Panicking over low GPA not sure what colleges will take me?

I’d like to start by saying that I’m currently 17 and halfway through my junior year in high school. I’ve been extremely apathetic over the last 2 and a half years and am trying to change my grades. Only problem is that my grades are very low… I currently have something like a 1.9 or 2 GPA and even if I get something fairly good like a 3.5 over the 2nd half of the year, it will still be in the 2 range… I have not yet taken the SATS yet. I plan on taking them in May. I’m currently in a prep class in an attempt to do as well as I possibly can. I go to a private (Catholic) school am I am in honor and high honors programs. I play baseball and bowling and am involved in community service. I have a passion for herpetology and baseball. I also really enjoy business and marketing. An idea major would be zoology or something in the field of business with hopes of getting a low level job at a MLB club one day and working my way up. I REALLY want to go out of state. I live in Connecticut and I don’t fit in with many people here. I understand people are different everywhere, but I would love to go to California, Arizona, the Carolinas or maybe Louisiana. Are there ANY colleges that would take a mid 2 gpa with decent to high SAT scores? I’m very nervous and concerned I’m going to have to go to a community college for a couple years and then transfer. Also I’m still struggling to find ways to focus hard on school. Any advise for any of my concerns would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

  1. What does Zoology have to do with business? Zoology by definition is the study of animals, so I have no clue how getting Zoology degree will get you into business.
  2. I don't really think any colleges would be willing to take you with such a low GPA and even if they did, there academic quality, prestige, and alumni network would almost be on par with a CC. I'd say your best option is to go to a CC and transfer after your 2nd year. I constantly see stories on here of people going to CC and getting into great universities (for example: Berkeley I see a lot). I think that is your best choice, but of course my view isn't the more accurate or most correct as I am not an admissions officer or an admissions counselor. Good luck

There are plenty of colleges willing to take someone with a 2.0 or higher GPA, and a few with an even lower one—in fact, the majority of US colleges are open-access institutions. There are community colleges, of course, but there are plenty of 4-year options, as well. (Look for anything listed as “noncompetitive” or the like in one of the big college guides—just do yourself a favor and steer clear of the for-profit ones, and be wary of the private very underendowed ones.)

You do need to be careful about whether you’re ready for college, though—somebody who acquires student loan debt but doesn’t finish college is (in most cases) worse off than someone who didn’t go to college at all.

Hi I don’t know if I worded it wrong or not, but I meant to say I’d want to study EITHER zoology or something in business as I enjoy BOTH and obviously have to pick one. I don’t care too much to be honest on which one.

I would take 2 years of a CC and then transfer to a UC.

What would my chances be if I drastically raised my GPA up the next year and a half? If I get lets a 3.0 this marking period and like a 3.5 next marking period and then a 3.5 all of next year (senior year) would they take that into account? I know they want upward trends.

Chances are slim, but this is depending on which schools you are talking about. They won’t see your senior grades beyond the first quarter, probably. Is your school on Naviance? If so, you can fill out some questions and it will suggest match schools for you.

If I raised my Junior year GPA to somewhere in the mid to upper 2s and had a very strong 1st marking period or 2 as a senior (like 3.5+) would colleges find that fishy that I just kind of started caring? And I was thinking schools like University of Arizona, Arizona State University, Cal State LA, Coastal Carolina, University of Georgia, Northern Illinois University, Troy University or maybe even University of Southern Alabama. Any help would be really appreciated. I want to set my goals high starting now. I’m trying to focus more on grades and school and study habits. I acknowledge I need to change more still, but I do half a year and a half and I’m determined.

What can your parents afford?

I’m blessed to have amazing parents who support me in every way. We don’t have a lot of money, but they said they’d help me out no matter where I go. Some of the local non state universities near me are insanely expensive even for in state. Many universities I researched are a lot cheaper to live there with out of state tuition than it would be to go to a local, non state university.

Could he go to a community college in California and then transfer?

You have to get your GPA up to a high 2 if you can.

How much would they be? We have a “good” community college a couple miles from me and I don’t know if my parents would want to shell out more money for cost of living in California vs 1 not far from my home. I mean I might be able to, but I’d feel bad about it. How much are they in Cali?

I’m sure they would not be cheap. There is nothing terrifying about going to the good community college near you. Focus on your education even if you have two years at a CC. It would save your parent’s money.

CCs have a bad rep here on this forum (also called CC—somehow only just realized that weirdness), but it’s IMO undeserved. Seriously, one of their main purposes is students like you—those who realize a bit later in the game that it’s time to take things seriously, and so they provide a couple extra years to build a “see, I really am serious” record for 4-year institutions.

I don’t mean to be discouraging. You can definitely make it. Can you make a 4.0 from this point forward? Do every single bit of homework, raise you hand to participate in every single class, and study hard for every single test. Can you do that? Then I see no reason why you couldn’t get into one of the schools you mention, and you will have formed some good habits so that you will actually succeed at them. Start now, today, and not with the attitude “I’ll do better next semester.” If apathy is ruling your day, right now, it will ruin your chances. Discipline!

My personal problem with a CC is that I’d feel like I’m in a sense “wasting” 2 years. Now I know with my grades most might not feel that way about my situation. I don’t want to graduate college when I’m 24 instead of 22. I also had aspirations of trying to go to college somewhere with one of my best friends. We have very similar interests and want the same major. We figured we could split the cost of living after freshman year if we live off campus. Only problem is he has a 3.2 GPA and plays varsity basketball and track. I’d love to go somewhere to a university and begin the college process, but many people on here have been saying that a CC is the best option.

How would a CC be wasting 2 years? Seriously—it’s actual college work, not a “13th grade” sort of thing, and if you make sure the CC you go to has articulation agreements with 4-year colleges you’re interested in, it’s an incredibly less expensive way to get your general education requirements completed.

Thanks Redpoodles. I appreciate your positive outlook. I’ve been doing much better this marking period so far and I know I can do even better. I need to do better with studying and I think I can get a high 3 or even 4.0 GPA from this point on. Hopefully schools see that and realize I was lazy before and changed.

How is attending college wasting two years? You don’t consider a CC a “real” college?

If I were to take 2 years at a CC, would I still need to complete 4 years to graduate at a regular university or could I somehow transfer some of my credits towards it and cut the time? I’m not familiar with the college process and much less with community colleges. I’d just feel like a disappointment if I went there as I’ve always been pushed to graduate university.