If you messed up in high school, have you ruined all your chances of ever going to a top university?

Question

Of course most kids who get into Harvard and other top schools are usually kids who were straight A high school students with competitive SAT scores. Those students are the ones with their options open, also because they have the top extra curricular activities and some volunteer work. Now students who get into the top grad programs are from the top undergrad colleges.

So I have a question, do you think that if a student messes up in high school or is not a top student in high school, they have ruined their chances of ever going to a top university?

What are their options?

Answer 1

Lets look at my case:



high school transcript (magnet school) -



9th grade = 2.8

10th grade = 2.8

11th grade = 4.0

12th grade = 4.0



Not a lot of good ECs, and SAT score = 1950.

Some volunteer work.



Applied to UGA, NYU, University of Miami, Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington and Armstrong Atlantic.



Armstrong Atlantic and UNC Wilmington = accepted. Wake Forest and University of Miami = waitlisted then accepted. UGA and NYU = rejected.



College transcript (attended Armstrong Atlantic).

1st year GPA = 4.0

2nd year GPA for first semester = 4.0

SAT score = 2290 (retook it, used the prep books and did practice tests).

ECs = vice president of biology club, wrote for college news paper, active member of politics club, student government, won an essay competition and I did the alternative spring break program.

Volunteer work = 120 hours for red cross and 30 for ASPCA.

Major = Biochemistry.



Applied as a transfer to the following for my final two years and here were the results:



Cornell = accepted.

Columbia = accepted (currently attending).

Penn = rejected.

Georgetown = wait listed then accepted.

UGA (safety) = accepted with full ride.

Georgia Tech = accepted.

University of Rochester = accepted.

Washington U in St Louis = accepted.

UConn = accepted.

Answer 2

The percentages of your grades tends to indicate what you'll be capable of when it comes to higher education. Keep in mind that top schools cost way more, and that there is plenty out there.



In Canada, you can often "upgrade" at a local community college, or take college or university prep courses. These are great at getting you used to the study habits and the changes that are required for going to university. If you upgrade, you can change the marks you got in highschool essentially, and apply to a school using your new marks.

Answer 3

you have asked this question a great number of time that is evident you're only fishing for compliments and sympathy. you will possibly be able to desire to come back to words with the actuality which you screwed up in intense college so undesirable that is not going you will ever get better. The "top universities" are out of attain. that is not going TO ensue. be happy in case you get out of community college with a AA in nostril-picking. once you're rather good at picking your nostril, you may complete a Bachelor's at college of Phoenix. human beings may be plenty extra sympathetic in case you basically asked a thank you to get a respectable coaching, fairly of asking a dozen circumstances a thank you to get into Harvard.

Answer 4

Depends on a lot of factors. If you do well in the latter years of High School, then do exceptionally well in CC or the first years of university, then you have a decent chance of transferring to a top tier school (those that actually accept a fair number of transfers — many don't). If you do poorly in all of High School, its very difficult to suddenly correct a history of bad study habits.



It also matters what Major you're transferring into. It's much easier to transfer into a useless Major such as Sociology, than to, say, Engineering at a top tier school.



Lastly, it's better for graduate school to do well in a 4th tier undergrad school, than to botch studies in a top tier school. Many students gloat publicly about being transferred to a better school, then end up humiliated when they fail this tougher school.