<p>Hello everyone. Before you read my post, I would like to state that I would sincerely appreciate your assistance rather than criticism. I know where and why I fell short, and would prefer if it were not overstated or mocked. </p>
<p>Recently my younger brother, who is a currently high school senior, was accepted to nearby Ramapo College under their E.O.F. program. The New Jersey E.O.F. program financially assists successful high school students whose parents make under a particular income level. This is done by paying for the student’s first year tuition including room-and-board. If the student showcases academic success, they have the opportunity to receive the same treatment the following year. Similar programs are available for transfer and adult students. I feel as though I may be capable of receiving the same benefit and would appreciate your advice in terms of how I should go about it.</p>
<p>I am a twenty-two year old male. I graduated high school in 2008. I was an excellent student. I was enrolled in a number of A.P. courses, and overall, I completed much more advanced courses than my brother. I even participated in a program where I was able to take college courses from Farleigh Dickinson University while still in high school, which I successfully completed with B+ scores. Additionally, I have worked since I was fourteen. During my senior year in high school I was enrolled in a program where I received credits if I was able to score well while continuing my employment. This lead to me graduating with 135 credits, rather than the 120 credits a majority of high school students tend to graduate with by default. </p>
<p>I had always planned on attending college out-of-state. My mother and father did nearly everything in their power, including worsening my self-esteem which had already been shattered by the long-term bullying of my peers, to keep me home. I decided that since I would not be able to study at the college I had desired, that I would take a year off to reevaluate my options. Ironically, my mother and father demanded that I enroll in a local educational institution immediately after graduation, as if I was not in school I would not be covered under my family’s insurance plan. I took out a loan and attended Full Sail University online for approximately six months. I attempted to transfer to Bergen Community College where none of my credits were accepted, as Full Sail is a “trade school.” I used the couple thousand dollars I had saved up, in addition to two grants I received, to fund and pass twenty-four credits worth of courses. Nevertheless, there were a couple of courses of which I failed, plummeting my GPA to a 1.89. I attributed this to the aforesaid issues and I have not attended Bergen Community College, or any educational institution, since late 2010.</p>
<p>Today I am struggling to pay back an 11k Sallie Mae loan for Full Sail University, a trade school which I was forced to attend. Furthermore, I am unable to transfer to a four-year university due to my Bergen Community College GPA, despite having succeeded in passing twenty-four credits. The recent success of my brother has invigorated me to want to reignite the academic success and opportunities I had available to me while in high school. Nevertheless, I realize that I have to start all over, and would appreciate your suggestions in terms of the routes I should take. I have been under the impression that it would be best to take the SATs and ACTs later this year, twice each. Afterwards, I figured I may apply to a four-year college as a freshman with my excellent high school and standardized tests transcripts. On the other hand, I may enroll in courses at the County College of Morris. After completing nearly a dozen courses, I may apply as a transfer student to a four-year college.</p>
<p>I would like to emphasize that I am not a slacker by any stretch of the imagination. My academic success in high school appeared to have come naturally. I rarely studied for tests and never tried too hard to get to where I was able to go scholastically; in light of the physical and verbal harassment I endured daily. Moreover, despite the iron fist of my parents, I remained driven. During my late teens I worked as a commercial/print model for a brief period of time. For almost three years, I have worked as a free-lance writer [now free-lance editor] for two popular New Jersey publications. Additionally, for the past year I have worked as an on-air radio personality at a local FM station. While I do not yet receive pay at the radio station, my career goal is to work as a salaried on-air talent within a large market. I worked above and beyond to get this close to my career goal notwithstanding having, at least temporarily, the dream of attending a traditional university ripped out from under me. I have built up an excellent reputation and have acquired admirable references for the types of jobs I am hoping to advance into. Last year, I was actually the talent director for a Manhattan charity benefit which featured famed DJs and notable reality television personalities. Nonetheless, I sit here vulnerable and dejected, hoping that I somehow ascertain the guidance necessary to finally enable me to fill the void of not having a four-year degree.</p>