Someone Interesting Situation -- General Chances?

<p>I'm a junior in high school, and I honestly have no idea what I should be looking at in terms of the college admissions process...And here's why.</p>

<p>Bio:</p>

<p>White Male
Suburban Public School</p>

<p>College Major Preference (in this order): Pre-Med, Psychology, Business Administration</p>

<p>Let's start with the grades:</p>

<p>Freshman year I did horribly. We're talking like 2.8 weighted GPA. It was mostly due to the fact that I just stopped handing assignments in. I was taking the most rigorous courses I could this year.</p>

<p>Sophomore year I did much better, a 3.98 weighted. I actually handed almost everything in. I took the most rigorous courses that I could except for in one class (I hadn't met the prerequisite for AP US History, so had to take US Cultures II). While I was unable to take the only AP class offered during this year, I arranged to take the AP Computer Science A test and scored a 4.</p>

<p>Junior year (this year) I'm doing horribly again. Not only are my grades all over the place (like one A, some B- and C+, a couple Ds, and this second quarter an F isn't out of the question), but I've missed about a quarter of the school year. Most of these absences have been excused because of illness. However, about eight of these absences are unexcused. Before going into detail about the absences below, note that I'm taking 3 AP courses and the rest honors except for a couple electives. I also plan to take the AP Psychology test at the end of this year even though our school doesn't offer an AP Psych test.</p>

<p>One of these was an actual truancy (involving disappointment. I was supposed to be going to Yale for a debate tournament but at the last second realized that I didn't have the funding and couldn't go, so instead of going to Yale that day I just stayed home instead of going to school).</p>

<p>The other seven of these absences are a result of a clinical depression. We are still sorting out exactly how both the school and the law will deal with these absences (since I'm not 17 for another 2 months I'm still legally obligated to go to school).</p>

<p>Now on to test scores:</p>

<p>I haven't taken the SATs or ACTs yet, however on the PSAT I scored in the 97th percentile with a 201. After reviewing my answers, most of the mistakes I made were ones that could have been remedied by paying more attention. The fact that I knew I was going to be breaking up with my girlfriend later on that day, in addition to the fact that I only got four hours of sleep the night before may or may not have played a factor in my performance.</p>

<p>Extra-Curriculars:</p>

<p>I am currently captain of our Speech & Debate team. This may or may not change next year.</p>

<p>I also plan on volunteering at a hospital this coming summer.</p>

<p>I hold a part-time job (~22 hours a week) at a local CVS/Pharmacy.</p>

<p>Most notably, however, is the fact that I am currently involved in a project that may net about $1,000,000 in funds. I won't go into the details of the project, however it is suffice to say that while the project may flop, it is not unrealistic and involves running a website that will generate enough traffic to bring in this $1 mill through advertising. $250,000 of these funds are going to be donated to a children's hospital in my state of Pennsylvania when the $1 million mark is reached, and if that mark is not reached these funds will be donated in a proportionally smaller quantity.</p>

<p>Ivy League and such would be nice, but I'm not aiming that high. I really want to go to Syracuse, with Boston University on the list as well. Obviously other colleges are on the list.</p>

<p>That said, with my horrible grades performance, I have no idea what I should be looking at despite my high (potential) SAT scores and potentially outstanding extra curricular achievements.</p>

<p>Let's just assume that my project works 100% and I hit about the same on the SATs. What am I looking at?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance...</p>

<p>EDIT: Added some information.
EDIT-2: Added bio.</p>

<p>because you're a junior, you still have time to improve your situation- which actually isn't all that bad.</p>

<p>first and foremost, you need to bring your academic grades up. if you get a decent gpa this year, it might balance out with the good one from soph year. so hand in your work, go to school, whatever- because gpas are really important to most colleges. so try and get yours up to like a 3.4-3.5ish overall.</p>

<p>if you do well on the sats like you think you will and do well on sat iis as well as maintain that position of captain- you'll have a good shot at bu and definitely syracuse. but, to be on the safe side- add some safeties to your list too.</p>

<p>good luck with your million dollar project!</p>

<p>Hit a home-run in your senior year and destroy the SATs and you'll be in a much better position than you think. If you're a solid writer and you can retell this story it will actually differentiate you from many applicants, which is sometimes all it takes.</p>

<p>Syracuse and BU are definitely options for you, but I wouldn't completely rule out some of the more "elite" schools. If you do well in your last year, and the junior isn't completely a bomb by the time you're done, and you have these ECs, and you work a fairly significant amount, and you can articulate how you got through this and your recommendations are solid and address your issues, and you're in the lower/middle class... well, you make for a more compelling applicant than you might think.</p>