will need them if you decide to transfer or go to grad school, plus they some may offer you interesting research opportunities. If after your second semester at your school you still feel out of place, start looking seriously at a transfer.
Meantime, get over yourself. Arrogance is not a nice quality. Especially in a teenager who hasn’t accomplished much yet.
You are probably in your FIRST WEEK of college. If you are really so good, then pull straight As this year. That will position you to transfer if you still want to. But you likely will find that your college is just fine if you give it a chance.
I wouldn’t bank so much on assuming that you’ll get a very high GPA. Not only does that sound elitist, but you are making a shot in the dark.
I almost made the same mistake you did by assuming that, I thought I would get a perfect 4.0 at my school the week before freshman year started. I ended up with a 3.63 that first semester. DON’T assume something because in reality, ANYTHING can happen. I made that mistake once, and I’m not letting it happen to me again. Be careful with what you think will happen because you could just be setting yourself up for disappointment.
Not to burst to your bubble, but I disagree with how you see yourself and other people. Just because you are going to your local state school does not mean you are going to attend classes with people you don’t like. A state school is a big place. You are going to meet people you like and you don’t like, and you’re going to have to deal with them. Put off the idea that you’ll automatically hate the people you’ll come across because that’ll bleed over into your actions, and soon enough, everyone you come across will have a poor image of you.
Here’s something I’ve learned from my two years (and still going) as a Physical Therapy Student: be humble, be kind, and be open to change, good or bad. Arrogance and snobbishness aren’t going to get you anywhere and people are going to hate you for it. Take a step back. Look at what you’re doing and where you’re going. If you really don’t like your state school after that first semester, consider transferring or just apply to a great graduate program if you’re that sure of your abilities.
Change your attitude. Be open to what lies ahead and see where it takes you, but don’t hate other people and yourself for where you are now.
I’m not getting into this debate, but will say, ANY STATE school can get you just about anywhere you want to go. Doctor, Lawyer, Engineer, Business Exec, pre professional, teacher, etc etc . Good ole not cool STATE Univ in ALL 'FITTY" states has more than enough for most students.
@Sambeet if you want to transfer to an academically more challenging university, or if you want to go to graduate school at an academically more challenging university, then you need to manage a long string of high grades, mostly A’s. You do this one problem set at a time and one test at a time over an extended period of time.
There is no shortcut to greatness. There is no easy path to success. None of us were handed our accomplishments. Start studying hard. Attend all classes. Sit near the front. Always pay attention. Do your homework as soon as it is assigned. Seek out help when you need it. Understand that your classes will get more difficult as the semester goes along and as you get into higher year classes.
If you can pull off a very long string of high grades, then opportunities will be available to you.
Also, I hope that your father stays healthy. They have gotten a lot better at dealing with cancer. Sometimes it comes back, but if it does the medical profession is still a lot better than they used to be in dealing with it. Please know that one of the most encouraging things that can happen from the perspective of an ill parent is to see their children do well.