From underachiever to overachiever?

Chance Me / Match Me
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<p>Thanks for taking the time to read and respond!</p>

<p>I want to break into the finance world but need some serious opinions and suggestions based on where I’m at…</p>

<p>Necessary background information :</p>

<p>Attended private school from preschool to sophomore year in high-school at which time I transferred to public school (worst decision of my life). After entering public school, at a time in which my desire and understanding of making successful future for myself was non-existent, I successfully let my grades drop to around a 1.8 GPA with the aid of gypping half of my classes. I then successfully got to my senior year without having enough credits to graduate and was too embarrassed/stupid to return the next year to finish my high-school education. I would have graduated in 2005…</p>

<p>Fast-forward three years to 2008 in which I earned my GED.</p>

<p>Fast-forward again to 2010 when I entered my local community college as a means to start climbing my way up this heap of a mess I’ve amassed for myself academically and professionally.</p>

<p>So : I’m 25. I’m 30 credit hours away from earning my Associates with–assuming I continue the trend I’ve set so far in college–a 3.5-3.9 GPA. </p>

<p>My problem is although I’ve severely underperformed in my academic life up until now I’ve always had quite high ambitions for myself, and, imo, the aptitude to achieve those goals (was always placed in advanced classed during middle-school and early years of high-school). I’ve considered many careers paths (I’ve been working almost constantly in some job or another since the age 17) and have finally decided I want to go into the finance world (either I-Banking or Sales & Trading). With that decision comes the harsh reality that my choices up to this point put my of the very low end of the bell curve in terms of landing one of those jobs. </p>

<p>Based on my research, one has the highest likely-hood of landing one of these positions coming from one of the top 1-2 tier schools. Clearly I won’t ever be attending an Ivy League school in this lifetime, but I’m trying to determine if I have any realistic chance of somehow getting accepted at one of the easier-to-get-into tier2 schools like University of Chicago or something.</p>

<p>I suppose what I’m trying to get from you guys is suggestions on where to go from here, and what sort of likely-hood you guys see in achieving my goals. Any information you think relevant would really help…</p>

<p>thanks for your time</p>

<p>edit : my apologies if this is the wrong forum</p>

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<p>Alright, I don’t know much but heres my two cents.
If your really really set on tier 1 or 2 schools you could try two things. </p>

<p>A) Attempting to transfer to those highly selective but not HYPSM.
Duke, UCLA and the other UCs, notre dame etc.etc. This will be really really hard though. </p>

<p>As for Chicago, it has a intense core curriculum, which I imagine won’t work in your favor with such clear goals in mind.
Information on transfering to U of C: <a href=“https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/applicants/transfer/[/url]”>https://collegeadmissions.uchicago.edu/apply/applicants/transfer/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>"Transfer students must attend the College for at least two academic years (six quarters) and complete the Core curriculum and at least half of their major with us. " </p>

<p>The due date was March 1st, so you would have to apply next year. That being said, the unfortunate truth is, it’s still extremely hard to get into U of C and all the other top as a transfer.Your ECs, SAT score and essay would have to be top notch, and you’ll definitely have to explain all your gaps in a positive light - showing how they strengthen you or, how you learned form them etc etc. </p>

<p>At the end of the day, You’ll never know if you don’t apply. </p>

<p>B) If I were you though, I would forget about the tiers and work towards a good school, that has great professors, the classes you need, and opportunities.
Here’s a list of schools with the most transfer students: [Most</a> Transfer Students | Rankings | US News](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-transfers]Most”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/rankings/most-transfers)</p>

<p>GEt in, Work your ass off. Get a fantastic, and I mean fantastic, GPA; take advantage of every opportunity you have, develop great relationships with your professors etc.etc. Then from there, you could have awesome career prospects without going to an ivy. if your really wanting to go to an ivy top tier school - you can then, when you have your bachelors, apply for the masters at the ivy.</p>

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<p>thanks for the feedback…</p>

<p>Any tips for identifying the best professors for my desired field (or existing lists)?</p>