<p>I am the first person in my family to attend college, so I am at a loss as to how it all works. But I have been wanting to go to college since elementary school, so began (in a sense) preparing for it back then. I won first place in a speech contest, was honor roll, and a conflict manager in elementary school. In junior high, I continued being a conflict manager and still took honor classes. In high school, I was in mostly honors classes, the vice president of Key Club, the activities coordinator for Jazz Choir, in speech and debate, did several plays, volunteered at The Boys’ & Girls’ Club, did Aids walks, Susan G. Cohen Breast Cancer walks, Children’s Hospital of Orange County walks, volunteered regularly at Children’s Hospital of Orange County, tutored classmates, and multiple other volunteer projects. I moved out at 16 and changed high schools. I started at the community college while I was still in high school, and I worked 25-40 hours a week. All the while I got a 4.0 GPA and was valedictorian. But after graduating high school, it took 5 years to get back into college. Since being back in college, my GPA is 3.7 while working full-time, I have multiple professor recommendations, and I still do some volunteer work. But even with all that, I have a few problems I am discovering…</p>
<li><p>My counselor in high school told me I did not need to take the SAT or ACT since I planned on starting at a community college, so I didn’t bother taking them. As it turns out, most of the schools I am interested in require those scores for consideration.</p></li>
<li><p>I currently work full-time and attend school mixed full and part-time. I have 3 classes left to transfer, but I can’t get my work to change my shift so I can take them. I have to stay there because I just had surgery, and will be having another one soon, so I need the medical insurance in the mean time.</p></li>
<li><p>The more I research about the schools I am interested in (e.g., Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, etc), the more I feel I don’t have a shot at it. And if I do, how do I even begin to go about getting in? </p></li>
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<p>What can I do to get myself a shot at getting in to one of these schools? Any thoughts?</p>
<p>Fist you have to be realistic about your chances, because even people with 4.0s and 2400s get rejected. But if I were you I would start by taking the SAT.</p>
<p>Harvard is not accepting transfer students for the next two years. Since you’re in California, one of the UCs or CSUs may be your best bet. Take a look at the sub-forum for UC transfers and read their website to find out what tests you have to take. If you need to take the SAT, go to that forum on CC, and find the summary of the Xiggi method for studying that I posted on the sticky thread with that title.</p>
<p>1. My counselor in high school told me I did not need to take the SAT or ACT since I planned on starting at a community college, so I didn’t bother taking them. As it turns out, most of the schools I am interested in require those scores for consideration.</p>
<p>Naw. If you’ve been out for more than five years and never took them in the first place, schools really don’t care either way. I’m under the impression you’re 22-23? I wouldn’t worry about it. Contact the individual schools to look into this. Explain your situation like you did above and I doubt they’ll care. Considering you are in the California system, it is to your advantage to apply to California based schools (UCI, UCD, UCSD, UCLA, UCB, etc.). PLEASE CONTACT EACH SCHOOL INDIVIDUALLY!</p>
<p>2. I currently work full-time and attend school mixed full and part-time. I have 3 classes left to transfer, but I can’t get my work to change my shift so I can take them. I have to stay there because I just had surgery, and will be having another one soon, so I need the medical insurance in the mean time.
Consider public aide? I know Republicans won’t approve of this (but they should die anyways). I’m not too knowledgeable about Medicare and Medicaid and all that…but is it possible you can take these classes over the summer? The schools in Cali, if I recall correctly, REQUIRE (strictly) that you have those 60 hours and what not. A bunch of kids apply with less than 60 hours and they just wasted their cash away. How about public hospitals? They can’t deny you. And your education should come first. </p>
<p>3. The more I research about the schools I am interested in (e.g., Harvard, Stanford, UCLA, etc), the more I feel I don’t have a shot at it. And if I do, how do I even begin to go about getting in?
Set aside some time and sit down with a counselor at your current school. Tell them of your desires and they should help you. Then check out the individual websites for each school. Don’t be afraid to ask us either. It usually works out very nicely and smoothly in the end.</p>
<p>What can I do to get myself a shot at getting in to one of these schools? Any thoughts?
Valedictorian? Crazy work hours? Medical problems? High GPA and great recommendations? Just breathe. You’ll get into something highly respectable.</p>
<p>I appreciate the encouragement! Though the only down-side is I did contact one of my top choices for school (Stanford) about the lack of SAT/ACT scores, and they require them for both freshmen and transfers. Almost all of the Ivy League schools do. Though I hope to have a shot at UCLA since they don’t require those scores. </p>
<p>I figure worst-case scenario I will go to a local school and finish my undergrad, and then try to get into my top choices for grad school. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the encouragement. I think the whole process is so overwhelming, hence the state of panic. =)</p>
<p>Oh- and as for the requirements for UC’s, you are right on. They require the full 60 even for consideration. What I have found funny is that private schools (like USC, Stanford, and Biola) care about the SAT/ACT while the public institutions care about the credits you have. Go figure.</p>