Heyyyloo! I am a high school senior, getting ready for college. First things first, I have horrible SAT scores: Verbal: 470 writing: 430 math: 410 A decent GPA (3.3) and a few extra curriculars. I'm not from a poor family but we aren't rich, so I can't afford the 53,000 tuition that Middlebury requires (I honestly fell in love with the majors) nor do I have the 40,000 that Spelman requires (My dream school). What am I supposed to do? What am I supposed to do when all the colleges that will ensure my success are priced so that it ensures my not-so-comical failure. How am I even supposed to pick one? Literally, every college that I've deemed applicable is EXPENSIVE. Anyway, this isn't the point of this post. Initially, I decided that I would enter college as a Theater major since I am avidly passionate about the arts. Of course, I snapped out of my cloud and realized that I would be ruining my life. So, I figured, I would do the next thing I like, which is Law. Again, Law isn't a logical choice since there are many students trying to be lawyers and only few jobs open in the industry. AND, I don't really want to hear the whole, do what you love it's your life. You can be anything you want, I've come to terms, rather harshly, that I can't be whatever I want to be. Because I want a family. A big family, with 6 kids and a big house and a white picked fence. (Not literally, It was satire against the stereotypical American family). But I do want a lot of children. And I want to be able to give them everything I never had. Please, please, help me before I have a panic attack. All I feel like doing lately is crying and pulling my hair out. The more I search for scholarships and colleges that I can apply to without worrying about the expense, the more I feel that I'm never going to make it past my senior year. I'm going to have a fucking, excuse my abhorrent language, panic attack. Like seriously, as I'm writing this I'm sweating and breathing heavily. I mean, really, I'm a failure at science, so no to the medical field, I'm wonderful at math but I detest it with every passion that I posses and I am stellar in government and economics. Which, doesn't mean diddly squat because I'm definitely not intelligent enough to get a full ride nor am I an athletic star to win me a scholarship. I'm just an ordinary high-school student. With no money, no hidden talents, and no brilliant marks on the only tests that matter. What am I supposed to do? Please, Please, help me. I can't even. :help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::help::tears::tears:
Our system is shit. Rich get richer, poor and middle class get poorer. Our system has a rule: If you want to "succeed", work your ASS off. If you work enough in school, get good grades, you might get a scholarship and change your future. There are so many movies about people who gave up family/love/friends in order to succeed professionally. But I don't suggest you do the same. You can set goals in your life and work hard to achieve them without neglecting other important stuff such as your personal or social life. I believe you should work harder though, improve your grades, study whatever you want (yes, I'm giving you the "do what you love it's your life" line), you never know what opportunities might pop up, and if your partner also dreams of having 6 kids I'm sure that they will be able to financialy support that dream, just like you would want. Don't overthink stuff, it's good to plan your life maybe 1-4 years ahead but not the whole thing, you never know how things will turn out to be, so you just end up thinking numerous theories that just stress you up and make you do wrong decisions.
First suggestion: Get a copy of the wonderful "What Color is your Parachute." They make an edition specifically for recent high school grads. This book, if you spend the time to read it and work through it, will really help you clarify your vocational interests. Second: Consider a Canadian university. There are a number of excellent, well regarded schools there that, even with international tuition, are a fraction of the cost of American schools. Third: You might consider taking a semester or a year off and working somewhere (an office, a small business, NOT retail for a large faceless chain) and use the time to explore different options to get an idea of what you like. This will help you better focus on a sensible major when you do start school. Fourth: You're smart to not spend money on a theater degree or other degree that will be difficult to monetize. There are lots of things in the tech sector, biology, and medical-related fields that can pay well. "Parachute" plus perhaps some time with a good private career counselor will be money well spent to help you figure out what you want to do. I hope that helps!
Many years ago I knew an American girl from Boston who did her undergrad at McGill University ("The Harvard of the North") here in Montreal. Although her tuition was much higher than any Quebecer would have to pay, even then it was a fraction of what it would have cost in the US. Too many kids go straight to college without really understanding why or what it can do for them. Every year, so called "knowledge work" is becoming more and more routine clerical work, and something that can be done over a wire by someone on the other side of the world or faster by computer "expert systems". You may find some of the trades more interesting and lucrative (and these certainly can't be outsourced). Mechanics, for example, often find their work to be quite challenging intellectually, electronic technicians, or specialist technicians in aerospace are also worth their weight in gold. There are also many schools that teach the fundamentals of computer programming..the trick is to keep an open mind to all the possibilities, not just college.
Hi Chained Butterfly Recently the daughter of a family friend when discussing what she wanted to do when she left school told me she had no real idea. I suggested she look at SIC codes to give her an idea of what types of work exist and to make her aware of types of business/careers she may not have thought of. A SIC code is a standard industrial classification used by companies when filling out their tax papers. This is a link to the codes used in the UK, other countries may have their own codes that could give you some ideas of career choice. http://www.companieshouse.gov.uk/infoAndGuide/sic/condensedSICList.pdf P.S. I am dyslexic and failed my English Language exams many times, I gave up after 7 attempts, even though I am English. This failure prevented me getting into University but it did not prevent me from becoming a director, with responsibility for Europe & Africa, of a large International company. I am unfamiliar with US qualifications so don’t understand what your scores mean but I sense you are not as happy with them as you would like to be, just as I was many years ago. I share my story with you to give you hope that all is not lost and that good things can happen even when we start from less than ideal situations. Good luck for the future. SaleGayGuy
And regardless of the current goings-on in technology and world affairs, kids have and will continue to go to college just because they are on that treadmill and end up in the wrong major or at the wrong college, which is demotivating and gives rise to terms like "sophomore slump," among other foibles. OP: I agree with the suggestions for some type of career aptitude assessment. With them wanting to give standardized tests and immunize for this and that in high schools, I'd be surprised if they hadn't given you a career assessment or profile test somewhere within the 3 or 4 years of high school. If they did, do you remember what fields it pulled up? And, if you do, did you or do you like those fields?
Yea I took a career test junior year of high school. Said I should become an actor or do something with the arts -_____- see the irony?
Teaching perhaps??? Really if you get a teaching degree for something you like and theater you could be a highschool teacher. Also canada tuition is much lower than the states. I've looked at both options and its ridiculous how much you guys pay. So I understand your frustration. McGill is a very, very good university and the most expensive one I've looked at. There are others around that are just as good and less expensive. Also there is nothing wrong with taking a year off and working while you figure it all out! I hope that helps and I get panic attacks thinking about university too so (*hug*) hang in there. It's tough but you'll make it!
3.3 is a good GPA in high school. Have you taken the ACT, and you can take the SAT again. Calm down. and as others have said, standardized tests aren't for everyone.
Hi, Are there any quality community colleges in the area? I don't know what your options are but some people in my area will go to community college for 2 years and then transfer, at which point they are more equipped for applications at the schools of their choice. If not that I do agree with the other posts saying to look into Canadian universities. Aside from that, work hard...and REALLY hard. College selection is a lot like a pool. There are different pools with different people in there. I always think of it as each pool has several number of fish each the EXACT same size. You can compare this to students, who are all alike in academic success. The different pools can represent different grade ranges or whatever. What makes the admissions office want to pick you among the group and NOT someone else? Keep that in mind. You want to stand out, whether it be extra curriculars or else where.
Does teaching interest you? It involves some acting, and being on stage. A lot of the SUNYs seem to have teacher's ed and you could check out those. And some are small, so they are not overwhelming. Any interest in those?
First, I will say that SUNY schools are great. I highly advise looking at New Paltz, Geneseo, and Oneonta (there are other good ones too, those are just three with awesome reps that I thought of off the top of my head) if you haven't already. Second, private colleges don't actually mean their tuition. I'm starting my freshman year at Mount Holyoke College (women's college in western MA) and am paying no where near the "full cost" even though my dad makes quite a bit of money. Pretty much every private college I looked at (which includes Middlebury) has an automatic system for giving merit based scholarships. MHC basically said "oh, you have a 3.5 gpa and have done some volunteer stuff, that's $15,000 a year less that you have to pay right there." Most of these schools continue the merit scholarships down to 3.0 or even 2.5 GPAs. In addition, some give random "merit" grants for things like "you applied on time, here's $2,000 a year." Your best friend though is need-based financial aid. You are almost certain to get some at pretty much any school that wants you, and sometimes it can take it down to almost state school prices.
