Hi there. I recently took the GED test and i really want to know if they matter, how they’ll be perceived by admissions, if i can use them to get scholarships that are normally given based on class rank and/or GPA, and whether or not my plans from here on out sound good.
I scored:
Language arts: 172
Social studies: 178
Science: 187
Mathematics: 194
One person told me admissions wouldn’t care, another person told me they would. One person told me i won’t be eligible for any scholarships anywhere that normally require a certain class rank or GPA. Another person told me that GED scores are often used to give an estimate on what a class rank or GPA would have been, and said i could still get scholarships using my scores. I’m not very well endowed financially so i’m really hoping i can get some scholarships despite this.
Anyway, from here, i was going to stay at home until next spring, studying specifically in the subjects most pertinent to my interests (Calc AP BC/Calc 1&2, AP physics 1 and C mechanics, a computer programming course on mitopencourseware, and some Japanese and stuff), then going to a local university that i can prove myself and get through prerequisites at, and finally transfer (right after freshman year) to Ohio State University (which is my target school but i was also going to apply to U of Arizona as a safety, Cornell as a reach, and Penn State as another target).
So do those scores matter, can i use them for anything, and do my plans from here on out sound reasonable?
Our D got perfect scores from the GED–4000 out of 4000. She never received any scholarships but she did well in Community College and transferred to the private U of her dreams where she did well. It was expensive. Generally Us give most of their merit awards to entering freshmen. They also mainly give most merit to their residents if you go to a state school like U of xxx state or Xxx state U.
“One person told me admissions wouldn’t care, another person told me they would. One person told me i won’t be eligible for any scholarships anywhere that normally require a certain class rank or GPA. Another person told me that GED scores are often used to give an estimate on what a class rank or GPA would have been, and said i could still get scholarships using my scores.”
Each of those people could be absolutely correct, because each college and university sets its own admission policy.
As you surely know from the information at the GED website, scores of 175 and higher are classified as “College Ready + Credit” Here is one list of places that award at least some credit: http://www2.acenet.edu/crm/cup/
Contact the places that you are interested in, and ask what their policies are for students with a GED. Do not be surprised if each place gives you a different answer.