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College Application Anxieties

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C

Chipopo

Banned
I've kept my hands firmly planted over my eyes and ears for the past year or so, pretending that this point in time would never come.

I have some SERIOUS SERIOUS aversions to this process because I'm not proud of my grades. Freshman year I cut classes with vigor, and managed to fail three courses. This is partly because of my parents divorce, but mostly because I'm a lazy SOB and prior to that year I was never really asked to work for my grades. The three years of highschool that followed was a mad dash to make up for my fuck up, which I did, but not as well as I would like.

SAT scores aren't bad. I got a 710 on the writing and 660 on the math. My transcript average is an 82, without freshman year it's an 88. My extracurriculurs aren't much to speak of. A couple years in the Environmental Club and lots of time on the GAF. I have excellent recommendations, which probably means very little all things considered.

So I'm focusing my energy on small liberal artsy colleges given my slant towards writing and literature. Hope things work out.

Anyone else having similiar anxieties at the moment? I can't be the only highschool senior here.
 
T

tehrik-e-insaaf

Member
It would be a good idea to write a supplementary essay indicating how your parents' divorce impacted your first year. Combine that with an explanation of the great progress you made and I don't think you should have any trouble.

I am assuming you got a 1370 on the SAT - which is a very good score. Try to take a couple of SAT II exams and then apply to whatever schools you would like to go to. I think you have a great shot.

PM me if you need any help with your essays or anything of the sort.
 
R

RevenantKioku

PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS PEINS oh god i am drowning in them
^^^ Believe that news. Trust me, they just want your money.
 
C

Chipopo

Banned
These are the colleges I'm applying to, anything sound familiar?

- Hamilton
- Bard
- Skidmore
- McGil (Leaving country for Canadaomg traitor!)
- Ithica (not a top choice...but I have 3 generations of legacy there)
- Hampshire
- Boston University
- University of Chicago
 
F

fugimax

Member
Worst case you do what I did:

1. Decent grades in high school (~3.6)
2. Bombed the SAT (1310)
3. Didn't get into my top choice
4. 4.0'ed my freshman year at a decent college
5. Transfered to my top choice

And now I pwn Carnegie Mellon. ;) Or they own me...being that I shovel money into their coffers.
 
F

fugimax

Member
1310 is "boming" the SATs?
Click to expand...
For those of us wanting to go to the top schools in the country, yes, it's definitely bombing. I know way too many people with 1580-1600s and even more with 1450+. I am definitely in the lower-half of scores here @ CMU.
 
N

N Coward Parody

Member
I'm currently applying for my MFA in Playwriting at 5 schools.

This means I'm scrounging together study time for my early December GRE, cleaning up the two full-length plays I'm submitting (one of which I completed two weeks ago), and scribing a snazzy personal statement.

Stressful as all get up. The irony being that since I'm going head-first into a creative field, it will take oh many, many years to pay for any of these schools. Well, luckily, many of them offer full scholarships to talented young playwrights... Otherwise, it would mean selling my soul to THUH TEEVEE or THUH MOOVEES and making some cash there.

So, I feel ya, man...


*Noel Coward Parody
 
C

Chipopo

Banned
fugimax, that's an option that I keep forgetting. Thanks guys.

edit: N Coward, I'm fortunate enough to have my parents helping me tremendously (although not entirely) with tuition. Reading your post is one of those "Oh wait, there are some things I still have pretty good" moments. Good luck.
 
S

SD-Ness

Member
fugimax said:
Worst case you do what I did:

1. Decent grades in high school (~3.6)
2. Bombed the SAT (1310)
3. Didn't get into my top choice
4. 4.0'ed my freshman year at a decent college
5. Transfered to my top choice

And now I pwn Carnegie Mellon. ;) Or they own me...being that I shovel money into their coffers.
Click to expand...
You have given me hope!
 
C

Chipopo

Banned
:lol, I was on my way to the refrigerator and it struck me; "I didn't say something really offensive just then, did I?"




Then I polished off a package of balogney and assumed you would take it the way I intended. Whoops.
 
N

N Coward Parody

Member
Then I polished off a package of balogney and assumed you would take it the way I intended. Whoops.
Click to expand...
Don't sweat it. The image of someone "polishing off a package of balogney" like a hog to a troff somehow emboldens my sense of self.

HOW THE HELL DO YOU QUAFF AN ENTIRE PACKAGE OF BOLOGNA?! Yeesh.


*Noel Coward Parody
 
M

Matlock

Banned
What the shit? I graduated with:

GPA of Pi
ACT of 27 (never took SAT)
And still had my first two semesters paid off via scholarship to Kent State. :p
 
F

fugimax

Member
Other tips:

1. You need a kick-ass essay that isn't suck up, but really expresses your will to be at that particular school and why you think you deserve to be there.

2. Interview in-person if you can. Interviews are a great way for you to learn about the school as well as give a good impression of yourself and your personality.

If you're only looking at going to local/community/state colleges, you shouldn't have a problem with those numbers you posted. Especially since you'd be in the Humanities school, which traditionally has lower GPA/SAT than the science schools at a college.
 
C

ConfusingJazz

Member
<- goes to the 15th ranked university IN THE WORLD! with a 1330. (according to The London Times at least)

Univesity of Texas at Austin, yes we really are that good.
 
C

Chony

Member
I bombed the SATs like no other, 1190. I had a 3.4 gpa, got 3's across the board on AP tests, never did homework, and got into my first and only college I applied to; University of Washington. Granted it's pretty easy to get into anyways, I still feel proud of my dumbass self.
 
F

fart

Savant
i don't want to depress you or anything but you should just kill yourself now and get it over with chip
 
W

Winged Creature

Member
My F*cking Grandpa said:
These are the colleges I'm applying to, anything sound familiar?

- Hamilton
- Bard
- Skidmore
- McGil (Leaving country for Canadaomg traitor!)
- Ithica (not a top choice...but I have 3 generations of legacy there)
- Hampshire
- Boston University
- University of Chicago
Click to expand...

Isnt Hamilton that online University?? Apparently its a scam according to 60 minutes
 
N

NotMSRP

Member
I guess it's late now but for those who will eventually be in the college process stage should take college classes at your local colleges. All the applications that colleges receive are the "same": near 4.0s, high SAT/ACT, tons of ex-activities, good letter recommendations, etc. Show them some real college performance instead of "college potential" based upon easycake high school performance. I bet there's not a lot of applications where a high school student is already in college. You also might kill off some of the required classes when you officially arrive on campus, which this method is even better than the AP method.
 
S

Sirpopopop

Member
Heh, I never knew that Skidmore was a co-ed college. Since all the people I know who go there are chicks, I just thought it was a Seven Sister I never heard of.

Regarding your SAT Score: I know someone who got into Amherst on a 1290. Of course... she had some tremendous extras and had to struggle through some excruciatingly trying circumstances. But, I think a 1310 is fine enough for the places you are applying to. I definitely know you'll get into Ithaca with ease.

Edit: UChicago will be tough to get into.
 
C

Chipopo

Banned
Not a tremendous distinction but I got a 1370. I know U. of Chicago is probably my biggest reach, however, my english teacher is an alumni there and is writing my reccomendation. He said I was the smartest kid he's teaching this year, and he told me there's no harm in me trying. I agreed.

...And hey look at that it's 11:30! Haha, oh how I love you GAF. Lovelovelovelovelove.
 
J

Jim Bowie

Member
Chony said:
I bombed the SATs like no other, 1190. I had a 3.4 gpa, got 3's across the board on AP tests, never did homework, and got into my first and only college I applied to; University of Washington. Granted it's pretty easy to get into anyways, I still feel proud of my dumbass self.
Click to expand...

I'm nearly exactly like Chony! Bachelors!

Also, if you're thinking about going to Canada for schools, make sure that you have 10K in the bank, because you need to show a bank statement showing that you can pay for expenses up there.. which is why I can't go to UBC! *sob*
 
M

Malleymal

You now belong to FMT.
My friend went to Bard... I didnt know it was a Ivy league type school... and I am the assistant director of Admissions at a school in Jersey and if you have any questions I can probably help
 
C

cvxfreak

Member
I was REALLY nervous I wouldn't get into San Francisco State University, but two days ago, I found out I got in through the computer (somehow my admittance letter got lost). Talk about a relaxing moment.
 
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