[insanelyCRAZY]

Me and quite a few of my friends feel that we can't get into a good college, be successful and make our parents proud.
A lot of us don't know what we even want to major in.
A group of us scored lower than 1500 on the SATs..

I'm sure there are more people than just us out there...
Me and my friends live on the west coast of US. California to be exact.

We'd like to hear some stories of those who felt or just didn't do so well or great as they'd hoped in high school
and eventually went to a worthwhile college.

We need hope and some inspiration.
and perhaps even some tips.

It would be nice if other than just inspirational stories, other soompiers can post how they feel about getting into college.


My story..
I scored a 1390 on the March SAT Reasoning. I live in an asian home and my parents want me to go into science, medicine..all that.
I doubt I can get in...at least, that's just how I feel.
Other than that, I'm not even sure if I want that.
I dont know what I like.
Nor am I good at anything or bad at any of my subjects.
I feel, so average.
My GPA would range between 3.0 - 3.75.
I'm a junior in HS.
Schools that I've looked into are SJSU, SoCal, UCDavis..
But I don't even feel if any college is right for me.

UPDATE!! ******
With my above information, anybody have any opinions on CSU Chico?

[DaAzNkIgGa627]

Me and quite a few of my friends feel that we can't get into a good college, be successful and make our parents proud.
A lot of us don't know what we even want to major in.
A group of us scored lower than 1500 on the SATs..

I'm sure there are more people than just us out there...
Me and my friends live on the west coast of US. California to be exact.

We'd like to hear some stories of those who felt or just didn't do so well or great as they'd hoped in high school
and eventually went to a worthwhile college.

We need hope and some inspiration.
and perhaps even some tips.

It would be nice if other than just inspirational stories, other soompiers can post how they feel about getting into college.


My story..
I scored a 1390 on the March SAT Reasoning. I live in an asian home and my parents want me to go into science, medicine..all that.
I doubt I can get in...at least, that's just how I feel.
Other than that, I'm not even sure if I want that.
I dont know what I like.
Nor am I good at anything or bad at any of my subjects.
I feel, so average.
My GPA would range between 3.0 - 3.75.
I'm a junior in HS.
Schools that I've looked into are SJSU, SoCal, UCDavis..
But I don't even feel if any college is right for me.

Hmmm have you considered taking an SAT class or getting an SAT book to study. The SAT is a test where you can study for to get a good score.

Anyways, college may not be for everyone. So you may be more suited for a technical field or something else... art, culinary arts, work force etc. As a fellow Asian, I understand the pressures of getting into a top notch university, but we need to follow what is best.

While I am also a junior, and I do not have an inspirational story of my own in this regard, I know many people who are successful while struggling in high school. (My father being one of them...) My father graduated uhhh let's see out of 800 maybe 700 ish range... (for being lazy mostly... my father was 1st in math because he cared and like 800th in everything else =P, which brought him to 700...)

Regardless, when he came to the states he went to college, and started working harder because he found an American style education more to his liking. He graduated magma cum laude in math from university, got an MBA, and ran a business... So overall... the thing is that you need to find the right environment for you.

For my father, it was the American education system. For you it may be the work force, the arts, music, culinary arts, something technical. Once you find that, you should pursue it, despite the likely resistance you are to face from your parents.

Anyways I hope this helps.

[insanelyCRAZY]

^Yeah, I feel that I haven't been exposed to many jobs, opportunities and such. Coming from asian family all I hear is "be a doctor!"
Although, I have taken this test, I forgot what its called, but it tells you which occupation is best for a person. In the end, I got psychiatry. I was told multiple times that I should go into this field from my friends, but honestly, I don't like it. I don't feel like I will get much of anything from it. Taking that test, I realized I pretty much only check marked barely even 10 things I really had any interest in. =/

[DaAzNkIgGa627]

Haha yeah... those tests are accurate to a point, and it depends on how seriously you took it and other things too. For example I was rather tired that day and chose to simply take the aptitude portion of the test rather than the interest survey.

Hmm... overall.... I would suggest you make a list of your interests. What are your hobbies, would you like to make a career out of them, and research them. Contact people, literally straight up call or email people.

Haha... I'm sure your parents would appreciate initiative on your part.

[insanelyCRAZY]

^I can honestly say that I have tried all this. And just like the aptitude test, it all pointed towards psychiatry. Sadly, I feel that it's not a very stable career.

[DaAzNkIgGa627]

Well sometimes.... it may point to your path haha...

Mmm... talk to a teacher you admire, see where they suggest?

[love*beat]

Well, I'm still IN high school, so I can't really say much? >__o
But I feel the same way as you do, except I'm pretty sure you're capable of getting into a decent UC. xD

As for me, I am pretty much a fail @ math/science, so for me, I don't even bother thinking about UCs =__= haha.
My family isn't as Asian (lol), but my brother goes to UCLA: is intelligent/athletic without even trying and yeah.. lol >_>
I'm like the complete opposite of him: artistic/better with literature/not athletic LOL.

I'm starting to feel the same way as you do about not knowing what I like though.
I used to think that my goal was to become some sort of artist, but my creativity is lacking these days..

All I can suggest is for you to try taking different outside classes to find what you really like.
In my area, they offer free outside classes to various centers and colleges where they have a variety of courses in different subjects

[oubliette]

I feel that the SAT is a test where you really can control what score you get, to a certain extent anyways. Don't let prior results or other people tell you what you can or cannot do. I'll give you my example.

At the beginning of the summer before my junior year of high school, my mom took me to a SAT test prep/college prep company to take a practice/evaluative test. The test prep company had a special class called "2200+" or something...meaning that in that class, they only took kids who they thought could eventually get 2200+ SAT score. Their requirement was that you had to get a 2000 on the practice SAT that they gave.

I took their practice test. I got a 1890 or something. The guy basically told me and my mom that I wasn't good enough to go into their classes, and that I could not expect to get 2200+ on the SAT or National Merit Semifinalist...that I would be lucky if I even got between 2000 and 2100 on the SAT. He also looked at my grades, APs, extracurrics, etc., and told us that I should not expect to get into an Ivy League school and that I should aim lower, etc. He wanted me to sign up for a class offered by the company for "second-tier" students whom were not "good enough" to get a super high SAT score, but still had a hope of breaking 2000.

I was devastated after talking to him, but I held onto the hope that maybe I could do better.

I told my mom that I didn't want to sign up for the company's course (the idea of being visibly labeled as "second-best" did not really appeal to me either, plus it was ridic. expensive). I was planning to take Princeton Review, but I changed my mind because the courses were expensive and I didn't want to waste money on something I didn't think would help all that much.

I bought the blue Collegeboard SAT book, the Princeton Review SAT book, and a few smaller review books. I studied by myself for the SAT that summer. Nothing super intense, but I was fairly disciplined about it and studied fairly regularly. I was definitely motivated.

I took the SAT in October and got a 2300+ score. I also got National Merit semifinalist. My junior year was immensely successful in high school and I am graduating as my school's valedictorian. I was accepted to 6 out of the 8 Ivy League schools as well as other prestigious schools that I applied to. I will be attending Harvard in the fall. [I don't say any of this to boast, but to show how motivation really propelled me forward].

I recently called up the man who had basically dashed all my hopes two years ago and told him about where I was accepted and where I will be going next year. He was flabbergasted and started spewing BS about how he knew I'd do it all along and how he wanted me to review the company so they could post my picture and stats on their website for promotional purposes. I politely said no and hung up on him.

My point is. Don't let other people crash your dreams. YOU are the person in control of YOUR future.

[V12Juice]

Retake your SAT, anything below an 1800 is unacceptable. If you feel like you've thrown your life away, then you should realize that you DID throw your life away. Those moments in your life where you had a chance to study for an exam, but instead decided to slack off, its all biting you back. While those around you head off to prestigious universities, you are left behind waiting to be accepted by somewhere, anywhere. I'm not flat out saying you don't have a chance, but I would start being realistic instead of dreaming. As a person who understands what struggle means, I'll give you some options you can consider.

-Go to a Communtiy College. Yes, the words COMMUNITY COLLEGE may sound like john tesh YOU MOM I HATE YOU to your parents but it actually is a great alternative. IF you can promise yourself to become a hermit for one year, you have the opportunity to transfer to some UC's that take Sophomore year transfers. Most however, want you to stay 2 years at the CC and transfer as a junior, which isn't bad. You save money, you end up with a pretty good GPA (easier classes), and you have much more flexibility. Just tell your parents that you promise you will stop screwing around and will focus on studying. Do it for yourself too.

-Go to a Cal State (Although with a 1350 I wouldn't be too sure they would even take that). SJSU isn't hard to get in, in fact, I guarantee you will be accepted if you retake and get at least a 1650 and hold your GPA within 3.25~ Apply under an English major for easy in. DO NOT major in what your parents tell you. If you realize you aren't good in the science/math field and you fck up your GPA, say bye bye to Grad School or any med school. Do what you want, you aren't a kid anymore.

-Get off the computer and start hitting the SAT books + take Elite SAT classes.

Good luck, your parents should stop trying to control your life. You are an individual and you have every right to major in whatever you want, even if its something obscure like the "Study of Beethoven".

[chikashi]

^ Lol you have no idea.

A rep from Cal State Fullerton visited our campus and told us the requirements to get in the school: a minimum of 800 SATI score.

Just saying~

[xxxxxxx]

Retake your SAT, anything below an 1800 is unacceptable.

I got a 1600 on my SAT's. I got into UC's. SAT's do play a role in acceptances but not THAT big.

Honestly, I was in a similar situation as you were.
Being the second daughter, I was always overshadowed by my older sister. You know, the smart, amazing and social one. I envied her intelligence. She never had to work hard and she got a 2100 on her Sat's. She never went to SAT tutoring, she never touched a SAT/ ACT test prep book.She passed most of her AP tests witout studying, got A's and was saulutitorian. For me that was different, I always had to work hard and I still never got anywhere close to her.I'm a 4.0+ gpa student, I have bad test taking skills. I got a 1400 on my SAT'f for like three times and I went to SAT tutoring and studied. My parents became extremely worried for me. My dad hurt me a lot and there were times when I cried so hard because of my scores. It also worried me because my parents became desperate. Everytime they heard asian tutoring places advertising their prestigious program, my parents would contact them. I didn't want them to waste $1000 on my sat classes. My family was going through a financial crisis and SAT's were making it worse.

To make matters worse, my dad took me to lots of SAT tutoring places that straight out looked down at me. The moment they asked me what my scores were and my gpa, they questioned how I was able to get such good grades yet horrible test scores. Immediately, they started telling my parents I wouldn't get into a UC because my SAT's were so low. It bothered me because they didn't take my extracurricular activities into account.
One place was the most horrible. She straight out looked down at me and my parents because she took them as idiots for believing that I was going to be okay. She told me that I wasn't going to get into a UC. I would be lucky if I got into Davis or Riverside. She told me to try a Cal State but she said that I might have a chance because cal states ONLY accept 1600 or above and then she told me I should just go for a community college. That angered me a lot because I worked hard all my life. I wasn't going to settle for a community college ( no offense ) If I wanted to community college, I might as well gotten C's instead of busting my ass in school for A's. This woman didn't know who I was. She didn't even know what my leadership positions, my extraccuriculars were and she told me that I wasn't going to get into any school! Of course, I was pissed.
After that incident, my parents lost all their trust in me.

After that , I spent my summer going to school from 8-12 and then I ad to dedicate 4 hours of SAT's everday. And I went to ACT tutoring on the weekend. I worked really hard but in the end I got my score up to a 1600 but I improved my ACT score into a 27. Its not that great but I improved.
I faced humiliation several times. My doctor who is a complete ass told me that I shouldn't pursue a career in psychology because I won't earn money-___- I like psychology because it fascinates me.But one day, he asked me what my scores were and I was so embarassed. I told him lower than 2000 and he said oh, if its lower than 2000, its no good. He asked me what school I wanted to go to and I said a random UC. He told me that with a score lower than 2000, I won't get into a good UC and then he started spewing all this other BS. My dad was embarrassed and looked at me with shame.

It was really hard for me because I always felt that I tried hard but I was going nowhere. There were times that I was scared that I wouldn't get into a satisfying college for my parents. What I did to make up for my scores was other activities. I volunteered a lot because I wanted to do it, I did a hospital class and internship during the summer , I held leadership positions that supported my basis in my personal statement.

So yeah, I got into Rutgers University, UCI, UCSD, And UC Berkeley with a 1600 . I plan to comeback to that tutoring place and shove my acceptance letter to that woman's face and I encourage my dad to go to my doctor and say " HEY, MY DAUGHTER GOT INTO UC BERKELEY JUST LIKE YOUR KID"
My last ACT testing date was a huge key club event that I had to go. I was vice president and it was my job to go but I gave that up. I chose future over fun. Most of my friends looked at me weird because they were all finished with tests when I was still busting my ass. In the end, I got into the school that I wanted when they didn't =|

You should do what you want to do not your parents. Try a little harder in school and focus on your studying. Don't slack off, you have a few months to work on it and then you'll be free! I know you said that some of the colleges that you looked at didn't seem to fit you but you're going to get used it. And I know your parents want you to study science and medicine, but they're not the ones doing your college applications. If anything, you can always change your major.
Just hang in there. Junior year with SATs was pure hell to me but I got through it. wish you the best of luck.

oh and if anything,if you go to a CC, it's going to be okay. It's actually easier and cheaper and it'll give you time to see what you really want.

[한스 ㅋㅋ]

I'm a junior in HS.

you're only a junior in High school.... some people don't know what they want to do until their last year, which is a bit too late. But anyways.

I don't know school system in America, but in here, if you don't know what you want to do, just keep your options open.

not only that, people will change opinion throughout your years.
When I started HS, I don't know what I wanna do, obviously.
Then beginning of my senior year, I thought I want to do computer science/engineering. But last year I just changed my mind again to do Commerce.

So I think it's okay if you don't know what you want yet.