Question:
I am not really interested in the elite private colleges and I think
that a four-year state unviersity would do just fine. For big
universities, I have not heard of many problems of getting accepted,
but apparently meeting some of the requirements are tricky. For
example, University of Arizona wants the following:
1)A 1040 SAT score or 22 ACT score.
These are no big deal since I have a 1240 SAT and 28 ACT.
2)A 3.0 B GPA throughout highschool.
Actually, I have a 2.4 C+ GPA, so that is a problem. (This GPA is not
counting non-academic courses which make my GPA a B-).
3)Top quarter of your class. I am sure that I am not the top quarter,
but about the middle third.
Also, I have taken advanced classes and am enrolled in an AP for next
year.
I found out that apparently, you only have to meet one of these
requirements, which I did with the tests.
However, then you have to meet "Competency?" requirements. I have
taken more than the minimum requirements for courses, but I have two
deficiencies for GPA in English and History. However, since I am
taking electives in History next year, I am assuming that this
deficiency will disappear. I will still be left with one deficiency in
English however. I do have high marks in math and science, so
hopefully these will benefit me. Based on my SAT score for the Verbal
section (590), I obviously do not have a problem reading or writing,
so I don't see what the problem is for English. So for those of you
who have already been accepted at state unviersities, have you run
into any problems? Or am I just being overly worried? I haven't
started applying yet, but intend to within the next few months.
Answer:
On the GPA, if it REQUIRES a 3.0 and only counts academic subjects then
you will have to go to a Community college most likely (unless you can pull
near straight A's this summer and next fall). Most schools do not count D's
so any of those you will have to retake if they are a required class for
admission. If your GPA error in English was due to a D or F you have to
retake the class UNLESS the state school only requires 3 years of english
then you may not have to retake it , but you WILL have to take English next
year and get a C or better all year. Exactly what does it say? If it
REQUIRES 4 years of English then you will have to take another year
somewhere (take 2 englishes next year). If it says 3 or 4 years then you're
probably okay (with 1 English next year).
Of course, you have another year to show your best. Colleges like to see
grades going up. Make sure your senior first semester grades are included
before any admissions decisions. You might want to go to summer school also.
Everyone we know got into the state schools they wanted to, but then
again most of the kids I know have been college bound since freshman year.
If you are now deciding that you do want to go to college then you should
still have time to put some effort into the process. You've got summer and
fall to correct what you need to. You could take a night english class at
the Community college (or during the summer). I do know a few people who got
a D in their math or english last semester of senior year and had to retake
the classes in the summer at the high school (how depressing) before they
were allowed to register at the states.
Most State schools are geared towards the top one third or so of the
high school (depending on the high school). Community colleges are geared
toward everyone else with people with your 'statistics' usually transferring
into a four year in junior year. California actually has a three tiered
system (UC top 12%, Cal States - top third and community all the rest), but
I don't think many other states do.
Also, CA state schools use a scale where the higher your SAT's the lower
your GPA can be. Since your scores were good, in Calif. you would still be
eligible for all the state schools (IF you met the class requirements).
Check to see if Arizona State does the same thing.
They are strict on the competency requirements, though. You should have
time to fix whatever it is that you are lacking, you just have to want it
bad enough. Byer
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