Please help! I've screwed up big time...

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

I am a junior in high school in the second semester. I have 4 c’s on my high school transcript overall. It’s supposed to be five, but because I am a twin and my Ap world teacher of sophomore year cannot tell us apart, he has screwed up my transcript, so it is supposed to be five c’s overall actually.

Freshman year I had two B’s being in Honors English and Reg. Algebra 1, the rest of my classes being all A’s and regular.

Sophomore year I entered to have all honors classes and got a C in Honors Geometry, rest of my classes being A’s or B’s, except for Ap world hist. second semester, in which I am supposed to have a C also, but again because my teacher cannot tell us apart, he gave me my sisters A second semester and for some reason changed my first semester B into an A also. Sister has a B in for both semesters of that class.

First Semester Junior year I got C in honors Chem and in APUSH. The rest of my grades being A’s or B’s.

I don’t know if this matters, but I got a 22 on Pre-Act. So I wonder when take Act would a 22 be a good score? I’m also within the top ten percent of my class.

I have done softball freshman year, track sophomore year, and I did cross-country earlier and am planning to do track again for this year. I’ve volunteered for ROTC (pretty sure it doesn’t count) but am looking to do more extensive volunteer work a lot more.

My question is what type of universities can I get into? I want to live in California but I think I have no chance as their schools are pretty selective. I have no idea where I want to go. I want to live near the beach and I’d like the school to have a good pre-med and engineering program or something, and a good study abroad one too. I also want to join the Disney College Program, if that has an effect on anything.

I’m sorry for the long rant or if I posted in the wrong section it’s just I think I’ve completely screwed myself over because I want to go to a good university, but because I can’t focus to save my life and study a bit ( it’s so hard for me to stay focused) and stop procrastinating also I may not get to go. To be honest, I’m just looking for someone to say I’m okay. Is ASU also a good school? I don’t know where to begin for finding good universities that will accept my poor excuse as a transcript.

2

You’re a junior and not doomed yet, but ouch. Seriously if you’re grades are dropping I’d consider evaluating your ECs. Are they worth it? Are they helping you or just consuming the time you need to do well?

You also may want to re-evaluate what you want to do and play to your strengths. It probably depends on your background but for my high school, if you absolutely can’t stand math you take Algebra 1 as a freshmen. I personally believe anyone can be good at math and it depends on the teaching, but my entire family likes math to an annoying degree. Engineering requires math, especially all that fancy stuff you learn in trig, calc, and beyond so unless you like math to some degree, I wouldn’t recommend it as a career pathway. Perhaps ask a real engineer because what do I know? :slight_smile:

If you really want to pursue pre-med or engineering, apply to good colleges and don’t be scared if they won’t admit you. I can’t recommend any, but if all else fails, remember that going to a community college and transferring isn’t shameful. Community colleges are great, especially if you’re just not ready in high school.

3

What is your Home state? What is your current GPA? How much are your parents willing to pay fir you and your twin to attend college?

4

Pulse Star, I am very good at reading and writing, science I’m good but not a+ level(maybe if I learned how to study I can get there). I didn’t want to say this before, but for geometry of sophomore year I did not understand her teaching style at all but this year, math is incredibly easy for me and I think my teacher is great. I never have to ask him to clarify. Do you think ASU would be a good fit? I actually go to a poor high school and my whole family is bad at math, for a backround.

Also, do you think my chances will change for the better if I make all A’s this semester?

5

Gumbymom, I live in Arizona, my core gpa is 3.2, weighted it’s past 3.5, I think like a 3.7 maybe. and unweighted it’s a 3.4 I think. My parents, my dad does not even have 1000 for us each and as far as I know, my mom does not have any saved up for us. So I’m depending on scholarships but I doubt it because my grades suck so maybe financial aid but I’m prepared and have accepted I will live in student debt for the rest of my life.

6

Okay thanks for the explanation. If you ever get stuck in math remember you have Khan Academy that offers a wide variety of instructural videos. For advanced math classes there are open course ware available from universities such as MIT and Harvard.

I’d highly suggest you avoid student debt. Improving your grades can work in your favor and perhaps allow you to snag a scholarship. I’d research scholarship opportunities more, but if you can’t get a decent scholarship I’d advise community college. Community College is a whole lot cheaper and I don’t know about Arizona, but our state offers cost reductions for graduating high schoolers going to community colleges. In the meantime you can get a part time job which can help build up your nest egg. You can get a part time job right now even, which could help you pay for school supplies. Essentially you’ll need to do a college cost analysis. Ask your parents how much they’re willing to pay, then determine how much a reduction and financial aid the colleges you wish to apply to give, and determine how much more money you need. Then apply for scholarships… And I really don’t know a lot about that.

BTW: Getting a job to help pay for college would show a great commitment to getting a higher education. I’d think you’ll definitely earn brownie points. Just try to get your unweighted GPA above a 3.5 and see if your school has a program such as Naviance. Otherwise ask how you compare to the general student body grade wise. Remember everything is relative.

Does your school have a college councillor?

7

Are you going to clear up the grade thing or are you going to let your twin suck up your lower grade?

8

Suzy100, of course. My twin doesn’t seem to care that much anyways, since I’ve gone up three times to my counselor and my Ap world teacher and have talked to them about it, and her only once. I’d have to go up to Ap again clearly, since last time he thought I was my sister. Although we did get something accomplished. The AP test had gotten us mixed up and wrote us as one person with my score. They finally fixed it and gave her her proper score. So yes, I’m working on it, I’m not that much of an evil twin :stuck_out_tongue:

9

Lol… I have a feeling that there some amusing stories there. In elementary school there were two twins with different teachers that switched classes with no one being the wiser.

10

Pulse Star, ASU as I have just looked up has a 60% discount for those who live in-state. Thank you! I plan on getting a job once I have got volunteering up my sleeve. Yes my school has a counselor which is why I’m wondering if I am over-reacting because she does not seem to be that worried, but then I think she considers me to be very smart, or at least have the potential to be.

11

What type of volunteering do you?
You also want to look at couple of other schools because there’s never a sure bet. (I think you’ll get in but that’s beside the point.) You should ask your councillor what schools offer good aid and see if you can apply to those. You may be surprised where you can get in and your college councillor has the best grasp of how you compare to the student body. The biggest downside here is the cost of applying but a job can help you with that.

For potential jobs, besides the obvious of working at McDonalds or so, try to find something to involve yourself. Teaching, if you can get it, is extremely rewarding. Nothing cheers you up more than a kid telling you that you are their favorite teacher. Other than that perhaps look for paid internships or jobs relating to engineering/med.

12

@WorriedBlob: The best scholarships and financial aid come from the colleges themselves, so target your in-state options such as ASU, NAU and UofA. There is also the community college route, where you can bump up your grades and then transfer into a college of choice, but just be aware financial aid for transfers is even more limiting then Freshman. ASU looks like your best bet with your grades and possibl test scores. Once you get your degree, you can consider looking for jobs in California. Good Luck.

13

Pulse Star, thank you so much for your help! I really want to do the Disney College Program for at least a year, it is a paid internship. I was going to volunteer at this bunny shelter and working on a children’s hospital as my main two volunteering jigs.

14

Let me be the annoying person: Do you like volunteering at the bunny shelter and working at the children’s hospital?
I know the focus on do community service or you won’t get into college but don’t do it for the sake of college admissions. There are a lot of opportunities in the community usually so find something that you’re passionate about. The children’s hospital would definitely help with med.
The Disney College Program appears to be an internship for college students?

15

@PulseStar, you are correct that the Disney College program is for college students.

Here are the requirements:

  1. Students must be currently enrolled and taking classes at an accredited program or institution and have completed at least one semester OR have graduated within the past six months.

Students who have not yet graduated from high school but have dual enrollment with a college are not eligible to apply.
Those who have taken college courses, but are currently taking “time off” from school are not eligible to apply.
College freshmen may apply during their first semester of school to participate during their second semester. The Disney College Program cannot serve as your first semester of school.
Graduate students may apply. However, it is important to note that this program and its educational components, are designed for undergraduates.

16

Pulse Star, yes, I am sorry if I have confused you. I meant that I wanted to take the Disney College Program during college for at least a year. I do really want to volunteer at the children’s hospital, and I do like the bunny shelter.

Is it a good idea for an internship? Obviously not for the purposes of my career, but I so badly can’t wait to be able to do it.

17

Gumbymom, Thank you so much. I have done some research on ASU and despite it’s reputation as a party school, it is very good at the fields I am interested in.

18

Well good luck on the community service. What part of the Disney thing appeals to you so much?

Go ahead try for it if you want to.

19

A lot of kids just want to know where they can get admitted. But once there, you need to handle the work. With your record of C’s, make sure you pick a college where you can succeed. And no, bunny shelter won’t tip you in.

Glad you looked up ASU, but now think about what you need, to grow and thrive.

20

Given your parent’s financial situation I really think your best way forward is to go to community college for two years and transfer. You, as a student, can only borrow so much money. Unless your parents agree to take out extra loans, you are unlikely to be able to afford to attend all four years of college at a university.

Here is something to consider: the level of colleges you will be able to get into are not going to be very interested in your ECs. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do them, because there are other benefits to volunteering. You can use volunteer work for job applications and for references. You learn skills from volunteering. But I do think you should reduce the time you spend on your ECs and work really hard to boost your grades for the rest of junior year and the first half of senior year. Then you maybe able to get some merit money at a four year college. Also, you don’t mention this, but if you are a minority or first generation to attend college, that might help you.

It’s great that you are here asking for advice, because you need to have proper conversations with your parents about exactly how much they can afford to pay for you and your sister to go to college. You can go to a college’s website and run the Net Price Calculator to find out how much money your parents will be expected to pay for your education.

Make your grades your top priority for the rest of high school. Good luck.