Friday, April 07, 2006
How Can I Get Into an Elite College?
Dear Guidance Guy
I used to be a great student; what happened?
I would LOVE to get into a great college or university. I mean something like BC, MIT (my dream) a big top of the line school. Well, I'm interested in engineering and architecture. Sophomore year is apparently one colleges really look at. Is that true bcause if so then I am in trouble (I think).
I did pretty well freshman year. I took honors everything and accelerated algebra 2. I got As and a few Bs. But last year I failed my math final (I never studied) and got a C+ last term, but I got a B+ for a final grade for the year. Sophomore year I started off okay, but I hate my chemistry teacher. He has no clue how to teach! Everyone says it. In Latin I slipped completely. I got a 19 on a test (which the whole class failed) and I never got it back up to par. so I'm stuck with a 77.6 and no extra credit possible.
My parents are very dissapointed but I am even more so. My question is do you think I could get into a school like MIT? BU? BC? Next year I'm taking AP JAVA programming, and AP U.S. History and Accelerated Precalculus.Any ideas, tips, advice anything at all? I'm extremely worried that my bad academic year will affect the rest of my life.
Very Worried
*****
Dear Very,
It's possible for you to get into one of the most selective colleges in the country. But you are correct...you did some pretty bad damage to your chances this year. You would be competing with people who didn't slip up and kept their grades consistently high.
You asked for ideas, tips, advice, so I'll give them to you. One of the biggest problems I see is your work habits. Never studying for a math final is not going to help. And blaming the chemistry teacher is going down the wrong road. Everyone in your class has the same teacher...is your grade the same as everyone else's? And "slipping" is one thing, but a 19???
Here's how you can get a shot at an extremely competitive school: First, take complete and total responsiblity for your education. You will be competing against people who didn't slip up at any point. Bringing your grades up to straight A's will be a good start. You'll need a killer essay when you apply to colleges that explains why you messed up sophomore year and what you learned from it.
Second, figure out WHY you want to go to an elite school. Lots of places have engineering and architecture. What's the draw of a highly selective school? For most students, it's ego. In your case that won't be enough to get you in. It won't even be enough to change the habits you have at the moment. And that's OK, because not everyone gets into the most selective schools. There are lots of places you can succeed and be a great engineer or architect.
I suggest you pick up SO, YOU WANNA GO TO COLLEGE. This is the book I wrote that gives you the things you need to do during each of your high school years to get into the right college and start on a great career. It also includes the MINDSET you need to give yourself the best chance of success, which is the most important part of the game.
How you react to the setback you have right now will decide not just what college you get into, but what kind of career and lifestyle you'll get. Make a commitment to being the best student and person you can be, and I promise things will work out no matter where you go.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
I used to be a great student; what happened?
I would LOVE to get into a great college or university. I mean something like BC, MIT (my dream) a big top of the line school. Well, I'm interested in engineering and architecture. Sophomore year is apparently one colleges really look at. Is that true bcause if so then I am in trouble (I think).
I did pretty well freshman year. I took honors everything and accelerated algebra 2. I got As and a few Bs. But last year I failed my math final (I never studied) and got a C+ last term, but I got a B+ for a final grade for the year. Sophomore year I started off okay, but I hate my chemistry teacher. He has no clue how to teach! Everyone says it. In Latin I slipped completely. I got a 19 on a test (which the whole class failed) and I never got it back up to par. so I'm stuck with a 77.6 and no extra credit possible.
My parents are very dissapointed but I am even more so. My question is do you think I could get into a school like MIT? BU? BC? Next year I'm taking AP JAVA programming, and AP U.S. History and Accelerated Precalculus.Any ideas, tips, advice anything at all? I'm extremely worried that my bad academic year will affect the rest of my life.
Very Worried
*****
Dear Very,
It's possible for you to get into one of the most selective colleges in the country. But you are correct...you did some pretty bad damage to your chances this year. You would be competing with people who didn't slip up and kept their grades consistently high.
You asked for ideas, tips, advice, so I'll give them to you. One of the biggest problems I see is your work habits. Never studying for a math final is not going to help. And blaming the chemistry teacher is going down the wrong road. Everyone in your class has the same teacher...is your grade the same as everyone else's? And "slipping" is one thing, but a 19???
Here's how you can get a shot at an extremely competitive school: First, take complete and total responsiblity for your education. You will be competing against people who didn't slip up at any point. Bringing your grades up to straight A's will be a good start. You'll need a killer essay when you apply to colleges that explains why you messed up sophomore year and what you learned from it.
Second, figure out WHY you want to go to an elite school. Lots of places have engineering and architecture. What's the draw of a highly selective school? For most students, it's ego. In your case that won't be enough to get you in. It won't even be enough to change the habits you have at the moment. And that's OK, because not everyone gets into the most selective schools. There are lots of places you can succeed and be a great engineer or architect.
I suggest you pick up SO, YOU WANNA GO TO COLLEGE. This is the book I wrote that gives you the things you need to do during each of your high school years to get into the right college and start on a great career. It also includes the MINDSET you need to give yourself the best chance of success, which is the most important part of the game.
How you react to the setback you have right now will decide not just what college you get into, but what kind of career and lifestyle you'll get. Make a commitment to being the best student and person you can be, and I promise things will work out no matter where you go.
All The Best,
The Guidance Guy
