What should I do with these stats?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Being a senior in high school, I realize it's a little bit late to start seriously considering what I'm doing next year, but bear with me here.</p>

<p>I have never performed up to my potential academically. I just never felt motivated. But I've always felt an ideology of ambition--if that makes any sense. So I'd like to be an investment banker, lawyer, or entrepreneur (or all three), but obviously, my performance and motivation heretofore hasn't reflected that ambition.</p>

<p>My parents have advised me to go to community college for a year (or two, if necessary) before transferring to a four-year school. As I am in Northern Virginia, I have heard the University of Virginia has an agreement with Northern Virginia Community College whereby if a student gets a 3.0 GPA with nothing lower than a C, (s)he is guaranteed admission to UVA. But this sounds a little too good to be true, considering UVA's prestige and reputation.</p>

<p>However, to be honest, I don't think I want to be in community college for two years, missing out on the college experience, and I don't even think I want to go to UVA. I want to go out-of-state, maybe to Duke, UPENN, USC, or Stanford, but it would be a delusion to think I could get in anytime soon, and my parents have already stated they will not be paying for an out-of-state education, which leaves me with student loans. Their situation may change in the next couple years, as my dad is an entrepreneur with an understandably unsteady income.</p>

<p>Please advise me of what the best course of action would be, in light of the following academic stats:</p>

<p>Personal characteristics:
White male (no affirmative action for me :()</p>

<p>GPA:
* 2.7 cumulative, not including first quarter of senior year
* 3.4 first quarter senior year GPA
* GPA went down over three years</p>

<p>Courses of Interest:
* 8th grade Algebra Honors for high school credit - B
* 8th grade Spanish 1 Honors for high school credit - B+
* 4 years of high school Spanish (including 8th grade, so none this year) - B average
* Mixed up math courses, since I went to a small private school for freshman year. Took Algebra 2 freshman year (no honors equivalent was offered) and Geometry "Honors" sophomore, instead of vice versa. Believe I got a B in Algebra 2 and B+ in Geo Honors.
* AP Psychology - dropped out 4th quarter of junior year, but don't think it showed up, as I got special permission to have it erased
* Computer Science
* Int'l Marketing
* All other standard courses</p>

<p>SAT:
Took new one once.
560M/640V/730W
Total 1930</p>

<p>AP:
Took AP Psychology exam, despite having dropped out of the course with no record of it ever having been taken and having done none of the work or projects assigned - scored 3.</p>

<p>EC:
Baseball at private school first year
Yearbook/newspaper at private school first year
Volunteered at Capital Area Food Bank
Volunteered at Northern Virginia Family Service</p>

<p>Employment Engagements:
Worked at local television station as an unpaid intern and on television productions for two years (01/03-02/05)
Worked at Micro Center (computer store) as a commissioned Sales Associate for 1 year (11/05-11/06)
Currently work at a marketing agency in a sales capacity (09/06-present)
Various consulting arrangements for my dad's company and several others, in web design, programming, scripting, sales, and customer service capacities (07/04-present)</p>

<p>Misc.:
Teacher's assistant in junior year; graded papers, assigned points, learned about grading system, fixed hardware and software.</p>

<hr>

<p>Based on this record, am I better off trying to go for a few four-year schools, location and price aside, or should I stick with the accredited and highly-thought-of community college near me? It is one of the largest in the nation and is known by many universities.</p>

<p>If I stuck with community college, when could I reasonably think about transferring to a really good four-year school? Is transferring after one year inconceivable? Is there any hope of me being able to shoot for Ivy League or just below? I know that may be about delusional, but if I got a 4.0 GPA in really hard classes, what are my chances?</p>

<p>Also, how does community college compare with high school? I've heard comparisons drawn between it and high school, which is a bit disheartening, considering my profound abhorrence for high school.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance! I'm trying to get my act together here, as I have limited time to apply for four-year schools should I so choose.</p>

2

<p>You definitely don't need to go to Community College! How about some good in-state schools (not that familiar with Virginia though). However, because you left it all so late you are screwed, since most of the deadlines were for today/yesterday</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the encouragement! I'm just not sure that I am interested in any of Virginia's non-elite schools... They're all either in crappy parts of Virginia (not necessarily crime-ridden, just parts that don't interest me) or have an "emerging"/"fledgling", non-established reputation.</p>

<p>Do I have a shot at Virginia Tech? If so, I'd definitely consider applying there. Is their undergrad business program, if existent, any good?</p>

<p>What non-Virginia schools would you recommend that I look at? Any recommendations would give me SOME sort of direction, so at least I know in what general level of competitiveness to look at.</p>

4

<p>BTW, I've found that most of the application deadlines range from within the next week to March. So it would definitely be a scramble if I applied to a place whose deadline was January 10th, but it might be doable. I'm not sure if that INCLUDES recommendations and transcripts, but probably not, since the onus is on the school to get that stuff in.</p>

5

<p>Any recommendations on where I should apply?</p>

6

<p>UArizona and Arizona State have excellent business programs, and out-of-state tuition isn't as expensive as others.</p>

7

<p>I think you should take the community college route. That guaranteed-UVA-admission program sounds amazing and it's not something you should pass up. No offense, but you squandered your direct-to-Ivy chances through your high school slacking (not trying to be mean, you admitted it yourself and your GPA is evidence) so it's a little childish to think you are still going to get exactly what you want despite your 4 years of 2.7-quality work. Realize that you put yourself in this position. Take the community college chance, learn to get good grades, and go to UVA.</p>

<p>Basically, I'm telling you that you have to make sacrifices. You can't have "prestige and reputation" and "the college experience" without putting some work and motivation into it. If you're not willing to put in work and be motivated, then you can't turn up your nose at "Crappy" in-state schools.</p>

8

<p>SoCal18: Thanks for those recommendations! I looked at both colleges' websites and at their pages on Princeton Review and am definitely intrigued. </p>

<p>The thing I am worried about is that I have never been to these campuses, so I'd be blindly applying. If I got in, I'd probably have to make the trip out there to see 'em. Guess that's not a huge problem, but I think I was supposed to make "interest" visits before applying. Also, the commute back and forth between Arizona and Virginia might be expensive and time-consuming, but frankly, I'm not looking to return to Northern Virginia that often.</p>

<p>Anyway, I also read about Syracuse's award-winning, new Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises Program, which got all these praises by magazines and such. Do I have a shot at Syracuse with my aforementioned academic record?</p>

<p>EliHopeful07: I see your point and completely agree. I definitely should have performed better these past three years in high school, and I didn't. I am left with a less-than-stellar academic record and cognitive dissonance as far as where I think my intellect and somewhat pretentious attitude "deserve" to go and what my academic performance (or lack thereof) implicates.</p>

<p>However, as I also mentioned, I am not sure about that guaranteed-admission program to UVA. It may have just been rumor; the only way to find out definitively would be to call UVA and ask them. I will try to do this tomorrow, since I need to decide what I am doing before application deadlines to other schools expire and I am left with even fewer options than I currently have.</p>

<p>Any input on the University of Arizona/ASU/Syracuse options? </p>

<p>I also looked at Villanova, but a) I am not Catholic, and b) I think that is out of the question with my history.</p>

<p>Thanks again!</p>

9

<p>BTW, my friend also suggested that I apply to Virginia Tech. Do I have a shot there? Or maybe JMU?</p>

10

<p>You are too late for Syracuse.</p>

<p>I think you should go to community college, or try for a non-flagship state U and work hard and then transfer someplace (but it's not going to be an Ivy).</p>

<p>If you are just thinking about putting together a list now - well, the procrastination that shows is pretty alarming frankly. What did your guidance counselor at school recommend to you?</p>

11

<p>Thanks for the response, weenie.</p>

<p>Darn, Syracuse has an early deadline. Most of the ones I've seen are mid-January or later.</p>

<p>I know it seems like I've just been doing nothing and putting off applying, and to some extent, I have. But I sort of became complacent with the notion that I'd be going to community college for a year or two and then transferring. As much as I dislike the notion, that's what I was telling relatives and friends when they asked, so I guess it was sort of ingrained in my thought process and it became a "given." </p>

<p>The main, rational problem with Virginia's non-flagship state universities is that most of them don't even have a decent business program. That's what I am mostly interested in, though to be quite honest, I am not sure.</p>

<p>I am sort of at a loss with what to do now. I have several large projects due in the next few days at school and pretty much spent 8 hours today just researching stuff, but I didn't actually send in the online application anywhere. Applying out-of-state now is futile if I know I'm just going to have to go deep into debt because my parents won't pay for it, but non-flagship in-state institutions aren't exactly intriguing me, either. My parents advised me tonight that if I really demonstrate my performance this semester, they will consider paying out-of-state, but parents can say a lot of crap they won't actually follow through on... :)</p>

12

<p>I would definantly apply to Tech and JMU. Both schools have ok business schools. Business Week actually ranked JMU 35 and tech 52. But they also ranked UVA number 2, so you might want to consider the comunity college route.
<a href="http://bwnt.businessweek.com/bschools/undergraduate/06rankings/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://bwnt.businessweek.com/bschools/undergraduate/06rankings/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

13

<p>
[quote]
...so I guess it was sort of ingrained in my thought process and it became a "given."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Oh dear, ohnoesz. That alone is an important life lesson, isn't it?</p>

<p>I know nothing about the Virginia state system, but does U of V have any kind of guaranteed transfer agreement with the non-flagship campuses? (For instance, I know Penn State has agreements like that, where kids spend 2 years at a satellite campus and then can transfer to the main campus.)</p>

<p>I'm trying to think of other state schools with reasonable tuition that I think you might get into. I'm having trouble with that one though. Plus, they might to be any better than your own in-state choices.</p>

<p>Good luck. Wherever you end up WORK HARD.</p>

14

<p>Trust me on this.. NEVER let anyone tell you NOT to apply to a certain school. It is so easy these days to apply online that there is no reason not to .You dont have great grades but your scores are fine and writing score is excellent.. trust me, a 730 in writing is RARE. Schools look at so many factors. So many schools are looking to raise the percentage of boys.. I assume you are a boy cause you were on bball team, anyway you a are a boy who can obviously write well and who has excellent work experience... Go for it! To not even try is ludicrous.. Go to community college only if you cant get into the schools you want. Go to collegeboard.com and do a college search. Its an amazing site and will help you find the school of your dreams based on price/geography or whatever parameters you select.. then apply! Once you've done your first application, make a copy of it, the others go twice as fast after that cause they all ask for basically the same info. .. Best of luck to you and don't sell yourself short.
Address in your admissions essay why you didnt work up to your abilities in high school. Accept responsibility for it and then tell them why you are ready to apply yourself. OK? Hope this helps :)</p>

15

<p>haha why would you assume someone is a boy because they play basketball? is this 1970 or 2007?</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
haha why would you assume someone is a boy because they play basketball? is this 1970 or 2007?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You might want to go back and read the original post a little more closely...</p>

17

<p>JMU and Tech (and Mary Wash) are probably worth the application fee, but I would bet that you would not be accepted. I would say you would probably get in at Mason, Radford, ODU, VCU, CNU, among others (Longwood?).</p>

<p>UVA does have the guarantted admissions, as does WM.
UVA requires:

[quote]
To qualify for guaranteed admission, students must complete an associate degree at a Virginia community college within a two-year period preceding application to the University while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.4 or better and a grade of C or better in every VCCS course except for a B in introductory English courses. Students must have a minimum of at least 54 transferable credit hours, 45 or more of which are from a VCCS college.

[/quote]

<a href="http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=137%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=137&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>WM requires:
3.6
letter of intent after 15 completed credits
among other things
<a href="http://www.wm.edu/admission/?id=6089%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.wm.edu/admission/?id=6089&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

18

<p>Thanks for all the encouragement here! I really and sincerely appreciate it.</p>

<p>Indeed, I am a boy. I have played several sports over the years but none at the varsity level. I just wasn't interested and probably didn't play enough to qualify (I wouldn't know, as I never tried out).</p>

<p>Yes, my writing score was decent, and excuse my Internet acronyms, but *** (edit: grr, censorship--"double-you tee eff") is with my math score? I've always been in honors math and if I got even 70 more points on that one and 50 more points on the reading section, which is entirely doable IMHO, I would probably qualify for more schools. Maybe I should re-take it, although at this point, it is a little too late. Maybe not, though; I hear schools take SAT scores after you send in your initial application.</p>

<p>I know it's probably worth applying to four-year schools in hopes that I will get in, but I think I will go the community college route anyway. I would MUCH rather graduate from UVA than Mason or JMU, no disrespect to them or their students at all intended, just because that's how I am. Sure, I would miss out on the two years of "college experience," but meh. I bet I'd get bored of getting stoned and hammered all the time, anyways.</p>

<p>If anyone has any pressing opinions as to whether I shouldn't pursue this route, please state them. If they are convincing enough, I may just have to apply to a four-year school to begin with. However, perhaps paradoxically, four-year schools are actually harder to transfer between than community colleges. Or, at least, that's what I have heard. Thus, transferring from GMU to UVA after 2 years is harder than from NVCC to UVA or even NVCC to Duke, Stanford, etc. </p>

<p>I actually talked to the admissions counselor at Yale today just for the heck of it. She said they accept around 3-5% of community college transfers per year. That's incredibly low! If I want to go Ivy, I better get my act together, start 10 multibillion-dollar businesses, 3 extracurricular fundraising clubs that collectively raise $100,000,000 to fight AIDS, or something of the like. Otherwise, Hell would likely have to freeze over before I got in.</p>

<p>I also spoke more realistically with the counselor on duty at UVA. She was very nice (and sounded cute) and advised me of my options, although in hindsight, I probably should have compiled a list of questions to ask her, as it was more of a spontaneous call with ackward pauses scattered throughout while I thought of more questions. </p>

<p>She told me that while Virginia Community College System graduates were automatically granted admission to the College of Arts and Sciences, one must proceed like a standard native student of UVA if he wishes to major in business. This entails applying to the McIntyre (sp?) School of Commerce, which while they accept 65% of their applicants, is by no means a given! </p>

<p>I'm a bit nervous, but I think if I start a business or a club this year or at NVCC, I will be set, especially with my work and volunteering experience.</p>

19

<p>You are fortunate to have a second chance through the community college system in Virginia. It is a bit offputting that you consider yourself "too good" for the schools that would admit you. My only concern for you is that, with your record to date, you would not do well enough at a community college to merit transfer to UVA. </p>

<p>None of this means you won't ultimately be successful at your life's work, but imho you need an attitude adjustment to reality at this point.</p>

20

<p>I agree with you. It's just that I want to, or at least I THINK I want to, study a particular program/major in which only a few select schools specialize. If I were doing general studies or something like psychology, I probably wouldn't mind as much. But looking at the BusinessWeek rankings for undergrad b-schools definitely sets my sights a little higher. Unrealistic at this point? Definitely. In the future? Who knows?</p>