<p>Hi, I'm looking for some sort of guidance into college due to my terrible high school career. I'm going to be straightforward right away: unlike all my other friends who are getting acceptance letters left and right and have options to choose from, I'm trying to turn things around. </p>
<p>Here's what has gone bad for me:
(1) My GPA is suffering - I had a terrible sophomore year failing a class and now I'm sitting on a 3.0 non-weighted/3.5 weighted GPA
(2) Extracurriculars are non existant - I was involved in everything freshman year, and even was in two varsity sports sophomore year before I had to quit. There is nothing for me to add for my junior and senior years...NOTHING.
(3) Family is torn - Most of my problems sophomore year was with the constant fighting between my mother and stepdad, before she eventually caught him cheating on her at the end of my sophomore year. This is one reason I couldn't do any extracurriculars because I was walking home 3 hours a day and could not take it anymore (I live in the wrong part of town and the schools by me were terrible in academics since they were filled with gangs). Even now being being able to drive I must maintain a 40 hour a week job on top of school.
(4) Financial Help is iffy - My mom works for the post office which pays more than what most financial aid will help with. This causes problems though since we are basically poor because of doctor bills, lawyer bills, and barely being able to pay morgage on a house. </p>
<p>I'm not writing a poor me story, because that is not the type of person I am. Instead I like to look at the best way to play the cards I have been dealt. And this is what I am asking for help with. What is the best option for me to do with what I have to work with?</p>
<p>I plan on majoring in economics, and my dream is to double major with mathematics too and than go to a graduate school for econ. I have all A's senior year right now which includes, AP psych, AP chem, AP stats, and AP calc. It's easy too. I read other books independantly in chem and calculus so while everyone is confused on test, I'm the first done. I have recommendations, even one's from administrators and counslers on the setback with home issues (although I would have rather not included that). I'm hispanic which might help I think. My Act score was 29, but I'm taking it one more time and I'm sure it will go up atleast a point or two.</p>
<p>Any help would help me. Even reading this far atleast makes me feel good that you took the time to read it. I guess my main question to ask is what college should I try to apply to. Ivy schools werer dead and gone years ago. I live in Omaha, Nebraska and everyone is going to the University of Lincoln, but it's because it's a big party school. What schools should I go for? Should I go to a somewhat decent school and than try to transfer later? I'm lost right now.</p>