Portland State University, CSU Northridge, CUNY City College, any other place I would get into?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>My GPA is a 2.97 (My counselor says they will round it to a 3.0 when sending in transcripts), I have an 1170 on the SAT (CR=410, M=370, W=390) and a 16 on the ACT. I'm currently in my senior year and this last marking period I earned
Computer Science= A
Woodworking= B+
Computer Aided Design= A
Photography= A+
English= B-
College Algebra= D
Phys Ed= A
Social Groups & Law= B-</p>

<p>I plan to do better next marking period in Algebra while keeping the rest of my grades the same with the goal of bringing my GPA up higher. </p>

<p>I want to study Urban and Regional Planning and/or Civil Engineering. Are there any schools that have that major that would take me with my scores? I don't want to attend Community College for a year. I feel like that is the only thing that would result in me being denied. I have a few extracurricular activities and a part-time job. I think I can write a pretty good essay.</p>

<p>I don't know what to do right now. Some colleges I'm applying to have approaching deadlines and I don't want to miss them simply because I fear getting rejected because they never saw my senior grades. I didn't do very well Junior year, I had mainly C's on my transcript, and it had bought my GPA down to 2.9. I'm currently working to bring it up as much as possible. </p>

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<p>There is really very few schools that you would have a decent chance with your SAT especially since it is below the average indicating you are not ready for college classes. There is nothing wrong with starting at a CC, getting good grades and transferring into a good university to pursue your major. There are many different paths to get what you want. Good Luck</p>

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<p>That’s the thing. Community College isn’t good enough for me. I push myself to do better. I’m currently in the process of bringing my GPA up higher. I don’t want to take the SAT a third time because I know for a fact that I will do worse on it than I did last time. I’m willing to just go to any University that will accept me. I don’t want to stay at home anymore. I have spent 17 years at home and I’d like to go away for a while. And since my family can’t really afford to go on vacation, college is the only way I can do that. I refuse to spend 1-2 extra years at home. I have a job but it doesn’t pay me enough to live on my own.</p>

<p>I forgot to mention in my OP, I took some summer courses at NYIT and Rutgers in the past few years so if that counts for anything…</p>

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<p>Plug your Stats into the Supermatch feature on this website to see if you get any matches. What area of the country? Whats your budget? Home state?</p>

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<p>I’d prefer some states along the Pacific Coast and out West. </p>

<p>My home state is New Jersey. I’ve spent way too much time in the Mid-Atlantic region. I’m trying to get some time away from here. Even if it’s only four years.</p>

<p>I’m not trying to spend a fortune but I do plan on applying for financial aid. </p>

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<p>FYI: California publics give little to no financial aid to OOS students. You will end up paying around $30K/year for a CSU not including travel expenses. Your Stats are not going to get you any merit aid, so your choices are limited. In-state or CC. Good luck with your search.</p>

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<p>Okay so our gpa is low and your sats are very low idk how your ec’s are but you don’t have a good chance of getting into rutgers or njit. You should look at monmouth, rider, william patterson rampo montclair etc. </p>

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<p>I have 4 EC’s, and a part-time job. Took summer courses at Rutgers and NYIT in the past few years. </p>

9

<p>What’s your parents’ budget?</p>

<p>(If your intention was to “get a loan”, be aware that you can only borrow $5,500 for freshman year.)</p>

<p>PREPARE for the SAT THEN take it. Of course you’ll do the same or worse if you don’t spend an hour each day working on problems and questions. Register for Question of the Day, use Khan Academy. Your options, at this point, depend on your raising your SAT score. So, if you’re unwilling to dedicate the next 2 weeks to that task, ask yourself whether you really want to leave your State and region for college (maybe it’s a dream that you’re afraid of, and you’re not trying for the SAT to make sure you don’t make it come true?)</p>

<p>Your SAT and ACT scores indicate you’re not ready for college yet, and you don’t have all 5 core classes (English, Math, Social Science, Science, Foreign Language), so your curriculum doesn’t look very rigorous. So right now your choices are very limited, and they’ll be even more limited once your parents tell you what budget they can dedicate to your education.</p>

<p>If your parents have enough money, see if you can get into Richard Bland from out of state, it’d allow you to live in another state and after two years transfer into one of the Universities in Virginia. You’d also get into Penn State Greater Allegheny, and perhaps into Penn State Harrisburg, and after two years automatically move to University Park, but that’d cost you 32k for the first two years and 45k for the last two, and no financial aid.</p>

<p>Look into UTampa, Flagler (in Florida); Guilford (NC); Whittier (CA).
Test optional colleges in the West include CSU Chico, CSU San Bernardino, and both have nice dorms; U Nevada Las Vegas and Reno; UT Dallas and UT El Paso; </p>

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<p>I actually have the 5 core classes on my transcript. </p>

<p>And guys I know I sound a bit gritty but I’d like a little less negativity. This is a very stressful time for me right now, and I’m trying to make the most of it with what I have. I think taking the SAT a third time is a waste of time and money because 1. I’m not a good test taker, 2. Even if I do take it and get a higher score, by the time they come out, it’ll be too late for them to get me in anywhere. 3. Most universities I’m applying to are Test Optional/Flexible, and I don’t want to feel as if I’m wasting my time. My grades are better than they were before, and I plan on sending in my senior year scores to the places I’m applying to. I REFUSE TO GO TO COMMUNITY COLLEGE. I can’t stress that enough. I have been at home for 12 years and I’m fed up with NJ. I want to go somewhere else, I’m willing to apply undecided at any university that will accept me. I am going to keep on working this senior year to bring my GPA up as high as it can go. That way if any of the colleges I apply to reject me, I can show them my work Senior year, and MAYBE they’ll reconsider. But I REFUSE to go to Community College. I have a chance to leave this sh***y town and I’m going to take it. </p>

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<p>Sorry to say this but it is practically impossible for you to get into CSU-Northridge. And the others are still very difficult. Your academic history is just not strong enough to say the least. And the SAT is WAYYYYY below the national average. If you can at least bring up the SAT to 1500+ then you have at least a decent chance at some of those colleges listed. Otherwise, you should go to comm. college even if you refuse to, it’s whats best for your future and if you perform well there, then as @Gumbymom‌ stated, you can go to a good university. </p>

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<p>I’m sorry if I sound negative and I understand how stressful it is, but we are all giving you suggestions.</p>

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<p>And why do you say it’s a waste of time to take the SAT again? Most of these colleges will accept test scores after the deadline for the application. Take the December one and study as hard as you can. Spend at least 2 hours a day with SAT. If you don’t take it, you are really shooting yourself in the foot.</p>

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<p>@MYOS1634‌ the suggestions for colleges, UTD isn’t test optional and a 1170 won’t get you into there, UT El Paso on the other hand, you may actually have a chance. And the tuition isn’t too high. Have you looked at that yet?</p>

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<p>@ItzBTrain61 :
You have to look at things the way they are, not the way you wish they were. You don’t have five core classes (that’d be English, Math, CS = good, but no History and no Foreign Language) plus you’re getting a D in Math which means it doesn’t count. You have a B average in a moderately rigorous curriculum and a not-college-ready SAT score.
You cannot study Civil Engineering with a D in College Algebra and M370 on the SAT - you’d need at least M600 to have a shot at succeeding in that field.
So, look at what you can change to this picture in order to get to a 4-year college outside of NJ.</p>

<p>Your curriculum and B average (I agree with your counselor you can get to a 3.0) qualify you for many universities. The two big problems are your choice of major (easy to fix: apply “undecided”) and your SAT score (not “college ready”).
To go to a 4-year college, you need at 1500 on your SAT. So, either you hope that your scores will magically transform, or you retake that test after studying seriously. Keep in mind that college deadlines go up to March, and some even accept applications in April and May. So, you have plenty of time to prepare, and retake. And retake, if necessary.
You say you’re desperate to leave NJ and don’t want to go to community college.
In order to reach your goal, you need to take the SAT.</p>

<p>(Even if you can get into a test-optional college, you will need to take tests there. If you don’t have 1500 on the SAT, what do you think will happen on the first tests?)</p>

<p>If you apply undecided and have a 1500 on your SAT, you have a shot at directionals in other states, perhaps even ASU.</p>

<p>In addition, what is your parents’ budget? Or what is their EFC? Have you run the Net Price Calculators on some colleges?</p>

<p>Right now, you can apply to the following 4-year colleges but it doesn’t mean you will get in…
Arkansas Tech
Albertus Magnus (CT)
Wesley (DE)
Savannah State (GA)
Indiana University Northwest
Kentucky State University
University of Louisiana, Lafayette*
University of Louisiana, Monroe*
Bowie State (MD)
University of Maryland, Eastern Shore*
Dean (MA)*
Pine Manor (MA)*
UMichigan, Dearborn *
Elizabeth City Coastal University (NC) *
Chowan University (NC)*
Marietta College* (OH)
Muskingum (OH)
Penn State Shuylkill
Penn State Greater Allegheny
UPitt Titusville
University of South Dakota*
Prairie View A&M *
Southern Vermont College
Richard Bland (VA)</p>

<p>*= you have a better shot there because your SAT score is slightly above the bottom 25% mark</p>

<p>Those are the ONLY 4-year colleges where you don’t have to retake that SAT, and they don’t guarantee you will succeed.</p>

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<p>Thanks guys. I forgot to mention I’ve taken core classes already. The classes I listed were my senior year classes. </p>

<p>The reason I don’t want to go to CC is because I’m trying to get away from my annoying little brother, I want to meet new people, and I’m just sick of home. I can’t move out because I have no money to for an apartment. </p>

<p>I’ve considered applying to UTEP and DeVry because those seem like places I could get into. </p>

<p>I don’t know my mom’s income because she never discusses it with me. </p>

<p>She also told me that since I’m African-American it will help my admission chances because colleges like a diverse student body. </p>

<p>If it helps she graduated from NYU, so if they take legacy into consideration I’ll definitely apply there (doubt I’ll get in). </p>

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<p>DeVry is a for-profit college that basically robs you of money and in return gives you a sub-par education that hardly prepares you for what you want to pursue a career in. It’s not even a real college, it’s a business. Don’t apply there.</p>

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<p>DeVry isn’t a college, it’s a forprofit system, meaning their goal isn’t your education, but their profit. DO NOT apply there. Their graduation percentages are abysmal, their costs is high, and their graduates can’t find jobs.
How will you afford UTEP?
No you won’t get into NYU, it’s one of the most selective universities in the nation, they turn away scores of students with 2100 on their SAT and the most rigorous schedule.</p>

<p>If those are your senior classes, you don’t have “your core classes already”. There’s a difference between the basics that you need to graduate high school and what you need to get into a 4-year college like NYU:
A strong senior year schedule would look like this:
Honors Precalculus or AP Statistics or Calculus
AP English or Senior Humanities Seminar
Honors Foreign Language Level 4 or AP
AP World or European History or AP Economics or Honors History
AP Chemistry or AP Biology or AP Physics or Honors Science
Another class in your best academic area and/or A “fun” class like choir or home economics</p>

<p>(with A’s in most of those)</p>

<p>The expected schedule for a 4-year college would be
Precalculus or Statistics
(Honors) English IV
History, Economics, or Psychology
Foreign Language 3 or 4
Science
1-2 electives</p>

<p>Computer Science, English, and College Algebra are your only “core” classes for college admissions, and College Algebra doesn’t count because you’re getting a D. You’re missing History and Foreign Language, plus you need a math class where you’re getting a C or higher. Those are classes you need to take every year.
Woodworking, Computer Aided Design, Photography, Phys Ed, and Social Groups & Law are all considered “electives” for college admission purpose.</p>

<p>Being African American only helps a little bit. You have to be in the ballpark for GPA and test scores. The list of 4 year colleges for which you’re in the ballpark is listed in #14. In addition, in somes states (like California or Texas) it’s illegal to take race into account, so being African American does not help at all.</p>

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<p>Utah state university accepts about 99% percent :)</p>