I have a 4.2 GPA, 1250 SAT score, participates in a multitude of ECs and have plenty of leadership positions in clubs and organizations, play Varsity Lacrosse and other sports, and have a good amount of community service with Boy Scouts and NHS.
I have a feeling that it was my low SAT score that played a big part in not getting accepted anywhere. I applied to UMD-CP, Coast Guard Academy, and Air Force Academy. I was rejected from AFA and UMD and waitlisted for Coast Guard Prep School. I made a huge mistake in only applying to 3 colleges and now I don’t know what to do.
There are still lots of schools accepting applications. And more will pop up after May 1, so don’t panic.
What is your home state, what would you like to study, and do you need to file for financial aid?
As a parent who had a kid in this application cycle, I just wanted to say that I feel for you. Seems like the college application process gets rougher every year.
I do have a few questions though:
- Did your parents have any input on your college process?
- Did your high school guidance counselor have any input on your college process?
You note that you made “a huge mistake in only applying to 3 colleges”…but I’m guessing that nobody advised you to cast a wider net earlier on? I’m genuinely curious…there seem to be a number of kids posting similar stories, but I never caught the beginning of the thread in time to ask similar questions.
In terms of advice…If money is not an issue, I might consider a post grad year at a prep school (especially if you have lax eligibility left…seems like it depends on school). You can also attend community college for a year or two.
I’m sorry about this, mapscouts. I know this is a tough situation. A few ideas:
- you can start at a rolling admissions college…what part of the country do you live in?
- Or you could try a gap year and apply again.
- What’s your financial situation as far as what you can pay
If you are still interested in the Service Academies, then yes, you will have to get your SAT up.
Look on serviceacademyforums dot com for additional help.
Ideas:
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If you want to continue trying for service academies, look at the usual freshman service academy curriculum and take that at your CC. Continue to study for and retake the SAT or ACT. Reapply next year.
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Self-prep at a service academy prep school
NMMI allows you to apply until July
https://www.nmmi.edu/admissions/admissions-process/ -
Take a gap year and apply to regular colleges next year. Freshman have the best opportunities for financial aid. Find something meaningful to do with your time.
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Google “colleges that still have openings for fall 2018” and apply to some of them.
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Go to your Community college for a year or two and transfer to your state U
Take a look here, there are still plenty of options for Fall or you can gap:
http://www.collegesimply.com/guides/application-deadlines/
I personally did not know the whole college admission process until this year and was pretty much dead set on attending a military service academy. My brother applied only to three colleges as well and got accepted to the CGA two years ago so I went ahead and tried to emulate that. My parents often told me to apply to more but we were all confident that I was going to get accepted to UMD, treating it as a safety school/fallback in case I wasn’t accepted to any of the service academies. Obviously we we’re quite incorrect.
My high school counselor had no input into what college(s) I should attend and I hadn’t really had much contact with her aside from requesting transcripts and recommendations.
Also I currently reside in Maryland.
On another note, I applied and was accepted/received an AFROTC scholarship and planned to use it for UMD, but now I have no college to use it on.
I’m sorry it happened. It has to stink to be in this position. But you are not alone and it’s not over yet. Folks here can help.
Can you check on other University of Maryland locations? Are any of them still taking applications? U of M Eastern Shore is, but that is a historically black college which may or may not be your thing.
Correction I had a 1290 SAT score. However that does not make much a difference.
What county do you live in in Maryland? Check your community college. Most have formal articulation agreements with UMD for at least some majors, for eveything else, you can verify the transferability of coursework with ARTSYS.
One question to ask the AFROTC program, is if you can participate in that at UMD while enrolled as a student elsewhere. Sometimes that is possible. If so, you could enroll at PGCC, or any of the other MD CCs that are in commuting distance of UMD.
Coppin State is still on the list for MD in state. You may want so see who is still taking apps after May 1.
Here is a list of U.S. colleges with rolling admissions: http://listafterlist.com/colleges-with-rolling-admissions/ .
I hope this helps.
Happymomof1, I live in Prince George’s County. And on the topic of CCs, how exactly do CCs work? You mentioned PGCC, is it a two-year college? Say that I attend PGCC for a year as well as participate in UMD ROTC, is it possible to then transfer to UMD the following year? In that case, will I be in second year ROTC?
I bet you could still get Norwich University to consider an application from you.
Montgomery Co. CC is another option, too.
It looks like you go to CP for the ROTC part, but go to what they refer to as a crosstown college. PGCC has an articulation agreement with UMD CP which you can view here: https://www.pgcc.edu/uploadedFiles/Pages/Programs_and_Courses/Academic_Affairs/Articulation%20UMCP%202009.pdf
Schools with cadet programs would be most like a military academy. Norwich is rolling admissions. See if you could transfer your ROTC scholarship there.
What about TAMU Corps of cadets?
Massachusetts Maritime academy?