<p>My son had real problems in HS. Social probs led to drug/alcohol use. We sent him to a wonderful emotional growth boarding school which he graduated from in 12/08. He is now a strong, healthy, confident individual who is now socially healthy to the point he wants to go into Psychology as he has found that helping others is what makes him tick. He is currently attending local cc, since he had a Dec. graduation and looking to transfer for fall 2009, so he will begin with his peer/age group.<br>
The dilemma is, how does he portray himself as someone who lost their way, but is now doing well. I know that many institutions are now leery of adm. anyone with known "problems". Trying to portray his success in essay, but not really coming out strong enough. Grades are 3.5 with some EC's, but limited. 1500 SAT. Any school recommendations for a student like this? Any suggestions would be so welcome. PM me if you don't want others to know your story.</p>
<p>"Grades are 3.5 with some EC's .... 1500 SAT."</p>
<p>Ruined for life?</p>
<p>One of my family members has a checkered past involving different issues but also some EG programs. He is at an Ivy League school as are a number of the other EG school kids.<br>
The key is to offer a concise, honest explanation of the schools on the transcript in the additional essays for the applications.</p>
<p>Many people -- especially males -- are unfocused and immature while in high school, and mature later and become top students and exemplary citizens. Admissions officers are very aware of this. Your son is doing excellently in community college, and I think that college officials will care far more about his current activities and academic record than they'll care about his high school record.</p>
<p>I agree with what everyone is saying. Your son is just a puppy with his whole life ahead of him. I believe the colleges will focus on what he is doing now in his current college.</p>
<p>For heaven's sake, George W. Bush had a drinking problem and DUI while young. Barack Obama used drugs, including cocaine. They changed their behavior and their lives weren't ruined. Why would you think your son's past transgressions would permanently ruin his life?</p>
<p>Your state flagship may have an automatic admission program for successful community college graduates like your son. You might not even have to think about essays and so on where that school is concerned. I would look into it.</p>
<p>I was thinking the same as Hanna ^</p>
<p>My nephew has a very similar past. He is now doing very well at U of Oregon, majoring in art and business.</p>
<p>Friends son had similar issues in high school. </p>
<p>Went to several different residential programs (combined educational, and drug/emotional related). Senior year at home high school. Colleges got all the transcripts and yes, he was admitted to most of the schools he applied to (that were matches and reaches for him). He overcame his problems and the schools did not seem to have any problem admitting him.</p>
<p>I just realized that I put his SAT score at 1500!!! It was actually 1150. Big difference for a typo.</p>
<p>His SAT scores are around average. There are plenty of 4-year colleges who'd be glad to accept a high gpa transfer student with such a score. It seems very evident that your S has overcome his previous difficulties.He may even qualify for an automatic transfer to several of your state's public 4-year colleges.</p>
<p>Thanks for the input and encouragement. I was very upbeat about his chances to apply to any school that was within his academic performance until I read some articles or parts of posts that were saying how leery schools were of students with past problems because of some of the really unfortunate incidents that have happened at schools. (Virginia Tech) My feeling is that in his case, they have a heads up and know exactly who they are getting. Another student could have untreated issues but a benign record, could write an essay about whatever, and then end up being a real problem to the school. I was hoping that they had a more realistic view of the broad range of students and their pasts. I feel much more encouraged now that this may not continue hinder his future goals.</p>
<p>I also used to work in the substance abuse field, and had many co-workers who recovering addicts/alcoholics who had turned their lives around, got training and education in the field, and became marvelous counselors.</p>
<p>Warmest wishes to your son.</p>
<p>1150 is a reasonable score, but is a lot different from 1500! :) I would look at maybe non-main campuses of your state university. I know in our state, UT-Chattanooga and UT-Martin are wonderful schools and not as huge as the main campus in Knoxville.</p>
<p>"Grades are 3.5 with some EC's, but limited."
He has an excellent average, and his college gpa is going to be the most important factor in terms of whether he'll be admitted. </p>
<p>There's a chance that he even would qualify for merit scholarship aid if some of your mid level and lower level 4-year public institutions offer that to in state transfers.</p>
<p>Most college students have fewer ECs than they had in high school. They have a better sense of what interests them, and they don't waste time with organizations that don't interest them.</p>
<p>Agreed with others...does your community college have any articulation agreements with four year colleges in your state? If so, successful completion of a community college curriculum will then net this student an automatic place at one of those colleges with most credits also being applied to a four year degree. This is well worth pursuing.</p>
<p>He just graduated HS last month. Because it was a mid-year graduation, and he was away for so long, we decided to send him to PBCC for this semester only. Some of the other kids that graduated last month are starting right away, but we did not feel that was right for him. Good transition to come home and go to cc first. He wants to go to a 4 year college in Fall 2009. He normally would have graduated June 2009, so he wants to start 4 yr when he normally would have. He has no desire to stay at cc for more than this semester. I am trying to figure out where to send him, and it is so hard. We did not have the past year to explore and talk about what he might want, where he might want to go, etc. He doesn't feel too strongly about any particular school, geographic area, etc. I am tending to think that our state school's might be too big. A smaller environment might be more fitting. He does think that he will major in Psychology, so that is my only lead. I would like east coast because of travel. I am trying to do a rush college search, so any suggestions would be great.</p>
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<blockquote> <p>He wants to go to a 4 year college in Fall 2009.>></p> </blockquote>
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<p>I would suggest checking the four year public universities in your state. These probably have later application deadlines than private schools, for example. It sounds like he's going to have to fast track his application process if he plans to matriculate in fall, 2009. </p>
<p>I know HE wants to go to a four year school in the fall...but is that really the best way for him to go? I don't have the answer, I'm just posing the question.</p>
<p>What about one of the less imposing state schools like UDelaware?</p>