<p>So.
I'm currently a high school junior. Right now I have a 3.4 GPA (right now it's going up .2 a semester, or has been the past two semesters) I started off freshman year sort of rough. I was recovering from a pretty bad depression, anger management issues, I was on all sorts of support programs. I was getting Cs in level one classes, didn't do a lot of my work, etc etc. End of freshman year, I was like, whatever, I'm not going to even go to college anyways.
Sophomore year comes around, and about halfway through, I realized I sort of needed to get my stuff together. I worked hard to be pulled from the support programs, I was in two honors classes, and I was maintaining As and Bs in all of my classes, and finished the year strong (with not the greatest GPA)
Junior year comes around, and I'm in all honors and an AP class. Still getting As and Bs in all of my classes, and hoping to maintain that pace for the rest of this year. Next year I'm looking at three APs (English, Psych, and Comp. Sci) and possibly AP Stats.<br>
I've worked wicked hard to try and pull my grades up, go into the classes I feel I should be in, etc etc. I'm not involved in any sports, but am an avid Punk Rock concert goer-to, I'm starting up a zine in my free time, I've read a little bit of computer coding, I built my own computer, and may be volunteering at a homeless shelter this summer.
I was able to get about an 1850 on the PSATs, I'm currently enrolled in an SAT Prep class to try and pull it up. I think I could maybe, MAYBE get around a 2000, maybe 2100.
So, my question is, looking at the general incline up on my transcript, working on my ECs, and decent-ish SAT scores, where could I even look at getting into?
I'd like fairly competitive (looked at Midd or Bowdoin, but I don't even know if I could get in) but preferably west-coast. I'm a native New Englander (Boston area) and sort of want to get out of here. Or maybe not.
So, where do I have a shot at getting into, with my GPA probably maybe getting pulled up to a 3.6/3.8 (or maybe higher?) by the end of senior year? but improved from what I think was a 1.9, and with ~2000 on the SATs? Thanks in advance.</p>
<p>Check out the college finder on college confidential. There are dozens of colleges for you</p>
<p>Your upward trend is fantastic, and great job on your hard work! If you continue on that path, you will be well qualified for many schools. My advice is, instead of looking at “where can I get in”, first narrow down your search by what you WANT in a school. Look for the location you want, size, etc. and THEN worry about where you can get in, within that list. You have plenty of time to do research on schools. Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Two things you should do early in the process:</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Talk to your parents about price limits. Run some net price calculators on colleges you are considering to get an idea of what financial aid is like. This can shape how you build your application list (e.g. if need-based financial aid falls far short, you may need to look for large merit scholarship opportunities).</p></li>
<li><p>Find your safety schools first. These are schools which are you certain to be admitted to, certain to be able to afford, and which you like.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Thanks for the advice everyone, I’ll definitely run some things to find certain colleges. But, I also guess what I’m asking is, do you think looking at schools like Middlebury or Bowdowin are too much of a stretch with academics like mine?</p>
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<p>Realistically they are huge stretches for you. You might want to look at schools like Reed, Kalamazoo, Kenyon, Union, Grinnell, Macalester, Whitman, Pitzer, and Colorado College (keeping in mind that some of these also may be a stretch for you).</p>
<p>I’m pretty new to this site, so I don’t know exactly if I respond to each person thanking them, but arcadia, this is exactly the sort of response I was looking for. Thank you very much.</p>
<p>I think that MIddlebury/Bowdoin are big stretches…but there are many great LACs that you could qualify for…some ideas offhand include Union, Franklin and Marshall, Dickinson, Lafayette, Muhlenberg, Clark, Skidmore</p>
<p>Just a little update on this: Made a typo in the first post I didn’t realize until today when I came back to revisit and update the thread, found out you can’t edit the OP, oh well.
Instead of a 1.9, I found out my official freshman year GPA was a 2.8. I had meant to type a 2.9, but yeah. I got an 1810 on the SATs (taking them again in the fall) and my course next year is going to look like this:
Adv Comp Repair
AP Lit
AP Physics
AP Psych
Honors Calc (taking a precalc class over the summer so I can have Calculus on my transcript)
Free
Astronomy or Honors Statistics (I’m not sure yet)</p>
<p>Something else I forgot, is something on the ECs! I don’t really know how I forgot about it, but I sing in a band, and we’re getting quite a few shows now. I book other bands, book our band, manage merch, contact info, press kits, everything like that. Don’t know if that makes a difference or not.</p>
<p>The biggest stretch college that I think I’m going to be applying to is Pomona, I’m aware it’s about a 1% chance I’d get looked at, never mind accepted into, but I still think I’m gonna go with the application. Also in the 5C college, I’m planning on applying to Pitzer. I’m not sure what colleges I’m applying to in the east coast department, but this is all so far. Any other college suggestions would be great, too. I’ve been looking at primarily LACs, but am willing to look at others. Right now I’m thinking about majoring in Psych or Astrophysics. (depending on how well/how much I enjoy AP Physics…) Is it custom to sort of update your threads with info as you learn more, or do you just let the sleeping dog lie?</p>