Can I get into anything decent with this stuff?

Chance Me / Match Me!
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<p>Here's a basic rundown of my ongoing highschool life... </p>

<p>Freshman year I had a 2.6 gpa, sophomore 1.6, right now I'm a junior with a 3.6. I decided to do a huge turnaround. I'm getting straight As right now. I haven't been in any honors classes, just CP, I've only been in a few clubs, chess, french, and games. I haven't taken the ACT or SAT yet, I'm taking the SAT on May 7th, and am not sure if I should take the SAT Subject tests in June or shoot for a better score the second time around. I was thinking of going for US History, World History, and Biology. I'm taking the ACT on April 9th, also guessing I'll score around a 25. Other then that, I have no idea of what else to take/do. Next year(senior year) I'll most likely be taking Econ./Gov. Honors, Pre-Cal Honors, French 2, either World History Honors/AP, US History Honors/AP, European History Honors/AP, English 3 Honors, and English 4. I can either take a low level English 3 class during summerschool, a TP class(lower then college prep.) and go into English 4 CP so I have room for an extra class, or just do both English 3 Honors then English 4 CP. Outside of class I'll be taking English 101 and 102, Psychology, and maybe a Music or Art Appreciation class for college credits. Aside from school, I've been in 2 bands, have played various shows, and am also learning Norwegian along with French, have played the guitar for 4 years, and am working. </p>

<p>Sorry for organization in that, I'm quite worried. If I can pull off a decent SAT score and ACT score, which colleges could I get in out of state? I'd really kill to goto Yale or some crazy Ivy League, but that's probably doubtful for my situation. I'd like to reach for California-Berkeley, University of Chicago, or George Washington University. I'm living in South Carolina right now and from my guidance counselor's perspective I can get into any instate college, my family moved here and I pretty much hate it. </p>

<p>edit-I forgot to mention, I can do/perform incredibly good interviews and essays if that helps with much.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice/help!</p>

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<p>forget about U of C... your cumulative gpa will end up being waay below what they look for, even with the upward momentum. If you were in-state at Cal, you might have a chance at berk, because UCs assign points to an application for "marked improvement between grades" which you definitely have, going from a 1.6 to a 4.0, but because your out of state, i think its still a big reach. I dont know about GWU, id apply there and maybe you'll get lucky, who knows.</p>

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<p>Is the 3.6 cummulative or just for the year?
You could go to Berkeley but you would have to start at a California CC. It's a popular option--spend two years at the CC and then go to Berkeley. If you apply in this way they don't look at your HS stats or your SAT scores.
If you want to go to a real college straight from HS, you don't have a chance at Berkeley, U of C, and certainly not Yale. GWU would be a reach, but you might be able to get in.
With that said, there are plenty of great schools that you could get into. A lot of great LAC's would accept you.</p>

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<p>What's an LAC? My cummulative is 2.5. If I went with the second option of going to a mediocore college right after highschool, would transferring be an option?</p>

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<p>Transferring would still be an option but if you want to get into Berkeley or UCLA then the Community College would be the only choice. They don't accept much transfers who do not come from the Community College. Also, going to a community college would be cheaper.</p>

<p>An LAC is a Liberal Arts College. I love LAC's, some don't. It all depends on what you think is important. They are usually very small.</p>

<p>I thought you had a 3.6. With a 2.5 GWU would be a very high reach and the LAC's I was thinking about would be also. LAC's, though, because they are so small and intimate tend to put A LOT of emphasis on the admissions essay and the interview, so if you are as good as you say then you might have a chance at some good LAC's.</p>

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<p>friend of mine went from something like a 1.8 freshman year to a 3.6 or so senior year... he was just a lazy bastard when HS started, he ended up getting a 1410 on the SAT, and was accepted to allegheny (a great LAC in pennsylvania) and st. john's u. in new york. I think he only got in to allegheny because he made good friends with some alum and had them help him out. I think for you, the only chance at an elite school is going to require a lot of outside help from legacy relations or such.
With that said, there are plenty of "top" schools which you havent even thought about which will accept you. College is a beginning of a new life, if you work just as little as you did in high school at any college, you'll be miserable and fail and wont get a job. if you continue to work harder, regardless of what college you go to, you'll be greeted with success in every endeavour</p>

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<p>What about having a shot at Oberlin or even Bard?</p>

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<p>bump, any more advice?</p>

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<p>I don't think you have a chance at either Oberlin or Bard. They are quite selective...
However, schools are known to make exceptions for students with a good story and yours is one--don't count on it though, make sure you pick out some practical saftys.</p>

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<p>Here are some GREAT schools I think you might have a chance at:</p>

<p>Hendrix College
Goucher College
College of Wooster
Kalamazoo College
St. Olaf College
Marlboro College (this one was ranked by the PR as second to the University of Chicago in "Best Overall Undergraduate Academics")
Eckerd College
Antioch College
St. John's College (If you like reading and discussing this one will appeal to you)</p>

<p>All of the schools I have listed are fantastic schools that are very respectable. Some of them are more competetive then others but I think you have a chance them all.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the list. I was planning on shooting for Marlboro, I wish I knew of better reaches then what I have getting sent from the SAT and ACTs.</p>

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<p>keep the straight As up...pull that GPA to a 3.8, study your ass off for the SATs, try and make it in to the 1300s or the high 12s, and TAKE SOME APs...and i'd say you have a chance at a top 20 public</p>

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<p>GPA is certainly not everything. SATs, recs, ECs, essays especially play a huge role. If you can make up for your low grades with the other aspects, you'll be perfectly fine.</p>

<p>this is probably very obvious: but save an application essay to discuss your turn-around, why you decided to shape up...self-motivated improvement is highly attractive for colleges.</p>

<p>As for which schools...I'm thinking all three of the ones you suggested are extreme reaches. You have an excellent shot at most state universities across the country. If you want a big name university - try U Texas Austin. I think you could get into St. John's U. - plus it's a huge change from South Carolina, (which you don't like right?) what with their campuses in the middle of nyc. </p>

<p>like nahrafsfa said: take some honors courses and maybe an AP next year and you could certainly make it into one of the top publics if you tried.</p>

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<p>I just got into Marlboro with a 2.8 unweighted cumulative GPA, 1420 SATs, 710/720/760 SATIIs. My ECs aren't that stellar either, only 2 clubs and one officer position. I think you probably have a pretty decent shot if you can get those recommendations and stuff in.</p>

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