<p>Hi, I'm a junior in high school right now and i'm starting to worry about where i'm going to end up after graduating from high school.(I feel like i'm not going to end up anywhere.... T-T) I'm planning to apply for Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Drexel University, FL Institute of Tech, Embry-Riddle Dayota Beach and some other schools.
My GPA isn't too good, 3.4 on 4.0 scale. I took SAT once without studying and only got 1580.. (i know i'm stupid...) But I've only been in U.S. for 4 years now and would that make a difference? Also I am really passionate about robotics competitions, I participated in VEX Robotics Competition and FIRST Robotics Competition for 3 years and even dropped my all other extra curricular activities just to work on robotics because it is very time consuming. I'm also a captain this year. Will it make a difference if i actually write an essay about my passion in robotics and submit it? </p>
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<li><p>is there any other school with good software engineering program? I've been looking for other ones for a while but software engineering degree seems too new so i couldn't find that many...</p></li>
<li><p>I know that all the schools i listed are hard for me to get in with my stats right now...</p></li>
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<p>Thanks in advance :)</p>
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<p>That’s a thought that competition in high school may give you; don’t base your performance solely in comparison to other students. If you are motivated and dedicated enough, you can always make it to a good college.</p>
<p>You’re a junior right now, and you have plenty of time to enrich your SAT score and increase your chances. Just for the record, with your current score, you’d might be able to get accepted by ERAU; it’s a nice school, I’ve visited it last Fall.</p>
<p>Look at your tasks objectively: what do you need to get in a good college? Good GPA, good SAT, good ECs and good essays. Plan your time and develop the skills you need. I am sure you can do well.</p>
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<p>Absolutely; that would be a great topic for your essays.</p>
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<p>Other schools you might want to consider: Purdue University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.</p>
<p>Also, you might want to consider applying to some schools as a Computer Science major; IMO, it’s very similar to Software Engineering, if not deeper.</p>
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<p>Sheesh, Eternalsnow. The first thing you have to do is get behind yourself a bit. There are enough naysayers out in the world - don’t let one live inside your own head. People with miserable grades and test scores (and that isn’t you) have gone on to become billionaires in this country. Your limitations are, for the most part, what you make them out them to be. Also, your scores and grades are good enough to go someplace which can take you anywhere.</p>
<p>Search for the 3.0-3.3 threads on CC. In them you will find tons of information on solid schools that would be thrilled to have you. Also look into Colleges That Change Lives. As for your interest in Robotics, showing depth, passion, and achievement in one thing is far more compelling to adcoms than seeing a smattering of EC’s.</p>
<p>Here is one of the threads that I mentioned:</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/939933-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread-2011-hs-graduation.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/parents-forum/939933-3-0-3-3-gpa-parents-thread-2011-hs-graduation.html</a></p>
<p>Your test scores could be a little higher for your gpa, so it might be good to aim for schools that would be pretty happy with your 3.4.</p>
<p>thank you so much for the advise and the encouragement! i’ll work harder for what i want and let you two know if i made it or not >.< Thank you soooo much… it helped a lot!!!</p>
<p>WPI has a great robotics program
use CC’s search tool entering your gpa, sats, and intended major. You’ll find the results will be fairly accurate.
don’t be so hard on yourself. an unweighted 3.4 with hard classes in your second language is better than you think.</p>
<p>You’ll definitely be able to get in to some places - a 3.4 is not horrible.</p>
<p>Stay optimistic and have a little self-confidence :).</p>
<p>Robotics would make an excellent essay topic.</p>
<p>people here are so nice 
i tried the search tool just now and i found some more schools and yes, i should work on building self-confidence haha thank you :)</p>
<p>have some confidence, you have a 3.4 you can get into every school you listed to applied to especially drexel, just search those schools on collegeboard.com and you’ll see how good you match up with their requirements</p>
<p>yeah i looked them up and i gained some confidence i guess >.< thank you for the encouragement :]</p>
<p>I’d suggest working on raising that SAT score this summer; you may be surprised by a considerably higher score with some effort. Take a look at the ACT as well, as some people test much better on that (especially if your English isn’t quite as good).</p>
<p>You seem to be a good student and your passion shows. An essay on Robotics sounds like a great idea and I’m sure your colleges will look forward to reading it. Best of luck!</p>
<p>I agree with those suggesting that the OP spend some serious time studying this summer. As someone who got a 1680 the first time, I understand how you feel (especially since I’m American and have been here much longer than four years :P). </p>
<p>It can be really though getting on sites like CC when you are a Junior and have only just recently been aware that the college application process is looming near in your future. Its also hard to look at the work you’ve done and realize that it isn’t as much as you wish you had produced. It can be really upsetting. </p>
<p>But, you are alert now. And you have months and months to devote to your SAT, GPA, and polishing up those EC’s. So I would not wait, if I were you. The faster you start to address the things you want to change, the farther you will be by this time next year. Take the advice from the kids here, you’re not going to fail in life unless you make that a goal (which is a scary thought!) </p>
<p>You. Can. Do. This.</p>
<p>yeah, i started studying for SAT. it’s hard <.<<
i hope i can do it, and i’ll try my best to do it, too :)</p>
<p>Please go to the SAT/ACT forum and look for Silverturtle’s Guide. It should be stickied on top I think. It is extremely helpful.</p>