I believe most people have offered some. You may not have agreed, but it’s been offered.</p>
<p>Several of the other questions the OP asks (Is it too late to get my grades up?) he goes on an answers himself (I know for sure I can get straight As; But that can’t save me.). Okay, not much to say to that. </p>
<p>He does go on to ask:
Okay, herein lies the problem. You had a chance to show colleges your academic thirst for knowledge, which you say you have in spades. You want to know how to show that, when the way to show them you squandered…on purpose. That is indeed a problem. You make the best of the rest of your education. Package what you did achieve, and hope for the best. Understand you can’t flip ‘the establishment’ the bird and then ask for a favor (ie, entrance to a top school, and oh, btw merit/need based money).</p>
<p>^^^ Eli, sigh … OK, let’s go through it by the numbers.</p>
<p>Is is all right if we skip past any rhetorical questions in the OP’s paragraph 1, paragraph 2, paragraph 3, paragraph 4, paragraph 5, paragraph 6 and paragraph 7? That leaves us with two question in paragraph 8:</p>
<p>“How would I show that (effort and academic ability) to colleges?”
Typical would be winning Intel Awards, Science Olympiads, etc. Research internships are good, presuming you have publications to back them up. Letters of support from National Academy of Science members might be helpful. Some student list patents earned, though this is chancy if the patents appear to be “parent guided.” </p>
<p>“Any life long advice for me?”
I believe this has been addressed in many posts above.</p>
<p>David,
For what it’s worth, my husband was in a similar position. His class grades were pretty low - in his case, from arguing with teachers and “not wanting to jump through their hoops”. He still resists authority and gets furious with anyone who tells him what to do - gets him in trouble all the time. BUT his high SAT scores got him into Penn State with a low GPA.<br>
Work on trying to win over a couple of teachers so that they will be willing to write good letters of reference. Do the boring stuff that is required to bring up your GPA. There is hope. Again, you’ll probably have to end up at a less reputable school in order to get great scholarships, but that’s not the end of the world. Perhaps that will provide you with research opportunities and the environment to work on relationship skills.
By the way, have you ever been evaluated for Aspbergers? The sense of disconnect with emotions that you mentioned and your inability to apply yourself to things you think of as meaningless suggest it could be a possibility. If you have it, it might open doors for you. Try tackling that, or ADD with a scientific attitude, as someone suggested take a behavioral modification approach, analyze it, etc.</p>
<p>Is there anything you can do to show your interest in and passion for science? For example, can you volunteer at a nearby lab, assist a scientist, work in a summer science camp, see if you can enter some lower-level science or engineering contests (Intel, Siemens, etc. probably won’t work, but there are others), write a blog, make a web site, maybe do a research internship next semester (depends on where you live, but your high school may participate in a work-study/internship program)? Also, there must be some teachers or counselors that would be willing to help if you show interest in what they are doing.</p>
<p>Community colleges can be great. If any near you have articulation agreements with state universities, you’ll know that their program has been “approved” by someone. They’re also generally cheaper and have smaller classes.</p>
<p>Just because the average graduation rate from CC isn’t good doesn’t mean that you can’t do well. BUT you have to jump through the hoops, do well, do your homework, and learn from people. “Smarter” doesn’t mean “better”. </p>
<p>You’re not going to Harvard or Caltech for undergrad. Get over it. But there are thousands of other schools in the country where you can learn and grow. You know you’re capable of the work, now just do it.</p>
<p>Here’s how my son showed his passion for computer science:</p>
<p>Made websites for a business and a university lab
Did volunteer programming for a med school prof that allows a lot of data to be analyzed quickly and was acknowledge in papers
Worked three years after school and summers for a computer firm - worked on the websites of some well known companies and organizations
Did the programming for a Civilization 4 mod that was listed by Gamer Magazine as the best mod.
Taught himself Scheme from MIT’s Open Courseware
Taught himself enough Java to take AP Comp Sci as a high school freshman</p>
<p>Obviously too late to all of this, but a self-motivated student can do a lot outside school.</p>
<p>First of all: thanks to all of you who have responded. My GPA is around 3.11. That is horrible by any definition. I played football until my Junior year, I am quitting next year to focus solely on academics. Perhaps, I am still arrogant. I do have a teacher, who has known me for 2 years now, that is willing to write me a letter. If it makes any difference, he is my robotics mentor and has seen me grow as a person over the years. If you can believe it, I was way worse than this before. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering. To be honest, my decision of choosing the doctorate as my goal was partially influenced by him. I will be working on one of these projects over the summer: finish my 3D Image Generator from an IR Range Finder, an Iris tracking software, or an actively compensating stereoscopic camera rig. I will not be publishing anything, it is mostly for my robotics team next year, I want to leave the team with a legacy.</p>
<p>My Senior Year Classes:
AP Calculus AB(Teaching myself calculus over summer, possibly taking a calculus class at CC)
AP Physics C(Going through all the MIT Lectures in Physics during summer, i have no worries)
AP Computer Science AB (Second year, the same teacher that is recommending me)
AP Economics (I have no doubt, I will do great.)
Sculpting or Ceramics (Simple class, need the Art credit to graduate)
English(Come on, it is English)</p>
<p>Perhaps, I still have more maturing to do. I seem to be pointing the finger more towards others while I should be pointing to myself. My mentor has pointed that out to me a lot. I would usually get 75% of the job done then taper off. That is a major flaw that I have to fix. I got rejected from JPL’s summer internship. </p>
<p>The list of schools I have in my mind right now:
Cal Tech (I know my chances are slim to none, but I need it for the sake of closure)
Cal Poly SU San Luis
Cal State Poly U Pom
Carnegie Mellon U(I know my chances are slim to none, but I need it for the sake of closure)
Cooper Union
Florida Inst Tec
Harvey Mudd C(I know my chances are slim to none, but I need it for the sake of closure)
Illinois Inst Tec
Kettering U
MIT(I know my chances are slim to none, but I need it for the sake of closure)
Rensselaer Polytec I
Rochester I Tec
Rose-Hulman I Tec
Stevens Inst Tec
Worcester Polytec I
<p>I would assume Cal Polys are the financial safety. </p>
<p>In-state tuition and fees: $6,480<br>
Room and board: $9,992<br>
Books and supplies: $1,674<br>
Estimated personal expenses: $2,250<br>
Transportation expense: $1,089
Average percent of need met: 60%
Average financial aid package: $9,113
Average need-based loan: $2,947
Average need-based scholarship or grant award: $2,394
Average non-need based aid: $1,785</p>
<p>I strongly suggest you add some backup CSUs to your list as true financial and admission safeties. </p>
<p>Your chances at the Cal Polys are iffy at best. Your GPA is in the bottom 20% for Pomona, and bottom 5% for SLO. Unfortunately for you, they are on an early schedule for application/admissions, so you will be evaluated on your grades as of end of junior year.</p>
<p>It would help if your SAT math actually materializes, as you hope, at 730, as that would be in the upper quartile for either Cal Poly campus.</p>
<p>How lucky for you David, that as only a junior in high school you are so adept at evaluating those in the teaching profession. You say family earns 40k. You didn’t say how much you have saved, or how much you earn, or what job you expect in college to help pay your way. Or did you leave all that out because all that has crossed your mind is your parents paying for whatever the school doesn’t gift to you?
For those that don’t have an endless pot of money there are a number of ways to earn the costs of an education. Working to be a top athlete, top musician, top scholar, or working in the world to earn dough are all examples of ways to pay for an education. But so far, a 3.11 sure isn’t horrible for a college bound kid, but it’s about average for a college bound kid. So, if a potential school sees your academics as about average, then you will either need something else exceptional- enough that it gets a scholarship; or else plan on paying mostly full rate on costs. </p>
<p>But you need to speak with parents to get a clear understanding of a dollar figure they are willing and able to give you as a gift toward your education. Don’t assume they’ll pay any price, don’t assume they will take loans, don’t assume your scholarship will cover 100%. Get real numbers, as that will aid you in your college search. Know too what a college means by “need met”. It is usually very different than what a prospective student thinks it means.</p>
<p>Try to realize that as a high school junior, it is unlikely that what you dream of now is really not that likely what will happen. As we learn and grow, our wants and needs change.</p>
<p>OP, you say you want to be a professor. So you should know that getting tenure is in large measure what other professors think of you: do they want to sit next to you at the faculty club for the next 30 years? If they think - smart guy but a jerk – you won’t get tenure. Sadly, it can be that simple. So DO work on your people skills. And accept the fact that while you may think you have a lot to offer the academe, the academe may not want you in its own back yard ;)</p>
<p>@calimami I simply wanted a perspective from an older audience. </p>
<p>@younghoss They only have around 10k saved up in savings in a bank account in Korea. They also have some kind of educational funds from Korea too, but not much. </p>
<p>Also, I am fairly confident in my math SAT score, I am more worried about my essay and CR.</p>
<p>"It is a shame his parents didn´t say anything to him, or he wouldn´t be in this position. " - Hard to say. I’ve talked to many caring involved parents who can’t their kids to take high school seriously. (It’s often very bright boy students. But sometimes like in our case a very bright girl). </p>
<p>I like this quote - “Raising a teen is like trying to nail jello to a tree.” Often the teen will do what he/she wants regardless of parental input.</p>
<p>“I would assume Cal Polys are the financial safety”</p>
<p>Except your chances of getting in are about ZERO. The Cal Polys go strictly by the numbers; GPA and SAT scores (with, I believe, more emphasis on the GPA numbers). They only consider you grades thru your junior year. Appeals based on senior year grades are not accepted. </p>
<p>Looking at past year’s data will only give you a false impression of what it takes to get in. They have had record number of applicants while the CA budget constraints are reducing the number of students that they can admit. Net effect is that the GPA and SAT numbers are much higher than the data you’re looking at.</p>
<p>I assume that you will be applying to one of the engineering departments. My daughter applied to CalPolySLO last year with a 3.7 unweighted GPA, 800 Math SAT score, the two English ones were in the mid 600’s. She was told she just missed the cutoff for the ME department. My son was admitted to CalPolySLO a number of years ago with lower stats.</p>
<p>A lot of the other schools on your list are in similar situations but some will include your first semester senior year grades. So, you might have a slim chance. </p>
<p>I would widen your list of schools on the lower end to be safe. You might have a chance at some of the CSU schools.</p>
<p>Maybe you feel you’ll get some closure by applying to the higher end schools (Cal Tech, Carnegie Mellon, Cooper Union, Harvey Mudd, MIT), but don’t waste your (and their) time and money.</p>
<p>A couple of other schools that I would suggest for you to consider that have strong engineering programs but are not too difficult to get accepted to are Purdue and Missouri University of Science & Technology. </p>
<p>Engineering school is a lot of hard work. Just being smart without working hard is not enough to succeed. Hopefully you will enjoy the classes you take and will be motivated to work hard and follow through.</p>
<p>Your self-description reminds me a lot of a good friend of mine, whom I’ve known for 25+ years. We met while studying Electrical Engineering together at our state flagship. He was very unmotivated in high school, but more motivated in college. Not highly motivated, but motivated enough to graduate with a mid-range engineering GPA. He has been lucky enough to wind up in a job he loves. </p>
<p>My advice is not be too hung up on going to a prestigious college. Especially with engineering, what you study is more important than where you study. Bloom where you are planted, and start college wherever you are accepted with a positive attitude. Good luck.</p>
<p>Am I not mistaken, but, according to College Board, Cal Poly Pomona accepts students with a GPA range of 2.5-2.9. Now, considering my UC/CSU GPA of 3.25, I think I have a chance. While I must admit, SLO is a slimmer chance. I mean I know seniors who have 2.7 GPAs and going to CSUs. Of course I have a chance. But I am not applying to them for one reason: I do not want highschool to repeat itself over again. I think several steps ahead, that is just my nature. Sure, that might have been my flaw when I ignored the issues right under my nose, but consider how my brain works. </p>
<p>There are not a lot of schools that offer Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and are under 5000 undergrad students. Why do I emphasize the size so much? I know how important relationships are. Especially when it comes to getting recommendations for grad school. Also, I know for a fact that I learn 10x better if I have a good relationship with the teacher. That is a known fact. </p>
<p>I totally agree with Mr(?) Sacchi. It is what I put in that I will get out of education. Those schools I put just happens to fall into my criteria of choice. With the exception of Cal Polies and RIT (my teacher’s alma mater), they all are under 5000 student body.</p>
<p>Perhaps I am being too selective. Perhaps, beggars can’t be choosers.</p>
<p>My arrogance and fear of failure shines right through this post…</p>
<p>Sounds like you are a Cali resident. Try Santa Clara University & Loyola Marymount University for engineering. SCU may offer a modest merit scholarship.</p>