About me:
Unweighted GPA- 3.3333
I’ve been in two clubs.
I am both Microsoft Office certified and EverFi Financial Literacy certified. I passed the Microsoft test twice, and I was the only one who passed it. That also includes my teacher.
I also excel at Access and Excel.
My SAT scores were low, but I did not do bad if you look at each subject area over the composite score.
Reading - 520
Math - 460
I’ve been told that I’m a talented writer.
I’ve gone through a lot with mental illnesses and emotional abuse, and I’ll probably detail that on my essay. I don’t care if it’s a bad idea.
I know that my resume sucks, and I’m not that attractive. I’m usually the only one in my classes who gives a damn, if that means anything.
My top four:
Clemson University
University of Louisville
Auburn University
Purdue University
I know they’re probably long shots, but according to the College Board site, I meet the SAT requirements for Louisville. I’m not too far off on Purdue, but I’m off on Auburn and Clemson.
I did the Prep Scholar calculations and these are my results;
You have 4 different schools in 4 different states. Out of state tuition is triple the cost of in-state. Your parents would have to pay for the tuition difference, otherwise there’s no way you could afford any of them, even if you got in. Applying from out of state is even more competitive. You need to be realistic about your school options. The most you can take out in student loans for a 4 year degree is $27k. The rest has to come from somewhere, and it’s not going to be financial aid. Start with your home state. I would suggest a year or two at community college, then apply to some in-state options based on what you can afford.
I need a school that’ll push me. That’s how I thrive. I know my scores and GPA are low, but I hope my essay will help me. I explain everything that has happened to me. It’s something I need them to know. I tried my best on it, and I think it’s good. I’m sorry for all of this.
Essay are meant to impress the AO, a platform to give you an edge from other applicants. The key to essay is to be personal, memorable, creative, yet one of a kind.
What not to do, which millions do, is explain why they underachieve due to circumstances. If you do that you sound like 4 million others.
You need alot of good sound advice from people who understand the admission process a little bit better.
You would be best off focusing on colleges that are matches for your academic statistics and that appear affordable. You do yourself no good by pinning all of your hopes to a bunch of schools that are major reaches and thinking that a tale of hardship will get you in. First, the college needs to feel very confident that you can handle the academics so if your academic stats are not even close to their standard then admission is highly unlikely. Second, it is usually harder to get into public universities as an out of state student plus they will be way more expensive that in-state options.
Keep in mind that even if you are in-state for college it will be a whole new and different world.
I’m sorry your life has been difficult. A change in zip code is not the answer, getting the help you need is.
Some of your statements raise serious concerns well beyond college planning. Calling yourself unattractive, saying your resume “sucks”, and having your username include “desperate” are huge red flags. I respectfully suggest you are telegraphing your situation because you want support and help navigating your emotions. You mention a history of mental illness and in a prior thread references supportive parents, teachers and counselors.
Please speak directly to one of these adults about your concerns, plans and feelings. Everyone on CC wants to help you but I don’t think your challenges are isolated to college planning. It is irresponsible for any of us to attempt to address your college questions without having the entire picture.
You have endless opportunities to pursue and achieve the future you aspire to. Unfortunately, I suspect you have some complications which will require a comprehensive and interrelated approach to both your mental health and educational goals. Please cultivate a local support network that you are comfortable with, get help, talk openly, and remain optimistic.
Good luck and please take this as positive encouragement.
Honestly, I know it’s not the answer, but staying with my problems like this won’t help me. It’s hard for me to remain optimistic when I feel like my GPA and scores aren’t good enough. According to College Board, I meet the requirements for Louisville, so I think hope is there. I’d rather the colleges know my history, just in case something happens. Also, I know that a time of hardship won’t get me anywhere.
@Desperate-Potato , you have never answered questions about whether your family supports the idea of your going out of state to college, and has the means and willingness to pay. As time goes on and you continue to post, I have begun to have an uneasy feeling that your determination to go to these schools may not actually have the real-world financial backing to make it a reality. I feel as if there may be a whole other side to this story that we are not seeing.
If I’m wrong, and you do actually have buy-in and financial support from your family, then these reach schools are fine to shoot for. I’m curious as to why you have shifted from small schools to large ones, but as long as you’re clear about you want, that’s fine. However, it makes no sense for your best-odds school to still have a >60% chance of rejecting you. (A greater chance of rejection than that, in fact, once you take recruited athletes, URM’s, and other “hooked” applicants out of the stats.) You need matches and safeties. How about College of Charleston, where your stats are still well below median, but the 77% acceptance rate means your chances of acceptance are still good? The classics department is great, and even offers two different concentrations, in ancient languages or civilizations: http://classics.cofc.edu/
@Desperate-Potato Please re-read @Nocreativity1’s very astute response and follow the advice there. You have bigger fish to fry than matching your scores and grades to college chances. I understand that it’s tempting to escape a bit from some of the stuff you’re dealing with, and that thinking about and planning for college can be a particularly soothing form of distraction and recreation. But you need to get to a more stable place right now. Please seek immediate and local support.
“Staying with my problems like this won’t help me”
You also can’t run or escape from problems. You have to address them directly in order to move on. As Aquapt highlights your stated target schools and finance descriptions have been “fluid”. You need to be realistic across the board to achieve your goals. Don’t rely on hope but take real action. Get help, get clarity and set realistic goals. You can do this but you need to get adult help that is fully aware of your circumstances.
Desperate-Potato you are clearly a thoughtful person so why would you diminish yourself by saying its day by day? Outcomes aren’t determined by time but by effort. Don’t delay the effort required to get yourself grounded.
You are in control if you want to be!
Grab control and seek some help. Please know you have lots of people pulling for you!