Let’s say if my excuse for a mild high school performance is isolation as a child because of a psychotic mother leading to severe anxiety. Even so, I’m a lot better now; I work as a medical assistant and live a happier life. I have my GED too. I want to research mental disorders to prevent this happening to other children. I’d also like to educate the public about these mental disorders.
I believe my reasoning for my mild performance is genuine, so would this reason help me in the admissions process?
Could you explain what you mean by “mild”? I know how to apply that to salsa but not experiences. Also – what kind of schools? Some would be ecstatic to have you.
@bodangles
Thank you for your time. To be more specific, my UW GPA is 3.6 - 3.65 (need to check transcripts) and my W GPA is 3.8. I took about 3 honors my freshmen year getting B’s in one and A’s in the other. I took about 2 honors sophomore year and 2 APs (psychology and literature with all A’s). I hope this proves I’m capable of college work. Ironically, I received lower grades in easier courses.
I took the SAT today and I believe I got 1250 - 1350; we’ll see. I would presume I received a 7 on my essay unfortunately.
I’m taking the Molecular Biology and Chemistry SAT’s in October. I tend to learn very well when I care about the subject.
I am applying to schools that only have recommended credits, because I don’t have all the required credits for most schools like 4 years of english. My top choice is the University of Rochester (which amazingly don’t even have recommended credits). I’m applying ED, visiting campus, and I have two interviews – one with the Brain and Cognitive sciences undergrad coordinator and the admissions staff.
This is the rest of my list (in no particular order):
- University of Rochester
- Syracuse University
- Brandeis University
- University of Tulsa
- University of Denver
- Drew University
- Drake University
- Depauw University
- University of Dayton
- University of Houston - this school has a conditional acceptances if I don’t have all the required credits.
- Adelphi University
- Lindeonwood University
- University of Miami
I want to let these colleges know that I want to be an example to anyone pursing undergraduate/graduate studies. Even if the odds are against you since the moment you were born, you need to fight for what you want.
What schools do you think would be ecstatic to have me?
Thanks for providing more information! That GPA is actually quite good?? Especially for achieving it under extreme circumstances.
I’m not very familiar with those schools so I’ll defer to other posters there. Using my frame of reference (which is Penn State, where I go, and where I think your stats would get you in) I think you will be competitive for a good many schools. Check out Common Data Sets if you haven’t (Rochester seems to have a fact sheet instead?) for comparing your stats to those of accepted freshmen.
Can you afford these schools? Many are quite expensive!
@bodangles And thank you for your spent helping me out! I’ll be sure to check out Penn State. Do you have anything else in mind?
@katliamom My father and I are working very hard to afford these schools. I am lucky to have him, so taking in account loans, possible scholarships, work-study programs, etc., I think it should be possible.
Caution: they’re not great with aid if you don’t live in PA. Your own state flagship may be another option to investigate.
@bodangles I was actually planning on doing that too; wish me luck!
You don’t want to take out too many loans while you’re getting an undergraduate degree. Go to the websites of your favorite schools and put in your familiy’s financial info in the Net Price Calculators. You don’t want to fall in love with schools that aren’t affordable. By the way, your GPA is very good considering what you went through. You should be very proud. It would be great if you could find out which of these schools you like tend to be GED-friendly. Maybe contact admissions. I’m guessing a school with more holistic admissions would be more willing to look at your whole picture. Best of luck!
I just saw on another thread that your family makes less than 30,000. That’s a different story. Many of the schools you like cost more than twice that. You pretty much need a full ride. You can probably research that info here on CC. You may find that you might need to start out in community college, but I’m not an expert. I also saw you live in FL. Maybe you should check out New College of FL and the other great state schools you have. For private that might be understanding of you situation, look into Eckerd. Just some ideas.
@citymama9 Thank you for the advice. Ekerd looks quite nice and I already have New College on my list. I’m going for the wide-net tactic (applying to many schools).
I prefer not to start in community college, because I want to be a research scientist/physician. Maybe I’ll change my mind, but at least I’ll have the resources in college to pursue that goal, if I wish to do so.
Fortunately, I am about to make $30,000+ anually myself as a medical assistant, and my father is an entrepreneur. If all goes well, his new business might make a lot more than $30,000. In order to not take as much loans, I will be doing a work-study program as a medical assistant if it is possible. I need to weight my options, have excellent research opportunities at the University of Rochester (or another school) and be in debt, or be in a minimal amount of debt without these resources? I think I want to go for the former.
And the University of Rochester is very holistic actually; I feel like the debt is worth it.
Sign up for various colleges’ email notifications. You might find that some will offer app fee waivers next fall. Or see if you qualify for waivers. I am thinking that you should get a lot of need-based aid if you get in, but please don’t allow yourself to go heavily into debt for undergrad. I have a friend who blindly signed loans and didn’t finish paying her college debt off until she was 34. That’s a long time not to have spare cash hanging around. College loans are real money, and that debt can cripple your start in life as an adult.
If it were me, I would start contacting regional reps of the colleges you are interested in now. I would explain about your GED, etc… and ask if admission is likely. Your situation is unusual and contacting them about this is a legitimate question I think. You will also be showing interest.
Are you a junior next school year?
Yours is a difficult situation to be in.
How old are you?
What state do you live in?
You’re likely competitive for your state flagship, especially if its admissions are holistic.
Any chance you’ll retake the SAT? Or take the ACT in September?
Good to have thought ahead with the SAT Subjects :)!
if I understand right, you dropped out after sophomore year, but earned your GED later on?
What have you done since sophomore year - the answer will matter to colleges and may make them more likely to admit you if, say, you worked full-time and provided for family members.
You likely need 100% need covered.
http://www.thecollegesolution.com/schools-that-meet-100-of-financial-need-2/
Can you calculate your EFC? I think it’ll be zero but just checking.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/paying-your-share/expected-family-contribution-calculator
Do you know how to establish a list of colleges, with safeties/likelies, matchestargets, reaches/dream schools?
@MYOS1634
Thank you for your sympathy for taking the time to help me out. I am 17 and I live in my florida. I plan on applying for my flagship whose website states that the admission process is holistic.
I honestly don’t want to take the SAT – even if I receive a low score. I would rather take the Biology E/M and Chemistry subject tests; studying for these tests are much for enjoyable for me. I believe if I study for the ACT, I won’t have adequate time for my subject tests. There’s a lot of self-learning I have to get to.
Thanks for the EFC link; turns out my EFC is about $10,000.
I would categorize my list as follows:
Likelies:
- University of Rochester (ED, visting campus, interviewing with staff admissions and faculty of Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department).
-
University of Denver
- Drew University
-
Drake University
- Depauw University
-
Adelphi University
Matches:
- University of Miami (The physician is work for is well respected in his field and an alumnus of University of Miami’s medical school. I believe a reccommendation letter from him makes this a likely school for me).
- Syracuse University
- University of Tulsa
- University of Dayton
- University of Houston - this school has a conditional acceptances if I don’t have all the required credits.
- Lindeonwood University
Reaches:
- Brandeis University
-
University of Florida
Is this list accurate?
@Lindagaf
I’ll be sure to do that! How can I explain my situation to admission faculties? I don’t want to send overly-personal emails (unless in interviews – I plan to explain the whole story) . Should I be vague?
URochester is a “reach for everyone” school, unless you mean RIT which is indeed closer to an academic safety; UF is closer to a match. UMiami is a reach, too (a recommendation will tip the scale for an otherwise really strong applicant, but it doesn’t “make” the application and doesn’t change how FA is awarded at a school that doesn’t meet need).
Lindenwood is a safety. You have a good shot at UH HOnors if you have the proper test scores. UDenver, Drake, and DePauw are matches, not safeties. UTulsa is a safety.
How did you choose these schools?
Does your town library own a Fiske Guide? Colleges that CHange live? Princeton Review’s Best College or PR’s colleges that pay you back? Try to borrow one or two.
Have you run the NPC (net price calculator) for each of these schools?
10K EFC sounds really high considering your situation though. Do your parents have a lot of assets?
Will you be the first in your family to graduate from college? In that case, you have FSU CARE and USF YouFirst, programs with earlier deadlines, extra support and extra scholarships.
You don’t have a choice: you need either the SAT or the ACT to apply to most of these schools.
There are “test optional” schools as well as schools that will replace English Literature or Foreign language + Math/science + one of your choice for the SAT or ACT but they either are very hard to get into or “gap” (don’t meet need for kids with a lot of need.)
@MYOS1634 Thank you! I already have my SAT – waiting for my score. I chose these schools based on which ones only had recommended high school units and not required units. This may sound ignoratnt, but why is Tulsa a safety and Depauw, Drake, and DU matches if the former schools have higher acceptance rates?
I’ll go over to my library to check these books out. I plan on running the NPC’s. We have no assets; maybe I need to redo the EFC calculation?
I’m a first-generation student so I plan on applying for FSU and USF.
I don’t understand the logic trail here. Why those for first gen? Many schools consider first gen. I see it’s important for USF but only considered for FSU. It’s considered important at UF
^because these two universities have special admission programs for first generation students, typically earlier deadlines but better financial aid and special support with a summer bridge program.
Acceptance rates don’t tell the whole story when the applicant pool is self selectred. Those students have higher stats as these are top schools refionally.
I want to encourage you to rethink “I do well on subjects that I am interested in.” You will have to take a broad curriculum at any college and need to study for the ones you like and the ones you don’t. Studying for the SAT is a good start to that.
Is it possible to delay college year, raise your SAT, and save money with your medical assistant job?