I graduated several years early from high school with very good grades (I was a co-valedictorian) and a few extracurriculars (Honor Society, 300+ hours of community service, martial arts, independent study), then attended a state university because I couldn’t leave home. Three years later, I’ve realized that people don’t take me seriously when they hear what school I’m attending. I’m ten credits away from a degree after this semester, so it’s too late to transfer. At the same time, I’m more qualified than the name on that diploma will indicate. I was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, I have a 3.97 and a national scholarship in the physical sciences, and I have two years of research experience plus a soon-to-be-submitted research paper. My current independent study work is directed towards an Honors thesis.
Would it be possible for me to leverage my credentials to get into a higher-ranked school and complete a second undergraduate degree? Could that degree be in a different field, specifically history? I think that I might be in a good position to make the switch because I have no debt, $10,000 in the bank, and 5-7 professors (and two employers) who have written me very enthusiastic letters of recommendation before. At the same time, I’ve heard that second undergraduate degrees are rare at top-20 universities.
If I do apply, what test documentation would I need? I never took the SAT because there was only one college out West that I could attend. I got a 31 on the ACT without prep work, far above the desired score for where I was going, but I’m now regretting my poor work ethic. Could I take the SAT while in college if I’m applying? Thank you so much for your help!