<p>I'm a 24 year-old female who did very poorly in high school. While I hate to make excuses I was trapped in an abusive home-life and barely managed to earn my diploma. I believe I graduated with a 2.0. I took the old-timers SATs and managed a 1080. I am about 40 credits in to my community college career and am holding strong with a 4.0. I'm also a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honors society. I plan on beginning to apply to colleges this summer and was just looking for a little perspective. I would like to completely earn my associates before transfer (Associate of Science) with a full 60 credits. I plan on applying to the following universities, and am a Virginia resident. Also, for what it is worth, throughout all of my college career I have worked full time at an animal emergency room, and am hoping to pursue a degree in biology/pre-veterinary studies/animal science. Any input on merit scholarship potential or general advice would be appreciated!</p>
<p>Reach:
Wellesley</p>
<p>Others:
University of Pittsburgh
Boston University</p>
<p>Safety:
Virginia Tech *This is only listed as a safety because of an agreement with my college for guaranteed admission.</p>
<p>Since you’re HS records aren’t great, allow me to recommend the University of Miami, Syracuse University, and George Washington University. These three schools don’t require applicants to submit their high school transcripts or SAT scores.</p>
<p>If you are in a Virginia CC, there are agreements with every four-year VA school, including UVA and W&M. Their gpa requirements are a little higher - 3.4 and 3.6 respectively, but as long as you go over the agreements thoroughly, you could try either of those.</p>
<p>You can actually use your poor high school record to your advantage- the fact that you have faced some adversity in life is a good thing, as long as you overcame it (which it appears you did). Honestly, colleges like to know that once you transfer, if something happens, it’s not going to be the first-ever time you’ve faced something difficult in life and you’re just gonna freak out and fail or drop out, you know? So if you can show, hey, I’ve been down a rough road in the past, I let it affect me then, but because of that now I know what to do differently in order to maintain my success no matter what comes my way- that will actually work out well for you. Just keep your college GPA up and if you’re applying to schools that do require high school grades, address what happened in one of your essays- USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE.</p>
<p>At Wellesley, your situation would be different because you would be applying as a Davis Scholar. (The Davis Scholar program is for women > 24). However, the deadline for Wellesley was March 1st. You can find out more here: [Wellesley</a> College, Nontraditional Student Website: Davis Degree Program](<a href=“http://www.wellesley.edu/NSP/davisProgram.html]Wellesley”>http://www.wellesley.edu/NSP/davisProgram.html)</p>
<p>Other women’s colleges (Smith, Mount Holyoke, Bryn Mawr) have special programs for non traditional students as well.</p>
<p>You went from a bad situation at home and lackluster high school grades to a 4.0 in community college and Phi Theta Kappa. I’d say the odds are stacked pretty well in your favor for overcoming adversity, give yourself more credit I’m not sure if any of the schools your applying to ask for SAT scores but it may be beneficial to re-take. (I am betting you are more academically capable and less stressed then the last time you took it.)</p>
<p>wow! congrats! you truly overcame many obstacles to get where you are now…just write really good essays and you should be set. I hope you get in! best of luck! :)</p>
<p>Congratulations! I second the idea that you look into schools like William and Mary and UVA. They’re both excellent schools with great reputations throughout the country. Not to mention, in-state tuition.</p>
<p>thanks for the encouragement guys. I am aware of the Davis program and that’s a big reason why I’m applying to Wellesley. I know that UVA and William and Mary are great schools, but I hate Virginia. I’m originally from the north (Pittsburgh to be exact) and desperately want to go back.</p>
<p>Have you considered Columbia GS? I have a similar story (in regards to the high school troubles and several years later, excelling in college). I am 27 now, raising four kids, and have a 4.0 GPA as well- and Columbia GS sent me several emails encouraging me to apply. The average age of their students is 29! And their students take classes with all other, traditional, Columbia students!</p>
<p>Just a suggestion. Their “early action-non-binding” deadline (for transfers) passed on the first, but as I understand it they’re still accepting apps. But your post said you were looking for schools to apply to in the future anyway, so that wouldn’t matter.</p>
I’m not sure if any of the schools your applying to ask for SAT scores but it may be beneficial to re-take. (I am betting you are more academically capable and less stressed then the last time you took it.)</p>