<p>So basically, here it is. I am a 17-year old Caucasian male. I live in northern New Jersey, about 15 min. away from New York City. Though my grades are very good this year (3.7 GPA), they were horrendous my Freshman and Sophomore year of High School. (2.5-2.8 GPA). My first question is this: Do admissions officers ever take into account a large margin of improvement such as that one? I have not taken the SATs yet, but I am planning to get at least an 1800. However, despite my questionable grades, I do partake actively in many extra-curriculars. I am a part of my school’s theatre company, along with two other theatre companies which are not affiliated with my school. One is a professional acting studio which I will work as a counselor at for a few weeks next summer. (I feel as if that will look good at a liberal arts school.) I am also part of LMTI (The Lindsay Meyer Teen Institute), which is a club that supports positive change and thinking within the school and community. I also will be attending an LMTI camp this summer, which is a selective leadership conference. (I feel as if this, too, will look very nice on an application.) I spent the past 6 summers at YMCA Camp Belknap, which is a boys summer camp which has a highly prestigious leadership training program. I currently am employed as a stock-boy at my local pharmacy. (Will this count for anything? I am getting real-world experiences in the work force.) I also write for my school’s newspaper, and I plan to become the editor-in-chief next year. I actively write fiction, as well, and my poetry has been published for the last 2 years in the school’s literary magazine. I am in my school’s concert choir, and next year I will be taking choir as an honors course. Next year, I will be taking an AP Government course, an AP English Course, and an AP Environmental Science course. I also played hockey my Freshman year, if that counts for anything. </p>
<p>I would really really love to pursue a career as either a journalist, an English teacher, a fiction writer (of poetry, short stories, plays and novels), or an actor. (Although I do realize that the latter two are incredibly competitive industries, and I essentially have no shot of finding a career in those fields.)</p>
<p>Of all the schools I’ve looked into (I haven’t visited any yet), Marist College in Poughkeepsie, NY, seems to be the best option for me.</p>
<p>Do you think I could be accepted to Marist? If not, which schools could I be accepted to, and which schools would fit in well with my interests?</p>
<p>Oh, and I forgot to mention that I’m currently a Junior at one of the top 5 Public High Schools in New Jersey. I’m not sure if that holds any merit.</p>
What this says to me is, until recently, you prioritized ECs over academics. Colleges do like improvements in grades but they prefer grades that are consistently good.</p>
<p>Look into Sarah Lawrence College, it sounds like a perfect fit for you. The matter of grades may be offset by the fact you’re male and if you have excellent writing skills.</p>
<p>You sound perfect for Knox College in Illinois. It’s not in the northeast but it’s such a great fit for you I think, it’s definitely worth looking at. Two areas they are known for is creative writing and public service, they even have a minor in community service. They also have a very decent theatre program. I could go on but you should check it out yourself.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice everybody! I am looking into Hendrix, Washington & Jefferson, Sarah Lawrence, and Knox College. Will post opinions here soon.</p>
<p>Pringus - Check out Lake Forest just outside of Chicago. I hear they have a fantastic theater department. Also check out Depaul. Big dividends could be the result if you’d be willing to look outside of the Northeast.</p>
<p>Hello, sorry it took so long, but I have formed opinions on all of your suggestions!</p>
<p>I am very interested in both Quinnipiac and Scranton, although I think that both of those schools would be “reaches” for me. I am going to visit both this spring. Siena doesn’t particular interest me, although I am still considering it. </p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence sounds very very interesting to me. I seems to me like a good (though not widely known of) school, which is very small and has an atmosphere mostly consisting of intelligent, clever, eloquent people. I am most certainly going to visit there soon. </p>
<p>Neither Washington & Jefferson nor Hendrix particularly interest me, to be completely honest. Thank you for the suggestion, though!</p>
<p>@mom2collegekids I believe our priority is to apply to schools and see where I get in, and then base my final decision on factors such as how much they’d be willing to pay. As far as I know, however, money is not going to be too much of a restricting factor. </p>
<p>To those who suggested the schools in Illinois-- Knox College, Lake Forest, Depaul-- I am actually interested in all three of these schools. They all seem to be very good schools with constructive learning environments. However, before I form my opinion on them, I must ask: Is there any particular reason why searching for schools farther out west such as these would earn me scholarships?</p>
<p>Sarah Lawrence is very well-known amongst “intellectuals” and arty types. They may be reaches, but if you can spin your poor grades into a narrative of self-enlightenment and growth, they may not work against you.</p>
<p>I would also consider Ithaca College and even Cornell. Bard might be good. </p>
<p>One of the best things you will find on campus is a culture that is stimulating and artistic. I would consider Scranton and Quinnipiac rather a snooze in those categories.</p>
<p>Pringus: applying 400+miles from home gives you a boost since you bring “geographical diversity”. Most college students apply within a 400-500 mile radius so colleges that want to build/keep their national reputation often give a boost to your application (ie., your GPA would be viewed more favorably) and they would offer preferential financial aid packages to you all other things being equal (e.g., for the same stats as yours, someone from Illinois would not get as much in grants, for example).</p>
<p>Try hard to get an 1800+ on the SAT and consider Emory’s Oxford College. They’re more open to people who had less consistent performance at the beginner of their career. For your first two years, your English classes will be small courses taught by tenure-track professors focused on teaching. At the Atlanta campus, we have fabulous English/Creative Writing programs–and even the current U.S. Poet Laureate (though we have discontinued our journalism program). Atlanta is also a great city for your interests.</p>
<p>Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.</p>
<p>@MYOS1634 Oh, okay, I see. Unfortunately, it would be a hassle for me both to visit those schools, and to come home and visit for the holidays. However, I will have a discussion with my parents about that.</p>
<p>@Everybody Else::: Sarah Lawrence really sounds awesome. I’m definitely going to look there as soon as I get the chance. I could never get into Cornell, but Ithaca college and Bard both sound very interesting. I am considering them. I am disappointed to hear that Quinnipiac and Scranton are a “snooze” in terms of creativity. However, I’m still going to check them out and see how I like them.</p>
<p>@aigiqinf Emory, from what I’ve heard, is considered to be the single greatest school in the United States for writers. I would love to pursue my passion and become a writer of both fictional prose and poetry, and attending Emory would be a dream come true. However, I have abstained from thinking about it too much because I’d assumed that I wouldn’t be able to be accepted. But, if you think that I would be able to, that would be amazing.</p>