College Recommendations

[hotsoda]

In my lurking days, I remember seeing a few threads for college recommendations, and it's about time I started looking at a few names.

So here's some background information:

• I'm a high school junior.

• I have a 3.3 GPA, I'm probably going to be looking at a 3.5 GPA when I graduate.

• I've taken a few honors and AP courses (english, science, foreign language, history) and I plan on taking more next year (almost every class).

• I'm going to be graduating with at least 29.5 credits.

• I don't have any extracurricular activities or volunteer work to mention. I will volunteer this year and hopefully over the next.

• I write for a technology journalist site (not giving any links because of the rules, but it does receive a decent amount of traffic), which should hopefully attribute to my resume.

I want to attend someplace with a tech focus. Math has never been my strong suit because my grades have been inconsistent over the years (it depends on the teacher), but majoring in english or computer science/graphics/engineering is definitely under consideration.

I would like to know the types of colleges I should be looking at realistically. I got a list last year from my guidance counsellor with 5 or 6 names on it, most of which I've decided against. I'd be thankful for any recommendations.

 

[BradT]

To be perfectly honest, not having ANY extracurriculars will kill you. Without any, you really need to give up hope on some of the more selective schools. I highly suggest that you start getting more involved. Even someone who had excellent test scores and a perfect GPA would struggle to get into a good school without doing "other" stuff.

For looking into colleges, I will recommend a site that I wish I knew about when I applied. It's called, "college confidential." They also have an excellent forum.

 

[CraKaJaX]

You want to major in computer science, engineering, etc.. but you aren't strong in math? Granted, if you are a fast learner you should be able to pick things up pretty quick. I'm not sure about comp sci, but as far as engineering you'd probably have to take atleast up to Calc 2, if not 3, a couple of physics courses, and so on -- all are pretty in-depth when it comes to math obviously.

 

[hotsoda]

Originally posted by: BradT
To be perfectly honest, not having ANY extracurriculars will kill you. Without any, you really need to give up hope on some of the more selective schools. I highly suggest that you start getting more involved. Even someone who had excellent test scores and a perfect GPA would struggle to get into a good school without doing "other" stuff.

I forgot to mention that I am in a computer club (it was just started, which is why I couldn't recall it), so that's something that can go towards my application. I've been approached to write for the school newspaper and serve on the yearbook committee next year, which I'll highly consider if I have the time. Like I said, I will be doing community service.

Originally posted by: BradTFor looking into colleges, I will recommend a site that I wish I knew about when I applied. It's called, "college confidential." They also have an excellent forum.

Thanks for the site!

Originally posted by: BradTAlso, we will be able to see that you you will most likely want to do something along the lines of IT/math/science, but please post more specific details as to what you want to go to college for.

The problem is I don't know exactly what I want to get into. I know I have a passion for technology and writing is something I enjoy, but things are still up in the air in regards to what programs I'm searching for.

Edit:

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
You want to major in computer science, engineering, etc.. but you aren't strong in math? Granted, if you are a fast learner you should be able to pick things up pretty quick. I'm not sure about comp sci, but as far as engineering you'd probably have to take atleast up to Calc 2, if not 3, a couple of physics courses, and so on -- all are pretty in-depth when it comes to math obviously.

That was a question I brought up with my guidance counsellor a while ago. Oddly, I find myself stronger in english and history (and I should acquire more college credits for those classes by the end of the year). She said it wasn't a huge concern. I don't want to get into a whole anecdote about my past years, but I've gotten a B- and B+ my first and second years respectively.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
You want to major in computer science, engineering, etc.. but you aren't strong in math? Granted, if you are a fast learner you should be able to pick things up pretty quick. I'm not sure about comp sci, but as far as engineering you'd probably have to take atleast up to Calc 2, if not 3, a couple of physics courses, and so on -- all are pretty in-depth when it comes to math obviously.

If he picks CS, he should at least expect to take Calc II, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Math/Structures. It's not uncommon to have to take other Math courses in addition to those at many colleges. Like Calc III, DiffEq, etc.

 

[BradT]

Originally posted by: hotsoda

Originally posted by: BradT
To be perfectly honest, not having ANY extracurriculars will kill you. Without any, you really need to give up hope on some of the more selective schools. I highly suggest that you start getting more involved. Even someone who had excellent test scores and a perfect GPA would struggle to get into a good school without doing "other" stuff.

I forgot to mention that I am in a computer club (it was just started, which is why I couldn't recall it), so that's something that can go towards my application. I've been approached to write for the school newspaper and serve on the yearbook committee next year, which I'll highly consider if I have the time. Like I said, I will be doing community service.

Originally posted by: BradTFor looking into colleges, I will recommend a site that I wish I knew about when I applied. It's called, "college confidential." They also have an excellent forum.

Thanks for the site!

Originally posted by: BradTAlso, we will be able to see that you you will most likely want to do something along the lines of IT/math/science, but please post more specific details as to what you want to go to college for.

The problem is I don't know exactly what I want to get into. I know I have a passion for technology and writing is something I enjoy, but things are still up in the air in regards to what programs I'm searching for.

No, I edited. I read too fast and missed the last paragraph. What you said is really all that can be expected from you now. You might know many others that say they know everything about their future now, but trust me, many of them will change. As you have done, realize your interests, and start to narrow them into something that you can look for in a college.

 

[slsmnaz]

Originally posted by: hotsoda

I forgot to mention that I am in a computer club (it was just started, which is why I couldn't recall it), so that's something that can go towards my application. I've been approached to write for the school newspaper and serve on the yearbook committee next year, which I'll highly consider if I have the time. Like I said, I will be doing community service.

not to be sound rude but what does "if I have time" mean when you have no extra-curriculars? You talk like you want a top school but don't sound like you're putting in the time.

 

[Farang]

Go to college in Sweden. No tuition and Swedish girls.

 

[BigJ]

And OP. If you don't know WTF you want to do, hear me out on this.

Go to a local Community College. Listen, I know what you're thinking. You have all these AP credits, you're a smart kid, yada yada yada. But since you don't know what you want to do with your life yet, going to a CC and doing well will not only help you decide what to do, but can even open more doors for you. At a CC you can knock out many prerequisite coures (think extended AP) and you can take courses that you're interested in to see if you actually like that field. And the best part is, it's cheap as hell.

On top of that, carrying a 4.0 at CC will allow you to go to just as many, if not more colleges you could right now. It also gives you more time to join clubs and groups for those more elite schools you may want to go to.

 

[hotsoda]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: hotsoda

I forgot to mention that I am in a computer club (it was just started, which is why I couldn't recall it), so that's something that can go towards my application. I've been approached to write for the school newspaper and serve on the yearbook committee next year, which I'll highly consider if I have the time. Like I said, I will be doing community service.

not to be sound rude but what does "if I have time" mean when you have no extra-curriculars? You talk like you want a top school but don't sound like you're putting in the time.

Simple. I'm an out of district placement because my mother works in another school. I can't do any after school programs because 1) my sister requires special needs and there are issues with transportation, so I'm the only one who can watch her, and 2) with my current schedule, I'm doing work until about 7 in the evening, not including the fact that I'm looking for a job.

I'll be the first to say I haven't been doing everything I can with my education, but for the most part I do try.

 

[BradT]

Originally posted by: slsmnaz

Originally posted by: hotsoda

I forgot to mention that I am in a computer club (it was just started, which is why I couldn't recall it), so that's something that can go towards my application. I've been approached to write for the school newspaper and serve on the yearbook committee next year, which I'll highly consider if I have the time. Like I said, I will be doing community service.

not to be sound rude but what does "if I have time" mean when you have no extra-curriculars? You talk like you want a top school but don't sound like you're putting in the time.

And I do not want to sound like your mother either, but your expectations may be too high if you do not get some ECs. Getting into college is a game. You need to really get cookin' on those. The people you will be competing with for a spot will be the presidents of their classes, officers from their student councils, etc. Get involved, and get a spot as an officer. Without any other stuff, colleges will think that if you didn't do it in high school, how could you ever do it in college.
Also, if we are talking about ECs being in school, what do you do outside of school? Are you in the Boy Scouts, do you play out of school sports?

 

[jpeyton]

Community Colege

 

[Ricemarine]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
You want to major in computer science, engineering, etc.. but you aren't strong in math? Granted, if you are a fast learner you should be able to pick things up pretty quick. I'm not sure about comp sci, but as far as engineering you'd probably have to take atleast up to Calc 2, if not 3, a couple of physics courses, and so on -- all are pretty in-depth when it comes to math obviously.

If he picks CS, he should at least expect to take Calc II, Linear Algebra, and Discrete Math/Structures. It's not uncommon to have to take other Math courses in addition to those at many colleges. Like Calc III, DiffEq, etc.

For Washingtonians, you have to take the whole Calculus series (including 126, and 126 is a PITA), but depending on your AP test score, you can knock off a max of 124 and 125 with a 5. Depending on the engineering, you'd have to knock off at least linear algebra, and/or differential equations and/or vector calculus. Then the rest is learning the other 200-300 level courses after taking Java I and II ( or C I and C II, depending on the college.)...

But from what I also know, some colleges such as Georgia Tech also require you to retake courses because AP credits don't count as a class for many courses, if any at all.

I'm a high school student taking community college courses, and so far I've knocked out ~79.5 credits with free tuition through the state. By the end of my senior year, I'll have an AS in Computer Science, in which I hope to transfer to get my B.S. in Computer Engineering (Hardware specialized), and then possibly M.S. I have currently a 3.829 GPA unweighted and ~ a 3.58 college.

You do need some extra curricular to stand out though, especially if you were a techie in any way possible... For me, the only thing that stands out for me now is my Senior Project of programming a robot.

 

[hotsoda]

Just to reply to the comments that BradT and slsmnaz made, I never said I was looking for "big name" colleges. In fact, I decided against even looking at the early suggestions I had gotten because I thought I wouldn't have been accepted even if I tried. Right now I'm only looking for a few names to consider.

I may have made a mistake when I said I wanted to major in computers, because there obviously is a huge mathematical focus. But I'm certain I want whatever I end up doing for a living to deal with technology in some way. That's broad, sure, but that's where I'm at.

If I had to name a few fields, I'd be interested in perusing a career in:
Tech journalism
Video / audio production (I've taken classes a few years ago, and a semester course in video this year)
Web designer (I also know PHP and JavaScript now, but I'm not fluent)
Photography (more of a hobby, but anything can happen)

I have taken summer programs (video, which I mentioned, animation and programming) and I have participated in sports during middle school, but I thought not to include them because they were so long ago. I have no idea if they have merit now.

So hopefully that helps. I'm grateful for the suggestions thus far (and even the criticism).

 

[ChAoTiCpInOy]

Where are you from?

 

[dbk]

RIT, Rutgers

 

[IAteYourMother]

State schools in your area.

 

[Q]

Join crappy clubs just to put down on your resume, it helps a lot.

And keep in mind when looking for college to take a look at EVERYTHING -- for me it was housing that I 'overlooked' and didn't see that you had to live in dorms all 4 years which really, really sucks (but I'm transferring so it doesn't matter)