<p>(I have retyped everything due to login issues, liberal reply volume would be therapeutic after this travesty.) </p>
<p>Alright, so I started out as an ambitious freshman, taking all honors classes, two languages, and once one "fun" elective. I spend my sophomore year abroad- best time of my life. Unfortunately, after I got back, my intense over-ambitiousness at aiming for my epitome of academic success got me into examaphobia and much depression. </p>
<p>I took only two AP classes as I had to make up for required sophomore courses. Took 3 AP classes. I do not know my results, but they are likely to be only 3-4 as that time was extremely stressful (ACT, didn't even claim my SAT fee waiver...) However, all of this constant anxiety got the best of me and I left with this scary, novel myriad of Bs and even a C- in Chemistry. God bless chemistry. </p>
<p>The plan is now shining option #2, which is what my heart has been saying. Go to a uni abroad and study Business/Public Administration. After two years, I will attempt transfer to Cornell and a few more, but is it true that Cornell is the nicest with these transfers? </p>
<p>So here are my dilemmas... </p>
<p>1.) Should I even bother putting in effort into 6 APs lined up and super ECs now that Ivy is no longer an option? aka... Will they only look at uni stats and ECs? </p>
<p>2.) When looking at transfers, how important will ECs be in general? </p>
<p>3.) Even with a 4.0 (or close) from a so-so foreign uni, will I have a chance? Will being from America help at all? </p>
<p>4.) Can I use (only GOOD) high school stats after those two uni years to beef up my transfer application? </p>
<p>5.) Will they take into account old SAT/ACT scores during this transfer? (yikes) </p>
<p>For the record, exams need to be repeated... I got 27 on the ACT. The only thing to be slightly proud of is a 3.8/4.5 GPA. </p>
<p>Hm, how important are extra things in general? I speak three contrasting languages, and hopefully a fourth after two years at foreign uni. I've worked since I was 14, and currently run my non-profit organization. Put it simply, I am more practical now that I have compared Ivy prices and think about the relationship between college/what you are actually going to be living off of. People put so much effort into these high schools and college apps only to end up at a salary comparable to that of a tradesman and an office job they hate. </p>
<p>This business degree is to help run a business that my fiance and I hope to operate, as well as gain the skills to successfully run my non-profit. The reason for my striving so high is so that I can do as best as I can in these areas in the future, and I am heavily interested in some academic subjects that, although they are ultimately impractical, are extremely rewarding to study. I long for an environment where I don't feel like the only one with a brain and an interest in these subjects. If I can find that abroad, great. However, now I really need to decide on how much effort to put into this last dreaded year of institutionalization, as I am convinced that a prestigious school is the only place I will find what I am looking for.</p>