<p>I was accepted into a really nice university with great aid(scholarships even) but I'm not sure I can make it there. My schooling is terrible. I have decent scores, etc., and a nice GPA(which means nothing), but I don't feel prepared at all. The idea of attending a college where almost everyone has a better education is stressful. It's actually making me sick. But I can't go to a community college--my loans at both of my top schools are roughly the price of community college.</p>
<p>My mom is intent on sending me to that university. She's so proud. What do I do? </p>
<p>There's one university that I feel most comfortable with but it didn't give me any merit aid. I really wish it did--that would have been my excuse for attending.</p>
<p>Alchemy- if they accepted you they know you can do the work. Period, end of story.</p>
<p>Listen to your mom, and try to find a support network both at home (a teacher? guidance counselor? minister?) and once you get to college who can continue to encourage you.</p>
<p>What makes you feel unprepared? Even if you went to a medicore high school, as you imply, you're bright and hard working enough to get decent scores. Plus you have a nice GPA and admissions people at a 'really nice' university think you'll do well at their school. I'd be inclinded to trust them :) So go to the university. If you feel you need extra help, sign up for tutoring, study groups, etc. right away. I bet you'll discover you may not be that different from many of your classmates, and that the work habits you've already demonstrated will more than get you through. Don't let your fears make you pass up an opportunity for a terrific education and a terrific life experience.</p>
<p>I know it sounds trite, but YOU CAN DO IT! I know exactly what you mean about feeling unprepared. I almost went to a different college because I was terrified of failing at my top-tier LAC. I felt that my small, rural HS experience would put me at a significant disadvantage relative to my prep-school peers. In the end, I decided to come here anyway, and boy am I glad I did. When I got to know my fellow students, I found that almost everyone felt insecure about their abilities before they came. We place top schools on such a pedestal, with some students spending their entire young lives perusing admission, that the thought of attending such a place is bound to be rather daunting.</p>
<p>If the Uni accepts you they generally believe you meet their criteria to be a success. They don't want their students to fail.</p>
<p>You didn't indicate your major. Keep in mind that the difficulty varies more with the major than the college (IMO). Taking an easy major at a highly ranked college will be easier than taking a difficult major at a much lower ranked college.</p>
<p>Thirtysomething years ago, I attended a public high school that was considered so bad that many families in our district sent their kids to Catholic school to avoid the public school even if they weren't Catholic.</p>
<p>Then I got to college and found that half the kids on my dorm floor were from the New York City exam schools and similarly high-powered institutions.</p>
<p>I thought I would flunk out by the end of my first semester.</p>
<p>In fact, I ended up on the Dean's List that semester.</p>
<p>Why? Because I knew that I would have to work hard. I knew that I would have to devote plenty of time each day to studying, do all the reading, take all of my classes seriously, and seek help whenever I even started to be confused about anything. I didn't spend the first half of the semester partying, the way so many other kids seemed to do. I spent it working. Hard. </p>
<p>I also didn't overload myself that first semester. I didn't take more than the standard number of credit hours (a lot of students did). I took one course pass-fail. When I got a borderline score on a placement test in one subject, I didn't try to argue my way into the more advanced course; I took the more basic course instead (and found that there was still much to learn). I didn't try to take any courses intended for upperclassmen while I was still a freshman. And I didn't sign up for an enormous number of extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>You can do it. You won't be able to coast, and you may not be able to handle the most advanced, souped-up honors courses that the college offers, but you will be able to survive. Effort means more than preparation does.</p>
<p>Lots of these nice universities also offer support to kids who need academic help. Every place my son has visited has writing workshops, math support, etc., beyond TA and prof office hours. You can make it. A lot of the seniors I know are questioning themselves and their abilities now that decision time is here. </p>
<p>Decent scores indicate you have the raw material. Decent grades indicate you haven't slacked off. Recognizing now that you'll need to work hard ios the first step to success.</p>
<p>A good friend of ours attended an Ivy engineering program and said the smartest kid he knew there came in with only pre-calc, and the rest had taken AP Calc. He came in, worked hard, caught up to his peers, and then sped on past.</p>
<p>Take advantage of all your opportunities. Almost all colleges have study resources, writing labs, math tutors, etc, etc. All sorts of resources. You only have to go after them. The dumb kids are the ones who don't avail themselves of the help, or think they are too "smart" to need help. You have taken the first step toward success, follow it up with effort and you will be fine.
Don't take any "up placement", especially in what you feel are your weaker courses. Explore the requirements of your scholarships carefully, if you have to maintain a certain GPA, then schedule to maintain that GPA, especially the first semester/term - it is often the most challenging for freshmen. Many kids feel much better academically after that first term. Don't be afraid to drop a class, but don't drop precipitously, visit the prof or your advisor, consider your options.
Don't be afraid, but don't be unrealistic. the system is set up to help you succeed, but it may well not be set up to hold your hand, more like rewarding initiative.</p>
<p>CountingDown-My highest math is a PreCalc too.</p>
<p>I plan to take advantage of all of my opportunities. I'll find a study group; I'll go to tutoring. I'll even get my essays done early and ask my professors/TAs to check them. My professors will know that I'm trying my hardest.</p>
<p>You all are right. I can do this. Besides, I've worked too hard to get this far to give up without trying.</p>
<p>I think my scholarships require a 2.00 but I plan to do better than that.</p>