<p>[NOTE: I'm cross posting this from UC Transfers because I also want to get feedback on my chances of getting accepted into schools other than UC (Perhaps California State Universities (CSU)).]</p>
<p>While in high school, I concurrently enrolled in a community college and completed the majority of my transfer requirements and an associates degree. I participated in a variety of extracurriculars (student government, etc) and finished with a GPA of about 3.5.</p>
<p>Afterwards, I made a decision to fore go attending a university and traveled to a developing country to become a community development volunteer. While there I figured I'd also finish my higher education and experience what education is like in a foreign country (believing in the young idealism that all education was created equal). However, after studying in that school for two years I came to realize that not all education systems are created equal. My grades started out good but towards the end I couldn't continue going to class because much of the information (geared toward the wealthy kids who went to the school) conflicted with the practical information I was learning while working in the poor communities. As a result, my grades suffered and I stopped going to school. Regardless of the plummeting grades, I worked within the school system to improve the conditions of students in a similar predicament as mine (forming an organization for these disenfranchised groups, etc) before eventually forsaking the entire school. I continued with my volunteer projects and also got a side job teaching English.</p>
<p>I am now 22 and returned to California to finish my education. I have a very clear idea on precisely what tract in life I want to pursue (education and social science), something which I certainly wasn't aware of before I became a volunteer. I also would never have decided to pursue this tract if it weren't for my negative experience within that school. It provided more education than many of my classes did about the nature and importance of schooling.</p>
<p>I'm aware, however, that I'm required to submit the transcripts from the foreign university but I'm terrified that the poor grades I received towards the end of my education (which I feel were justified based on the conditions I was exposed to) will jeopardize my chances of getting accepted.</p>
<p>Am I completely screwed?</p>
<p>EDIT: I'm positive that NOTHING is transferable from the institution. It's merely the GPA (and the fact that I attended the institution at all) that concerns me, not the extracurriculars.</p>