<p>When I was in high school, i slacked off a little bit and ended up graduating with a 3.3 GPA. I decided to attend Grand Rapids Community College to figure out what I wanted to go into and also to build a better academic resume. I started taking classes in the Fall or 2005 as a full time student, and continued this for four years up until the Winter of 2009. I took a wide array of courses, such as:</p>
<p>Calculus I through III,
Linear Algebra with Differential Equations,
Statistics,
Honors Chemistry I and II,
Organic Chemistry I and II,<br>
several psychology courses,
US History I and II,
Calculus-based Physics I and II,
Spanish I through IV</p>
<p>My cumulative GPA ended up as a 3.877, and the only regret I have in regards to grades were B’s in Calc Phyics II and Linear Algebra with Differential Equations (fell behind early in these but finished strong). I obtained an Associates in Science: Pre-Medical in May of 2008. </p>
<p>I had very few EC’s, but did have membership in the Computer Club, Phi Theta Kappa, Laboratory Research Scholarship Projects in Chemistry and Organic Chemistry, and a semester of tutoring. I also developed a strong connection with my Organic Chemistry professor, and she has allowed me to use her for job references and offered to write letters of recommendation.</p>
<p>So I decided to take a year off after getting out of school in May 2009 (104 credits, 117 with AP) with the intention of working and doing volunteering before transferring, but went through some family and personal difficulties. Over the past year I have not really done anything meaningful in the eyes of the college admission board. I worked some odd-jobs with friends like mowing lawns and cleaning out foreclosed houses, but did not obtain employment because I was holding out for a somewhat decent job in the medical or science fields. </p>
<p>So now its nearing September of 2010, and I really feel like a loser for letting the time slip away like this and not having anything to show for it. To compound the situation, I have a misdemeanor charge on my criminal record for Minor In Possession of Alcohol (August 2006). I feel like I have truly wasted my life up until this point because I have never really been challenged in school and yet I am going nowhere fast as a result of poor decisions and indecisiveness. </p>
<p>For a while, I was very depressed over my situation but now I am looking to better myself and continue my education. I want to transfer to the University Of Michigan because it is the dream school in my state and I know I am capable of the coursework. However, I do not know if I can gain admission to this college because of the fact that I have a MIP on my record (which truly haunts me but I have learned a life lesson) and the fact that my EC’s are bare. In addition, there would be a two year gap in my academic history if I applied for the fall of 2011. </p>
<p>All I really have going is a good GPA and a professor who would write an excellent letter of recommendation. I am considering taking an additional year off to be completely focused on bettering my application by doing 20-40 hours a week of volunteering, obtaining a full time (probably minimum wage) job, possibly getting my MIP expunged (in Aug 2011), taking additional classes at the community college part-time (biology/anatomy as possibilities), and anything else that would help. I regret so much about my past but I accept responsibility for my actions and now look to create a future. </p>
<p>Can anyone offer advice as to my chances of being accepted into UofM either in the Fall 2011 or 2012? Also, any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I apologize for the long post but I am sincerely trying to turn my life around and become a better person with a bright career outlook.</p>