Can you get into college if you did bad in High School?

Question

I didn't do very well in High School making C's & D's. I wasn't interested in college then and I just did what I had to do to pass and graduate. Now that I am 27 & at a low-paying, dead end job & I would like to go to Dalton State. I never took any test for college while I was in school & of course my grade point average was not good at all. Do you think I would be able to get accepted into Dalton State & would I be eligible for any kind of grants like the hope scholarships or something? I have always lived in Georgia so that wouldn't be a problem. Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

It is possible, but you may have to take additional supplimental courses before actually working on your degree. Kudos for your change in attitude! I hope it all works out well for you! :D

Answer 2

Yes you can. The vast majority of public colleges and universities do not require you to even have a high school degree or GED (although certain programs, such as ROTC do require it). The easiest way is to take some night classes at your college of choice. They will accept you into a program based on the work you do in COLLEGE rather than what you did in high school. I graduated with a B.S. from the Univ. of MN and they've never had any of my high school records, nor did I have to take any entrance tests or SATs, etc. My high school burned down (along with the records) and the state lost all the information on my graduating class 5 years after graduation. I graduated with a guy who never went to high school. He did the same thing. I was eligible for student loans and Pell Grants. There were few other grants available to non-traditional students (anybody above 22). Finally, yes, you can take classes at a community college and transfer in as well. Transferring is the key to getting in to colleges with tight enrollments as well.

Answer 3

I don't know anything about Dalton State, but I will tell you what I know about getting into colleges like USC-Aiken, USC Columbia or University of Georgia.
Take the SAT and if you score at least 700 you shouldn't have any problems getting into an average college like University of Georgia or the University of South Carolina. However, if you don't score at least a 700, you could go to a technical college for a year or so and make good grades. Then, you could transfer into a 4 year college. During the time that you are in the tech school make good grades and you will qualify for the Hope Scholarship. To get this scholarship you have to go full time (at least 12 hours which is 4 classes that count for 3 credits each). You also have to have at least a B average.
I don't think you would receive the Hope Scholarship right now, with your high school grades, but it would be super easy to get it after a couple of semesters in a 4 year college or tech school. (My sister in law got it, but she had to go to USC-A for a couple of semesters and have at least the B average).

Answer 4

First, as many have suggested, try a community or tech college and transfer. If you do that, you will want to contact DS first to find out what exactly transfers to their college.

Do you have an idea of what you want to go into? Let Admissions at DS know what area you are looking into so they can tell you what pre-reqs you may need.

If you just want to start out at DS first and foremost, again, contact the Admissions office. At the college I work at and those I'm affiliated with have a Special Adult Application (SAA). Iti s made for students much like yourself - they didn't have to go take the ACT or SAT, but they did have to take math and English placement tests. However, with SAA, one can take a class or two and make excellent grades (nothing less than a B+) and then be enrolled as a regular, non-traditional student.

Check with DS's Financial Aid office to find out what you'd qualify for as far as grants and loans. You may not be able to receive any scholarships, being out of school for so long. Again, if you know what you want to major in, also contact that particular department (along with financial aid) and ask the dept. if they have any scholarships for the major.

Good luck!

Answer 5

I have no idea about scholarships, because I've never been eligible for any of them. I graduated from highschool with the lowest possible grade required to walk across the stage. Then I went straight into a community college with my mom's money first.
When mom's money ran out, I learned how to take out loans.
So I guess from my experience, you can go to a community college if you apply for a government loan. ALSO, look into the Pell Grant. This is basically a set amount of free money from the government to go to school that (as far as I know) you don't have to pay back. I believe you have to meet certain requirements, but talk to your financial aid person at the college you'd like to go to, to find out more about it.

Answer 6

You can enroll at a community college with no problem. After going there for a while, you can transfer to Dalton State. Good for you for wanting to get an education. That's great!

As for the grants/scholarships, talk to the college's financial aid office. They can help you know what your options are.

Answer 7

I did poorly in high school...it is not the same at the college level and going back when you are older has some major advantages.
I started out at the community college level and two years later double scholarshipped and did a dual BA in Psychology and Sociology...I was in various honor societies and made presidents lists in three of the schools I attended...ended up with a Masters in Social Work from the top university in my field...so I would say the answer is yes...there are in school grants as well as national and federal programs...

Answer 8

Yes, you can even get into an Ivy League college. I am a high school drop out. I got my GED went to community college for 2 years obtained my Associates degree and now I am a junior at Cornell University getting A's and B's. If you want it claim it. But be ready to work hard to get it

Nadene Reid
Essex County College
Class of 2007
A.S. Business Administration w/ High Honors
Phi Theta Kappa, GPA 3.74

Cornell University
Class of 2009
Major: Industrial and Labor Relations

Answer 9

cosmo, it is never to late to start.

You may want to consider becoming a pharmacist! Why?

PROS

1) Takes as little as 5 years to complete a pharmacy degree after high school

2) Flexible working hours, you can work 9-5 or do a 7 on and 7 off system

3) Starting pay can be anywhere from 75-150k depending on location and need

4) You can literally get a job anywhere in the US because of the short supply and great demand of pharmacists

5) You will have time to start a family

If you want more info about pharmacy school, visit http://www.GetIntoPharmacySchool.com

Answer 10

I graduated high school, possibly, in the lowest 10% of my class. I never took my SATs because I didn't want to go to college. I hated school by the time I turned 17. I went to the community college straight out of HS and did more poorly than anyone could've anticipated--all because I hated school. My parents' influence forced me to go. What did I do? What any hormonal late-teenage girl does who isn't hitting the books: Skipped classes every other day, bought clothing every week at the mall, chased boys, went clubbing, watched TV during lecture hours--stupid $hit.
I am in my 30's now. I started back up with college--part time in another state--and have been pulling in nothing other than A's. I have a 4.0 GPA. Why? Changed attitude. I didn't want it then = poor attitude, to, I want it now = good attitude. It's all about attitude and it reflects in your grades and your enthusiasm in your classes. I am a currently a barber making nearly $50,000/yr and don't necessarily hurt for money, but something's missing: intellectual challenge. My hands are moving, but my mind is dead at work. Everything I know about the barbering industry is second nature. I no longer have to think to do my work the way that I did when I first learned how to cut men's hair. My major, in college, is marketing. It's challenging, creative and it's a science. Everything that I could've ever wanted for my future lies within my enthusiasm for returning to school. The sky's the limit with this major and I cannot fail unless I quit. So, not to be preachy and bore you with a novel, but you have so many choices in front of you. You just need to grab one. I don't care if you received straight D's and F's all through 12 years of your schooling. You can start out, without SAT's or good grades, at your local community college, show good faith by bringing the best grades to the table, transfer to a 4-year college and you're gone. Off to see the new world and what it has in store for you. You'd be a fool not to take this opportunity. Good luck to you. Peace and many blessings :)

Answer 11

you might not be able to get into a big college at first... try going to a community college and then after a year there try to transfer to a big college... like dalton state.