Would it be the worst thing in the world if I waited a year?

Applying to College
1

<p>Here’s the whole spiel. In elementary school I was always called a genius/had a high reputation for academics. People really respected me and I got away with not doing any work. I was passive/never thought about my own enjoyment and what I wanted/goals.</p>

<p>In 7th grade, my lack of work ethic hit me hard. I did terrible the first quarter and my parent’s were incredibly disappointed in me. They said stuff like “you’ll go and work in McDonald’s”, “don’t even show your face”. I lost confidence (not that much, just a little. friend’s still thought I was smart, I remember a friend who had a 4.0 actually said when I was in the room: "i’m not the smartest guy here, so and so (me) is). I still had a standing reputation for being smart.</p>

<p>In 8th-9th grade, my dad has us relocated to India. In 8th grade, I hated it atrociously. The Indian kids were downright mean to me. I eventually build a solid friend circle (one of the advantages to moving there), but I still was made fun of (even by friends). They called me stupid, short (puberty hit me late), fat, and basically caused me a lot of grief. I did manage to do very well by the end. 9th grade was decent.</p>

<p>When I came back to the States for 10th grade, my 9th grade grades were incorrectly converted. I started off 10th grade by, for a change, doing well and a 4.0. For the first time ever, my parents did not really care at all. They just expected it. Second semester, I got distracted and did poorly (2.7). At the end of first semester, my cumulative GPA was 3.1 and I realized that my Indian grades, despite doing really well, were only 2.7 and the pressure was up for me to get straight A’s for the rest of my life (by my parents of course). That summer was the worst ever, because I went through mood swings, parents yelled at me in disappointed, no social life (i basically had no friends after coming back to the States. All my past friends had already formed their close circles).</p>

<p>11th grade was when I had the potential to do better. However, I had no confidence in myself, I was completely passive and all I thought for my future was what my parents would tell me (go into computer science). I took this three-credit comp sci course at a local college (not running start, it gave me no college credit) under the influence of my cousin in my same grade (he was also in that class) and my father and it really crushed me. I initially did okay academically. I didn’t understand the subject, but it was easy enough for me to do well. I knew then that I hated it, I just assumed I would eventually like it because that was what I thought I was good at (my dad is a computer scientist, all his and my mom’s friends are the same). Second semester I started doing running start and stupidly dropped the high school classes as opposed to this one. That’s when everything went to hell.</p>

<p>Basically, the people in the comp sci class were cruel to me. I sucked at/hated the subject and they wouldn’t let me forget how bad I was at it. It made me feel as though I sucked at life/depressed/low self-esteem. My running start classes I started off doing decent, but at the end (amidst all the depression and terrible performance in the comp sci class) my teacher had great remarks to say about my final english essay which I worked really hard on knowing it was my last chance. I ended up with a 3.0 that quarter for BC (Bellevue College) classes, and barely passed that horrible comp sci course with a 1.7. That summer I had just enough confidence/sense of self that I really sat down and decided my future. I decided I wanted to go into screenwriting (now I am certain that’s what I’m good at and what I have always enjoyed doing) and films. Summer quarter I worked very hard and managed to get a 3.8. I also started working on physical fitness, learning about screenwriting.</p>

<p>This fall I’ve been taking a film literature class and screenwriting course at BC and have a 4.0 (even with 17 credits). I’ve started getting involved with stand-up comedy at my local teen center and I’m even on the youth advisory board for the city’s teen activities. I’m working on a feature-length screenplay that I believe to be very good (been read by a few people, positive reviews). I’ve started learning more about the history of films and now I am certain that this is the career I’m meant for: writing.</p>

<p>That being said, my final gpa for colleges (excluding fall quarter) is only 2.95. I’m even in the bottom half of my high school. I feel as though this does not encompass my true potential (I finally believe myself to be smart and creative). My SAT score the first time was 1980 (in march) (580 reading, 700 other two). The second time (november) I got 2060 (660 reading, 700 other two).</p>

<p>Now here comes the question: should I wait it out another year? If I do, this is what I could accomplish:

  1. Get a higher GPA. I have learned my flaws: lack of confidence, lack of work ethic, disorganization. If I can get A’s for the remainder of my three quarters left at the college, I can get a 3.9. If I do reasonably well, I can still pull off a 3.7-3.8.
  2. Finish my feature-length screenplay, and potentially (this is probably not going to happen) shoot it.
  3. Get more involved with the teen center, keep practicing stand-up, keep building credibility in the community.
  4. Potentially get a job with my associate’s degree (in arts and sciences).
  5. Potentially volunteer/shadow at various locations. I met a playwright in Seattle and he is willing to let me volunteer in his studio. I also have the option of visiting Bollywood and meeting Shyam Benegal (a world-famous director and screenwriter) (he happens to be related to me) and learning from him. I can even volunteer/do internships at local indie film studios. I can even possibly move to LA?
  6. Finish off everything. I mean like build a connection with my parents (they really are good people) so that when I leave, I don’t lose them forever.
  7. Make a Youtube channel and post sketch comedy/stand-up/small movies and get a fanbase.
  8. Possibly retake the SATs. The first time I only practiced a few days before. The second one I just used a different technique for reading (read the questions first) and got 80 points higher. My new strategy would be to learn the vocabulary (I lost points on vocab for reading).
  9. Do NYU’s summer program this upcoming summer (2013).</p>

<p>What do you all think? My main colleges that I’m looking at (in order) are USC, NYU, Wesleyan, and UCLA. These are quite competitive institutions and I don’t think I have visibly proven myself enough yet.</p>

<p>Would it be the worst thing in the world if I waited it out a year?</p>

2

<p>There is nothing whatsoever wrong with taking a gap year (or two or more). You have several interesting options that you can pursue. The break would also give you time to get some help with your depressive tendencies if you want to do that. Along that line, I’d also suggest general screening for learning differences. Straight A grades in elementary school that drop off sharply in middle school practically screams for evaluation for processing issues and inattentive-type ADD.</p>

<p>If you are likely to need Financial aid in college, you probably do not want to take classes for credit after high school graduation because that will mess up your freshman status when you do apply to your 4-year school. Talk with your running start coordinator about it. Get that person’s advice about applying as a transfer with your full AA. Sometimes it is advantageous.</p>

<p>For SAT vocabulary, pick up one of the SAT novels. You will learn those words much more effectively if you see them in context than if you just try to memorize a list.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

3

<p>Yeah thanks for the advice. I’ve asked my parents about ADD, and they’ve said I don’t have it. Maybe I should get screened again. Can these things develop overtime? </p>

<p>Also, I might take classes during summer quarter 2013. I’ve contacted the colleges and they say that transferring is for students who have taken classes from fall quarter/semester onwards, so I’m good there.</p>

<p>Finally, thanks for the wishes! Also, do you happen to know if I can possibly get a decent job with an associate’s degree? Just something that can sustain me in a small one bedroom apartment?</p>

4

<p>Get evaluated. The definition of ADD has changed over the years, and a lot of parents think that you have to be hyperactive to classify. Or they are scared of the thought of their kid being on meds for life. A diagnosis would not require that you start medication. Rather it would give you a chance to start investigation all of the tools at your disposal. You are old enough that you can start the screening process yourself. Talk to your HS guidance counselor to set things up.</p>

<p>Whether you can make enough money with an Associates degree to live independently depends entirely on your local job and housing markets. Those also might be worth discussing with your guidance counsellor.</p>