Curse

One and Two · Sep 27, 2005, 06:10 AM // 06:10

I just want some advice as to what you did your senior year in prep for all those college apps and whatever. Where did you apply/go, what suggestions do you have, ect.

What was important that you didnt expect? What was not important that you thought would be?

Any feedback = cool.

Aracos79 · Sep 27, 2005, 06:14 AM // 06:14

Apply for ANYTHING that you might even be remotely interested in. The big thing about finding schools or money for school is to throw as much mud on the wall as you can. Some of it will stick, and the more you toss, the better your chances. Pick 3 or 4 schools that you REALLY want to go to... fill out their apps and apply for ANY financial aid they offer. Go to your school counselor and scour their scholarship files for anything you might qualify for.

Most importantly... make sure you're going someplace you want to go and that you're studying what you want to study. Getting a full ride to Harvard law will mean SQUAT if you'd rather be at the hometown college getting a degree in music. You'll be absolutely miserable if you aren't doing what you want to be doing, and all that time and money will go to waste.

Hope that helps, and good luck.

Avari Zi · Sep 27, 2005, 06:15 AM // 06:15

Do everything early, waiting will kill you in the long run. Sign-up for any and ALL scholarships you are qualified for. Every penny counts. Take SAT early, so if you do not as good as you wanted you can take it again. Also, I hope you are taking AP classes, I took alot of those for I could take the exams and op out of some college courses.

Edge Martinez · Sep 27, 2005, 06:19 AM // 06:19

All good advice. Also, if you need to get your grades up or take more prepatory classes, don't be afraid to mooch off mom and dad for another year or two and check out your local community colleges. Often times this can save you cash over doing all classes at a big school, especially if you have to foot your own bill (like I did).

One and Two · Sep 27, 2005, 06:28 AM // 06:28

Maybe you guys could point out some colleges, as well.

1500/2200 SAT scores
3.6/4.1 GPA
Taking 3 AP
Last year: 4 AP's (4, 4, 4, 3)
National Merit Semi-finalist
Sports: Wrestling, Varsity Track
Community Service Hours: ~500 hours?

Alone) · Sep 27, 2005, 06:36 AM // 06:36

I failed high school. Why? I was going against what I believed in education. Yes, that was stupid. But without knowing it, I was trying to prove my teachers and family that I could be someone who can change the world, without the grades. I proved myself right, but failed.

Anyways. My SAT, before it changed, was a 1495, GPA dropped from a 4.0 to a 1.9.

I suggest going to a community college. Many might disagree, but I believe it to be wise.

Why? Well, why pay for general education credits for more, when you can pay for less at a community. Books cost less, credits cost less, less less less. You have a variety of people to meet there from different age groups, meaning different opinions, leading to a well-rounded person you can become.

Downsides? Still got immature people around. Facilities aren't as great. Many community colleges are full, etc.

Right now I'm working on becoming a music major, going to minor in accounting.

I REALLY suggest not leading anywhere to business right now. Why? 1/3 of the majors at a friends graduation were business majors. How are you going to find good work?

Going off topic. Back to high school:

1. Join clubs.
2. Work your butt off, hopefully you took pre-SAT classes for the SAT.
3. Take SAT II's and ACT's.
4. AP classes = great.
5. APPLY TO AS MANY SCHOLARSHIPS AS YOU CAN. And as many colleges. It's worth the work. You have more doors open to your future.

Just because I didn't graduate on time, doesn't mean I don't know anything.

--- repping the class of 05' and a half.

Enigmatics · Sep 27, 2005, 11:29 AM // 11:29

Seniors keep saying "get involved" to me.
If you want to get in the Ivy League, you'd better be ready for purposeful racism, and you'll need a crapload of extra cirricular/community service hours.

Jessy · Sep 27, 2005, 11:35 AM // 11:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by One and Two

... Community Service Hours: ~500 hours? ...

The details should have been spelled out during your sentencing ...

(Ok, so I know it's actually volunteering)

Divinitys Creature · Sep 27, 2005, 01:10 PM // 13:10

Do something you enjoy doing or are phenomenally good at. Doing something that you don't like and for the wrong reasons prolly leads to failure. So make sure you know why your going because that will get you through the tough times. Also get work experience and doing a year of it in an overseas university is fun and looks good on your record.

Manderlock · Sep 27, 2005, 01:13 PM // 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Divinitys Creature

Do something you enjoy doing or are phenomenally good at. Doing something that you don't like and for the wrong reasons prolly leads to failure. So make sure you know why your going because that will get you through the tough times. Also get work experience and doing a year of it in an overseas university is fun and looks good on your record.

Well that would have been good to know.

Hemiipowered · Sep 27, 2005, 02:22 PM // 14:22

2 words.....community service....colleges eat it alive.....the more u get....the less of the other stuff they look at....they figure if your gonna be involved at the college then itll look good on there part.....try to get at least 50 hours in....just volunteer for somethin that ur interested in and it might even be somethin u might wanna get into

chris_nin00 · Sep 27, 2005, 07:34 PM // 19:34

Three things...
Community service
Sports(athletics)
Academics

Work your ass off in all of them and you will own.

MSecorsky · Sep 27, 2005, 07:44 PM // 19:44

I happen to work in Admissions at a west coast university... (programmer).. keep in mind that many schools (we do here) require you to take the SAT subject tests (here you need two minimum from different categories) in addition to the SAT Reasoning test (or ACT). If you take a subject test and do poorly, take another... the top two scores will be used (again, check with each universities requirements).

Senior year is also late to register... you need to have your applications in in your junior year.

ethornber · Sep 27, 2005, 07:52 PM // 19:52

Around here, if you have two years or more of community college, the universities don't even look at your high school records. Plus, most public universities these days coordinate their curricula with the community colleges for ease of transfer. And when you're dealing with freshman level classes, you're not going to learn anything at a big school that you can't learn at a community college for half the price.

ninjascience · Sep 27, 2005, 09:41 PM // 21:41

My advice is don't rush off to college if you don't have a clear idea of what you want to do. I did that and the only thing my college education did for me was allow me to put that on my resume. I spent a lot of time AFTER college pursing what I realized what I really wanted to do and I could have saved myself a lot of pain if I had waited a little bit and applied myself in college to something I enjoyed. Don't be afraid to get out in the world and get a job. Go overseas (if you can), join the peacecorps, whatever.

If you do know what you really want to do and are really passionate about it, then go for it. Get into a school that can offer that to you.

chris_nin00 · Sep 27, 2005, 09:41 PM // 21:41

You are new!!!

WELELELLCOmcmmememMEMEe MENININTJAAA!!!!!

zehly · Sep 27, 2005, 09:44 PM // 21:44

Hehe, I know nothing about admissions.. they just took my ass there and said, "here Lain, play with these" hehe. However, from what I've been told, you might have to write an essay, so I would definately throw on your best essay-writing-music ^^ And also, don't be too hard on yourself, and don't think, "Man, I can never get in there." (Unless they require a 1601 on your SAT, then you're screwed.)

One and Two · Sep 28, 2005, 06:12 AM // 06:12

Thanks a lot, guys.

Ive already done a lot of the stuff (at my school, a project from a teacher was to do brag sheet and the three University of California Essays)

Ive been looking into upper tier schools (UCB, UCLA, Vassar)
I think they're a bit of a reach, but I can make some. I know my GPA isnt 5.0 like some of those bastards, but I do have the advantage of sports, community service, SAT scores and....National Merit.

Msecorsky...what college do you work at? (nudge nudge, wink wink)

ALSO

What do you guys feel about Early decision/Early action?

sybban · Sep 28, 2005, 06:58 AM // 06:58

Go to Subway University

Divinitys Creature · Sep 28, 2005, 11:05 PM // 23:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Manderlock

Well that would have been good to know.

Heh wish someone told me too

Making friends with profs in the department you want to join is good too