Some help?

Applying to College
1

<p>Well first I'd just like to point out Im brand new here, so I'm not sure if I'm posting this in the appropriate section.</p>

<p>On to the question:</p>

<p>I'm currently a high school junior and school has always stressed me out. I am not a bad student, my total semester average is usually around an 80-85 (I don't want to go to any ivy league school, so I'm assuming thats good enough to get into most CUNY or SUNY schools?) <--- that's question number one by the way, is it enough? I haven't taken the SAT yet, I will be taking it for the first time in May, and plan to take it again next october. I have taken the PSAT twice though - the first time I got a 1570, the second a 1730 (I heard from most that what you get on the PSAT is usually around what you'll get on the SAT) I take part in many extra curricular activities - charity organizations, I'm on the Lacrosse team and I take part in many school activities.</p>

<p>That was just a brief background, I will now list my questions below:</p>

<p>1) When a college looks at your transcript, are they going to look at the actual classes you took throughout your high school career? Or are they just going to see your total average for that year and your GPA? I ask this because My total average is above an 80 each semester, which isn't terrible - but one individual grade is in the 70s (which doesn't look good). So are they going to say "Well, he scored an 82 for the semester and thats good enough" or would they say "Well he scored an 82 for the semester but he got a 70 in math, so we're going to have to consider this"? </p>

<p>2) If your high school GPA isn't at the level it needs to be, but you score well enough on the SAT will the college accept you?</p>

<p>3) Do sob stories help in any way? (I've had some MAJOR issues in the past year or so that has completely screwed (pardon my French) my average up.</p>

<p>4) Im looking to apply to SUNY or CUNY schools in New York - Brooklyn College and Hofstra especially. Based on what you already know of me, do I have a change at Brooklyn or Hofstra?</p>

<p>Those are all the questions I can think of right now, but I'm sure there is more. Ask any question you deem necessary, and If I remember the rest of mine I will post them later.</p>

<p>Many thanks.</p>

2

<p>Guys, I really need these questions answered. I’m the type of person who gets nervous over things very easily and I literally get myself physically sick worrying about it. School/College is very important to me =[</p>

3

<p>Hi, parent here. I can’t answer all your questions but I’ll take a stab at a couple:</p>

<p>1) Colleges will see every class you’ve taken and the grade for that class. Most transcripts are broken down by semester. Basically if you gather up all of your report cards, that’s what they will see.</p>

<p>2) Depends on the college. Every school has its specific method for determining who it wants to admit. Grades are important to every school, but a great SAT score might give you a bit of a bump.</p>

<p>3) Not usually, but it depends on what the situation was. If your grades were affected for a time because of the death of a parent, for example, that can be disclosed, especially if your grades bounced back at some point. If you’ve had a major long-term illness, that could be disclosed. But if the decline in grades was because you fell in with a bad crowd, or your significant other dumped you, disclosing it won’t help and may hurt.</p>

4

<p>Regarding HS Transcripts: Your transcript will show ALL of the courses and the final grades in each course. If you go down to your guidance counselor, he/she can show you a sample of your school’s transcript. The transcript will also show both your unweighted and weighted cumulative GPA.</p>

<p>Rigor: Have you taken AP and/or Honor’s level classes? What is the rigor of your curriculum? Have you completed at least 3 years of a foreign language, math through at least the pre-calc. level, and at least 3 years of lab sciences (through chemistry level)?</p>

<p>Teacher recommendations: Do you think they will be strong? </p>

<p>GPA, rigor of your curriculum, and SAT/ACT scores are priority in the application process. Teacher recommendations, essays, and EC’s round out the application. </p>

<p>Sob story: Be very careful how you present a “sob story” in an essay. </p>

<p>SAT/ACT: Be sure to register for the SAT and the ACT! Go online and check the dates for when they will be given in the Spring. Take them this Spring.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.albany.edu/ir/cds/cds_2008_09/freshman.htm[/url]”>http://www.albany.edu/ir/cds/cds_2008_09/freshman.htm&lt;/a&gt;
^here’s a link to the common data set for SUNY Albany. You can find similar info on other college websites by going to the special college’s site and in the “search” box, type either “common data set” or “freshman profile”.</p>

5

<p>Boomshaka,</p>

<p>Consider it a given that the 70’s range grades won’t look good. BUT, please keep in mind that you have the rest of your Junior year to set a higher bar for yourself. Can you do that? In my opinion, colleges will tend to overlook some deficits in your earlier performance, if your more recent performance shows significant improvement.</p>

<p>Additionally, the SAT given in MAY 2010 is eligible to have the Question and Answer Service. I suggest that you spend the $18 to buy this information. You will then be able to trouble shoot exactly where you have problems and to target your studies over the summer before you take it again. You could take the MAY 2010 cold as a diagnostic, or you could take a prep course (our HS offered an inexpensive one) or study on your own prior to the MAY 2010 exam.</p>

<p>Check the ratings online for various SAT study products, if you choose to study on your own.</p>

<p>Best of luck. Keep looking forward, not backward. You can’t change what is behind you, but you can very much impact how your trip unfolds in front of you.</p>

6

<p>I think you have a chance in getting into a CUNY or SUNY. Truthfully, they’re not that hard to get into, but having a high average practically guarantees your chances of getting in. Considering your average, CUNYs and SUNYs shouldn’t be that big of a problem unless you plan to apply for Macaulay Honors @ Hunter or something.</p>