Honestly, do I seem like an applicable candidate for acceptance to a decent state university?

Applying to College
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<p>I am currently a senior at a somewhat unusual high school, which I feel gives me an advantage over the average public school college applicant. </p>

<p>Some insight on my high school experience/courses taken:</p>

<p>I started ninth grade at a very poor public school. Due to depression and anxiety issues, I began homeschooling halfway through my freshman year. During homeschooling, I completed and passed all courses with A’s (which is nothing to brag about, it’s homeschooling). </p>

<p>I returned to the poor public high school for my sophomore year. The only honors class I took was Honors English 10, which I excelled at with A’s for 3 out of the 4 quarters that I attended class. I also took Algebra 2, which I maintained consisted B’s in. I also received A’s in regular classes, giving me a 4.0 for the year (Honors courses boost your GPA, allowing you to receive 1 B and still maintain a 4.0) (I still feel that this is nothing to brag about aside from my dedication to Honors English). My only extracurricular activity was FFA, which I am honestly not proud of.</p>

<p>Deep into the summer after my sophomore year, I received information regarding a very progressive and unique school that was relatively new to the area, which has the title of being a much better than average “STEM” school (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics). This school typically does not admit juniors due to each student needing at least two years of Chinese in order to graduate. Yet somehow after interviewing with the school and sending them my transcript, I was accepted into the school. </p>

<p>During my junior year of high school, I completed Chinese 1 (A’s and B’s), Technical Reading and Writing (A’s), Computer Modeling and Simulation (A’s), Algebra 2 (A’s), yet I depressingly ended up with a C average in Chemistry. I am very passionate about science related studies, but for some reason it just didn’t click with me. I blame it partly due to my lack of maturity and being so new to the school, and my parents also divorced halfway through the year, but still. I also ended up completing an information technology internship through the school, created an online portfolio showcasing my work, and began a resume. The school that I attend is also adamant about group work and executing professionalism through advanced projects. We also do most of our work on laptops provided through the school, which has allowed me to use Adobe and Microsoft products with ease, as well as CAD design software and STK. Many public school students don’t even familiarize themselves with this type of software until they are deep into college. </p>

<p>Now I am currently a senior taking a dual-enrollment English class for college credit, an advanced Biomedical Sciences course (also for college credit), a class which specializes in documentary work for an aquarium in our area (which I would consider to be significant), Precalc, and Sociology. I expect to receive all A’s this year, mainly because I have changed my work ethic and matured significantly. </p>

<p>Family background: Poor, mother has been divorced twice, no real father figure, living in an apartment. </p>

<p>Colleges I am interested in: Ohio University and Ohio State University. </p>

<p>GPA Sophomore year: 4.0
GPA Junior year: 3.2
Expected GPA of the first semester of my senior year: 3.5+</p>

<p>I have also started a campus tour club for my school, and am about to begin working with the yearbook club at my school. This is on top of the documentary work (camera, sound, lighting, and editing footage).</p>

<p>With that being said, do I seem interesting and/or applicable enough for decent (but not too prestigious) colleges such a Ohio University and Ohio State University? Would I be accepted into a science major such as cellular and molecular biology? I am much better at biology than chemistry, and I would consider myself a top biology student at my school.</p>

<p>I know this question is all over the place, but PLEASE offer me your opinions and/or advice. I am not interested in any Ivy Leagues whatsoever, I am only interested in state universities. </p>

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<p>I forgot to add, my ACT score is a 26. </p>

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<p>fyi, the colleges will likely unweight your gpa, or recalculate them to their own scale. So UW grades, plus program rigor is looked at.</p>

<p>Are you instate for Ohio? The issue with state colleges is that they have a high tuition expense for out of staters and they usually don’t give good aid. So that is a problem when you need it. Sounds like you need to shop for affordability as well.</p>

<p>What is your SAT breakdown?</p>

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<p>I live in Ohio and do not plan to attend college out of state. I also do not plan on taking the SAT. </p>

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<p>NM, I missed your earlier post re ACT</p>

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<p>Ohio State</p>

<p>midrange 25%-75% ACT 27 - 31
62% in top 10 pct of class
95% in top 25 pct of class</p>

<p>Ohio U
midrange 25%-75% ACT 22 - 26
42% in top 25 pct of class
82% om top 50 pct of class</p>

<p>So you seem like a lock for Ohio U. And OSU looks viable, slight reach. That is as long as you meet the course requirements for admissions. You have some nonstandard classes in there so hopefully they didn’t take the place of the requirements. OSU only requires 2 but prefers 3 years of foreign language (90% have more than 2), however I’d think you would be given some consideration for transferring and having a hard language. Don’t you have a GC there to work with? Hopefully they should know how you look for your own state colleges. Especially when you have an unusual program that experience and perspective is something that people on a discussion board just won’t have. But yeah it does sound interesting!</p>

<p>Picking a major in the College of Arts and Sciences shouldn’t be a problem. It isn’t competitive, like getting into nursing or engineering, for instance.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the advice! I definitely plan on revisiting Chinese in college, but the way that my courses were scheduled this year had my Chinese 2 course and my Advanced Biomed course during the same period…so obviously I picked Biomed because it is such a priority to me. </p>

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<p>Note: I took Spanish 1 during my sophomore year, so I have two language credits. I also have a significant amount of science credits (Agricultural Sciences, Spectra of Science (9th), Biology, Chem, Adv Biomed, Comp. Modeling and Simulation, and my Biology and Media Capstone (the documentary-based class). This will total up to 6 1/2 credits of science. </p>

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<p>Wait, I thought you had 2 years of Chinese. Are you saying you won’t have 2 years of one single language? No Chinese 2? That would be a mistake. You can take bio etc classes and electives in college, but you must give priority to your HS core and college prep classes. the requirement is 2 to 3 classes of the same foreign language. Read this for OSU:</p>

<p>All applying students are required to have successfully completed two or more units of the same foreign language in high school, although three units is preferred (most admitted students have had three or more).</p>

<p>Foreign language course work in high school should focus on listening, speaking, reading and writing skills. A fundamental grounding in grammar as well as conversational experience is desired. In addition, students should be able to express their thoughts in written form in the chosen foreign language.</p>

<p>And while extra elective science is nice, don’t overlook the requirements:
3 units of natural science with significant lab experience</p>

<p>So that’s your Bio and your Chem and I don’t know which other had formal lab.</p>

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<p>Ohio U would seem like a better option, because it is too late to change my schedule at this point. OU only requires two credits of a non specified foreign language. There are other students from my school in this position, which is understandable due to our emphasis on wanting science classes galore. OSU would seem like a place I would end up transferring to. </p>

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<p>It is not usual to be unprepared for college requirements in your own state at a public high school! Is this a legitimate high school? There is no need to specialize now at the expense of minimum requirements to enter your state colleges. It is sort of like how you have to eat your vegetables before your dessert. Extra electives in what you want are all fine and good, but only if you have your basics done first. </p>

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<p>OSU Admission Requirements: “Students exceeding the minimum curriculum in math, natural sciences, or foreign language will be given additional consideration”. Six and a half credits of science may be a good enough reason for my lack of a foreign language. I will go as far as to formally email them and also explain so in my interview. I still believe my school name, family situation, and unique EC’s may help. </p>

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<p>Yes, good idea, do email them and apply if you can. nm</p>

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<p>My high school is ranked #17 out of 80 high schools in this area. Yes, it is a real high school. Small but prestigious. </p>