College chances after doing poorly in highschool

Parents Forum
1

<p>I am not a Canadian citizen</p>

<p>Schools I am looking at:</p>

<p>University of Victoria
Simon Fraser University
University of New Brunswick
University of Western Ontario
University of Alberta
dalhousie University</p>

<p>Recommend me any other schools you think I could get into please.</p>

<p>I barely passed high school. However, I have some strong points and extracurricular that I think are worth noting.</p>

<p>I am a book nerd and read a lot. A lot. I’ve read everything from Homer’s Odyssey to Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, to Marquez One Hundred Years of Solitude. And of course everywhere in between. So I have a broad range of knowledge about all kinds of literature from all over the world from a lot of time periods.</p>

<p>I lift weights and am on the verge of becoming a personal trainer. I use to be anorexic until one day I had enough and just decided to get stronger. I went from 6’0" 109lbs to 180lbs. Along the way I learned a lot about exercise technique, anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and just everything needed to help others that are in the position I was in out. And I would really like to do this as well.</p>

<p>In addition to reading, I also like linguistics and languages. I currently study french and russian and I want to expand and also learn mandarin, and spanish. One of my motivations for going to school in Canada is because I would like to live and even work in Quebec during my summers to become completely fluent in my french.</p>

<p>In a few months I will be backpacking. I am heading to England where I will backpack through England, Scotland, Isle of Man, and Ireland for a few months. I am very exciting and I assume admissions officers like these things? I expect it to really broaden my cultural understandings.</p>

<p>I write a lot. I have a collection of short stories and poems. They’re not very good but they’re not suppose to be. I do it because I enjoy it and because I want to become a good writer. I intend to major in English and a science.</p>

<p>I worked at an optometry clinic for a year. I have knowledge of all the duties in an optometry clinic. I can take Visual Field scans, administer eye drops, do autorefractions, and have a good biological and physical understanding everything going on.</p>

<p>I have some community service things I can put down as well I did my last year of highschool I can write about.</p>

<p>And I am sure there are a few more things I can’t think of right now. Also I am currently attending a community college where my grades go up every semester. First semester were C’s, this semester I am expecting B’s, and then my last semester before I transfer I will be expecting A’s. These A’s will also be gotten in the high level courses I have worked up to. Colleges like upward trends correct?</p>

<p>The reason for barely passing highschool are some deepseated psychological problems I had. I am still working through them and I don’t like to use it as a crutch. This is why my grades as of right now are still where I wouldn’t want them to be.</p>

<p>I have a 1700 SAT</p>

2

<p>“I am currently attending a community college where my grades go up every semester.”</p>

<p>This is the most important thing. You need to keep improving your grades, and you need to meet with the transfer counselor at your community college so that you can discuss specific plans with them. They will know which universities have accepted transfer students like yourself, and they will be able to help you make a good list.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. Is there anything else I should be doing to increase my chances of being accepted?</p>

4

<p>If you want to be a writer, work on your writing. You said that you are writing a lot of things but they aren’t very good. Work on polishing them and making them better. I know that’s not as much fun as the initial writing, but it is part of the job. If you can write some really smashing application essays, it might demonstrate to the college that you have what it takes to succeed.</p>

5

<p>Well I’m not sure that I want to be a writer. It’s just a hobby for me. I much prefer reading but sometimes I am inspired and scribble something down. I do however want to major in English, and possible Chemistry. So it amounts to the same thing I suppose.</p>

6

<p>Canadian universities don’t consider ECs in admissions.</p>

7

<p>I find that hard to believe.</p>

8

<p>^I know, but it’s true! Except for some select programs, no essays, no ECs, just scores and grades. But check out the individual school websites for US applicants.</p>

9

<p>Ok so I have another question now. If I bring my grades up to A’s in my final semester at community college in some 200 level courses, and retake my SAT and get over a 2000, will I stand a chance at some of these schools?</p>

10

<p>This doesn’t answer your question, but follow this link to see some e-tours of Canadian colleges. (on the top there is also a category for universities)</p>

<p>[Study</a> at a university, college or other schools in Canada - StudyinCanada.com](<a href=“Welcome to StudyinCanada.com!”>Welcome to StudyinCanada.com!)</p>

11

<p>I would not think you’d need to submit SAT scores since you will be a transfer student. Check the schools’ websites for transfer info to find out.</p>

12

<p>why are you only looking at Canadian schools? Are you a resident?</p>

13

<p>I am not a Canadian resident. I just would like to go Canada as the country and colleges appeal to me more than the US. I’m not picking though. As the saying goes “beggars can’t be choosers”</p>