I graduated high school 5 years ago with a fairly low GPA. Will university admission officers consider that it has been a long time since I graduated and that my work ethic has changed or am I basically out of luck? Thanks.
2006-08-04 02:59:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
It depends. The fact that you graduated at all puts you over 25% of the US population right there.
You'll be fine - you won't get into Harvard, but most employers don't care where you went to college. They care that you went, and they care that you got a degree. Everything else is just fluff.
2006-08-04 03:02:47 · answer #1 · answered by Brian L 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Many colleges admit students like you all the time - students who didn't do that well in high school for whatever reason, took some time off, got their lives together, and now apply to college. Address the issue in your essays and you'll be fine.
There are colleges that actually specialise in students such as yourself, or which have programs within the university that work with students like yourself. Some colleges even actively recruit students just like you!
So in no way are you out of luck. Talk about the situation quite frankly with the admissions officers, and in your essays. Chose colleges where you think you'll be a good fit. And you'll be fine!
Even better would be if you could take a couple of college courses at your local community college now, and show that you do okay in them. Then you could include the transcripts in your admissions packet, and that would further bolster your application.
2006-08-04 03:34:18 · answer #2 · answered by RoaringMice 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you happen to live in California, community college is the thing for you! The minimum qualification is that you must be 18. You do not even have to have attended high school, or take any qualifying tests. Here's how you do it:
Everyone who's 18 is qualified to attend. My daughter was homeschooled. When she turned 18, she enrolled at San Francisco City College. On the application they ask what your reasons are for attending. You check the box for "Preparing for job upgrade" and enroll in the class(es) of your choice, keeping in mind that advanced classes may have prerequisites. You are asked this same question each semester when you register. Next semester, just check the box for "Get a degree". You're automatically moved into the new category. And in California, community colleges are a feeder system to University of California and the State College system. Your two years in community college are much less expensive than being in the other schools, and I think you'll get better support for whatever your educational deficiencies may be. If you don't live in California, I suggest you check out community colleges in your area. Good luck.
2006-08-04 07:28:58 · answer #3 · answered by ronw 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You need to address this in a cover letter. You need to point out that you were unmotivated when you were young and did not work. You need to point out that you now see the value of a good education and will take your education seriously.
Two other things can help you. If you have decent SAT scores, that will show that you have some ability -- and it was your work athic (and not your abilities) that held you back. The second thing that will help is if you can get a positive recommendation from your employer. Ask them to address the issue of your work ethic.
Good luck. I hope you can get into a reasonably good school.
2006-08-04 03:09:23 · answer #4 · answered by Ranto 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could try going to a community college first. Get a really good GPA and then transfer to a better university. If you really want to go you will find a way. Good luck.
2006-08-04 07:28:17 · answer #5 · answered by C.K. 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your school of choice offers interviews as part of the application process, schedule one. An interview will allow you to highlight how you have changed as a person in the 5 years that have passed. Additionally, you will probably be able to get recommendations from current employers instead of academic recommendations that may not exist.
2006-08-04 04:54:37 · answer #6 · answered by ronnieneilan1983 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would say out of luck u really need to just talk to them about what u can do about getting in.
2006-08-04 03:04:48 · answer #7 · answered by THE bookworm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that is based on what field of study you want to pursue and what type of school you are going to go to.
2006-08-04 03:03:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋