Help with college choices?

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<3333 asked:

I just finished my junior year of high school, and I am stuck on whether I will get into my choice colleges or not. My GPA isn’t great, right now it is at about a 2.7 because freshman and sophomore year I did not think about how selective college can be. I have taken honors classes all though high school, which included honors English, history, and a foreign language class. I have gotten A’s and B’s through my junior year, which was an improvement from the years before, but my SAT scores weren’t so hot. I plan on taking them again, but they were a 400 for math, 410 for critical reading, and 490 for writing. For extracurricular activities, I was on the crew team my sophomore year, and have been a part of DECA for 3 years, which will include an officer position my senior year. I have had many jobs which include working at a peace conference, circuit city for 9 months, and currently an ice cream shop. For community service I have done the walk for hunger and plan on working at the school store during summer school.
I have tried to narrow down my choices based on my GPA and SAT scores, but I’m having trouble. I am looking specifically for schools around the Massachusetts area, and so far I have chosen:
Bridge water State
West field State
Framingham state
MCLA (Massachusetts college of liberal arts)
Mount Ida College
Franklin Pierce University
Fitchberg State

I would prefer to go to a state school because of a scholarship I will receive in the fall, but they seem to get more and more competitive to get into.
Any suggestions on schools in MA or New Hampshire that would be a good match or safety choice based on my situation? Are these schools good choices for me? I need MAJOR help! :(
I am also certain I will get good letters of recommendation, I choose two teachers that know me very well that have also seen my improvement this year.
+ my senior year I am taking 4 honors classes and an AP course, if that helps.



Comments (1)    Posted in Higher Education (University +)    

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One Response to 'Help with college choices?'

  1. Poutré - February 13th, 2010 at 4:37 pm

    Not every good school is necessarily a super-selective school, but you should still work hard your senior year to get your GPA up and take the SAT at least one more time. Statistically, everyone improves the second time, so take it at least twice, maybe three times, but no more than three (statistically, no one improves after the third try). Also, if you’re less skilled at writing and more skilled in science, try the ACT. It’s not as big in the Northeast, but some people swear it’s better than the SAT.

    If you don’t have stellar grades but still want a decent education, you might want to check out Eastern Nazarene in Quincy, too. It’s not super-selective but it’s one of the least-expensive private schools in the area (although it’s still private so it still might cost more than a public school). It’s not a party school by any means (so don’t go there for that or you’ll be in for a rude awakening) but I knew people there who also went to Harvard Medical and Yale Law after they graduated. I even knew a kid living near me in Maryland who turned down acceptance at Harvard College to go there. It’s in a nice place, too, near Wollaston Beach, a few miles south of downtown Boston, but it’s kind of hidden away.

    Yeah, I think college is more about teaching and less about selectivity anyway. Isn’t that what education is for? What value is there in only accepting all the best students and then just taking credit for having a lot of successful graduates? It’s a much bigger accomplishment to teach a student and help make them successful. But that’s just my two cents. Good luck!


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