College in America (and my mistakes)?

Question

Let me first explain that I have a thing. If something doesn't challenge me intellectually, I get bored with it and move on. To me, highschool was dreadfully easy and mindless. Thus I hardly did my homework but passed the tests and quizes with ease.

Because of my not doing anything, I didn't have enough credits to graduate and am now staying back a semester.

However, I want to have a career in physics (a class that challenged me and thus: I passed) but I don't know how to get into colleges. Other than community colleges, how can I get accepted to them? I have no money at all to help and haven't even taken the ACT (which costs $100 to take). I KNOW I have made mistakes. How do I rectify them now?

Serious answers only please. Really. I know I am an idiot. But I need help.

Ahhhh! You all are giving me such good answers! How will I ever be able to choose a best?

So far, Astronomychica: Good advice and I had looked into the millitary. However, I do not fancy getting screwed over from them as my dad had. And nightclasses are out of the question because they cost $120. I know, my school sucks.

Starting Over: Thankyouthankyouthankyou. You are correct that colleges won't accept those excuses. Makes perfect sense!

zao086: Wow. You are actually an inspiration. Thank you.

physics.nerd89: Currently, I am making up the credits I need, so one step ahead there! :) Yes, my parents did try to make me crack down but I just lied about my grades. And my school system sucks. We have very few accelerated programs and you have to have gotten all As throughout your highschool career. It is a comfort to know that I am not alone. I even had helped a guy on here having the same issues. And I do have a job in fast food. However, all that money is going to rent,

(cont from physics.nerd) bills, and food. I honestly don't have any money left over. But I will look for people with similar problems. And I will try writing to colleges. While they don't accept excuses, maybe they can see how passionate I am. Oh, and I will try to keep you posted! Thank you for your belief in me! I don't want to end up like my father (who really did have the same issue and who went to the millitary and now drives semis) and end up going from job to job because I get bored. And letting my mind go to waste. Bless you, you are brilliant!

Kris: a girl after my own heart! That guy's story makes sense AND makes me think this is all possible. You are possitively lovely.

Tom s: You are correct. I don't do homework well and I will have to train myself. THanks loads!

BlooShoe: I would do ex. credit. However, I have a job. No time. but really good advice, as the rest is a large help!
TO WHOM HASN'T ANSWERED: ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY THAT HASN'T BEEN SAID IS NEEDED!!!

Answer 1

honestly the best people to ask would be your teachers, they will twll you about getting Financial Aid and Scholorships, plus if you cant get into the school you want right away try going to a community college for a year or 2 then they to get accepted to a better school once you have better grades and extra curricular activities and the such, but honestly ask your physics teacher to hep you... if your that passionate about physics ( as was i ) he / she will do everything they can to help you, especailly seeing how your trying to help yourself, taking the first step towards it is asking people for help...

Answer 2

Colleges definitely look for determination and the desire to work hard. If you are willing to crack down and get disciplined, you need to take a few very basic steps, some of which I'll bet you've already considered: talk to your counselor, first of all, and talk to your parents! I'm surprised that they haven't forced you to earn proper grades all this time as is, though -- in fact, I'm pretty disappointed that they didn't do their job to help you find that self-discipline. If high school was that boring for you, they should've arranged for you to take some gifted/accelerated classes!

A lot of people like you do the same thing -- they're very intelligent, but if they're not challenged enough by their classes, they get bored and stop caring. It's very understandable, and I just want you to know that you're not unique in your situation.

As for scraping together some money, why not find a job at even, say, a local fast food place? If you can land a job at even minimum wage, I'm sure that you'll pool together enough to take something like the ACT/SAT. If you're going for just one, though, I would take the SAT, as colleges nationwide accept this (while the ACT is mostly just midwestern colleges).

Asking this question at Y!A is a good first step, but you will definitely need to start looking around for more answers elsewhere. Start browsing the internet for situations similar to yours -- and contact colleges through email about this! Counselors are very helpful, and I'm sure will have the sort of perspective on this issue that you're looking for.

Good luck -- feel free to let me in on the outcome about this? I'm very hopeful for you!

Answer 3

You remind me of a student I had a few years ago. He did not live up to his potential in high school (to put it mildly!) and came to my college having to make up a lot of work - he got the lowest scores possible on all the placement exams, meaning he had to take non-credit math and writing classes to get up to speed. He started at the bottom without much aspiration, he just went to college because his parents made him. But he discovered he really liked math and science, and would often talk with me about how easy math was for him now (too easy, in fact). He eventually took my calculus based physics course, and realized he wanted to major in physics. Since my school doesn't have a physics major, he transferred to another school that does, and he's doing great.

So what should you do? Go to community college and take math and science classes, plus other classes that sound interesting to you. Do well at these classes (force yourself to care about them if you have to). Talk with the professors, too - if you don't feel challenged they can certainly give you things that will challenge you. After a couple of semesters getting good grades at the community college, you should be able to transfer to a state university that has a physics major. From there, getting into grad school shouldn't be a problem so long as your physics grades are good.

Answer 4

you 1st need to retake all your F'd and D's even if it takes you forever try to see if you can get a fee wavier for the SAT's and The ACT ...try to join as many outside porgrams as you can. get your whole week full of busy stuff to do . trust me i know how you feel it's the same thing with me if it's too easy i stop to tryikng thinking that i'll get an A but thats not how it works.. you can also try vonlteering at a school or church even if you go to a community college thats ok college will be harder than high school also a bit more boring even more when your in high school taking a college class Physics is a hard subject so you can try to take some at a community college start a physic club or join one i give you one more pice of advice talk to your teacher they are a big help :)

Answer 5

Community colleges ARE a great option. I took the same aproach to high scool as you. 3 years later I was at UCLA. Not only will you get a great education at the CC, but you'll save a lot of money as well. Don't overlook that opportunity.

One last thing - If you didn't have disciplined study habits in high school you'll realy need to learn how to learn in college - good luck!

Answer 6

Go to your local community college, get awesome grades and graduate. You will be able to apply to another college and get accepted,

You can't go and change the past. Colleges don't want excuses. Start fresh, get good grades, demonstrate that you have matured and you are ready to work.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

Night classes at a local high school, I'm sure they offer them, take the ACT and, if you want a free education, after you get your diploma and credits, I suggest the United States Military Academy. Seriously, free education and they pay you. Free dental and health care, and your salery goes to uniforms, books, with some left over for what ever you want.