So, am i Screwed?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>*After i finished writing i decided i should put a disclaimer, im really bugging out so i ramble alot, but please read and help me, i really need help)</p>

<p>Alright heres the deal...i messed up.</p>

<p>Im sure u guys have seen people like me before. During my high school career i've been a slacker. I didn't think that college was gonna happen for me so i gave up. I let my grades slide and didn't participate at all. I have 0 community service. But recently, i've decide that i have to go to college. But, its my senor year now, and i think i might have screwed myself. So i need help as to what i can do to try and get the best i can.</p>

<p>Heres my stats:
gpa 3.4 unweighted
sat : 660 math 640 reading 510 writing
community service : nothing...
activities:
9th-computer club, breakdance(don't laugh),piano
10th-computer club, explorer's(computer club out of school, breakdance, guitar
11th-annimation club, chess club, cross country, spring track, explorer's, guitar
12th-animation club, chess club, computer club, explorer's</p>

<p>So, from what i see, one of the worst things here is my community service. Im thinking of working a period at school store, and attending one community service after school, would this be any good at this point or is it too late to bother.</p>

<p>In regards to accedemics. While my gpa is low, i've taken a good deal of honors courses, and one ap this senor year.</p>

<p>In regards to activites. Im debating whether or not i should join track again this year. I know a sport would look good, and consistancy is good, but i really hate my track coach, and i didn't get along with the track team. Plus i got tendinitis from it so i really would rather join more clubs or something. What do u guys recommend? How much would it help? Could i get by other ways?</p>

<p>gpa is very low compared to ok sat's. Im thinking of taking sat2, wondering how much they'd help.</p>

<p>I guess in closing, im trying to figure out if its too late to do anything now that im caring. Im looking for anything at all. Should i take sat's again? Take ACT? Try and cram some community service? Any advice at all, im freaking out here. Can someone tell me what schools i might stand a chance getting into? I've tried using princetonreview.com, but it doesn't really account for my absense of community service and activities.</p>

2

<p>There are plenty of colleges that would be happy to have you. Your scores are above average for college-bound students. Your grades are at least average, possibly higher than college-bound students. Don't make assumptions looking at this CC site. In general, the students who use this site have extraodinarily high scores, grades and strong ECs that are more representative of the top colleges in the US than most of the colleges in the US.</p>

<p>To start your college search, take a look at one of the popular college guides like US News' or Time's. Also check out your mid ranked public universities. Probably for most states, your stats would be good enough to gain entrance to a mid ranked in-state public universities. When it comes to private colleges, you don't have the stats for first tier colleges, but do have the stats for second and third tier colleges -- most of the colleges in the country.</p>

<p>Just avoid senior slump. Having a strong senior year can boost your chances.</p>

3

<p>Northstarmom is quite right. You have very solid stats. Some excellent universities like the University of Wisconsin, Indiana University, Lehigh, Rochester, Brandeis and many good LACs are well within your reach. What sort of environment are you looking for? Rural, urban, suburban, large and spirited, small and tight knit, all 4 seasons, warm weather year-round...? What would you like to major in?</p>

4

<p>Your close to the range for almost every states flagship standards, but Wisconsin, Indiana, Virginia, NC Chapel hill etc i doubt you would get in outa state, but in state definetly</p>

5

<p>I don't know. I'd say he is definitely in at Indiana and has a reasonable shot at Wisconsin. I agree that UVA and UNC are out of reach.</p>

6

<p>Well, im looking for either suburbs or urban, and i want a medium sized to larger school. I was looking at binghamton, syracuse, penn state, albany. Any of those look like a good match for me? plus anything else that you'd highly reccomend? </p>

<p>I dunno much about the different college stuff. So you're saying that the chances of getting in an out of state school are significantly less?</p>

<p>Oh yeah, btw, if you don't mind, could u type out the full college name? when you say something like indiana, i dunno what college that is. Thanks</p>

7

<p>If you're thinking of something computer-y (just guessing from your ECs), you might consider Rochester Institute of Technology. I know a kid who's there with lower GPA and SATs, and not much ECs. (had C's in many humanities type classes, and probably sub 1200 SAT).</p>

<p>You probably have a shot at most of the schools you listed. Work on putting together a really strong application. I don't think that doing a bunch of Comm service right now is really going to make a difference--it's not a dealbreaker, in any case. Highlight the areas you have done consistent participation, instead.</p>

8

<p>I would suggest looking at schools for which your test scores and GPA are at or above the average. Don't despair! There are plenty of good colleges that are at that level!</p>

9

<p>yea, both my cousins in new zealand did not have a good grade during high school, but they tried hard in college and now one is going to oxford, and the other one's going to cambridge.
so yea, anything can happen, just try hard</p>

10

<p>You need to get a good college guide and look at the admissions factors for colleges. You can compare your stats directly with what colleges are looking for. I recommend the US News Ultimate College Guide. The easiest way to get their info is to go to the US News website and pay $15 to use the Ultimate Guide on-line. It will even allow you to select colleges and view them in a spreadsheet, including cost, SATs, size and other factors.</p>

<p>As is the case with private colleges, public colleges vary widely in terms of difficulty of admisisons. The toughest public university to enter is usually what's called the flagship. It will require higher scores, grades than do others. At all public universities, admissions for in-state students is easier than for students applying from out of state. It's also easier for in-state students to get financial aid and merit scholarships.</p>

<p>For instance, University of Michigan is a top tier college, ranked about #25 in the country and is difficult to get in, including for in-state students. National Merit scholars and valedictorians who choose to stay in Michigan typically choose Univeresity of Michigan. Michigan State is less competitive. Central Michigan University is even less competitive.</p>

<p>A student who has no chance of admission at their state's flagship may still have scores/grades high enough to get merit aid at a less competitive in-state public university.</p>

<p>When it comes to public universities, typically they are on rolling admission-- giving admissions decisions in the order that people apply. The earlier one applies, the better one's chances of admission because as classes fill up, their admission standards get tougher.</p>

<p>Talk to your parents about exactly how much they're willing to pay each year for your education. Some private colleges cost as much as $43,000 a year when all expenses are considered. Some public colleges cost as much as $30,000 a year for out of state students and $16,000 a year for in state students. Some are much cheaper. </p>

<p>Also use the financial aid estimator on CC's site (home page) and if $ is an issue, read carefully each college's financial aid and scholarship sections because most colleges do NOT guarantee to meet all of one's financial need.</p>

<p>Your scores and grades are good enough that you'd qualify for merit aid at some public and private colleges. These would be places that offer such aid and where your stats put you in the top 25% or so of the applicants. It can be an advantage for admissions and merit aid to be a male of any race when applying to liberal arts colleges because fewer males apply and the colleges strive to have a 1:1 ratio of male to female students.</p>

11

<p>You also can get good info from Loren Pope's book and website called "Colleges that change lives". He provides good info about colleges that are good for late bloomers.</p>

<p>One last thing: One doesn't need community service to get into college. Colleges just prefer to have students who have participated in some kind of activity, whether that activity is sports, church, school clubs, or a job. Publiv colleges tend to be more stats-driven, so don't weigh ECs as strongly as do many private colleges. If your stats are far above those of the college's freshmen stats, ECs may not be important at all.</p>