Should I even go to college?
I want to go to college, and my family supports me, but I’m worried about two big things: money and whether my academic record is good enough.
I go to a top-ranked high school in my state, but my extracurriculars and course load don’t reflect that. I started high school dreaming of becoming an animator, but once I realized how risky and unpredictable that career path is, I switched to medicine. That change caught me off guard.
I didn’t understand the importance of AP classes until late sophomore year. Up until then, I thought I was doing great—straight A’s in mostly honors classes and a few extracurriculars. But I later realized I wasn’t building much college credit or showing enough academic rigor. My main activity has been JROTC, which I enjoy, but it gives off a military-focused impression that doesn’t fit who I am ( I can barely lift my body weight, let alone pass basic training in my current state)
I tried to course-correct by taking more rigorous classes. I planned to take two APs and a dual enrollment English class, but scheduling issues left me with just AP Psychology (which I got a 4 on). Now I’m a senior, Key Club President, and JROTC’s Security Officer. But with a 26 on the ACT and limited AP classes so far, I’m nervous about whether colleges will accept me—or offer enough financial aid.
My family's middle class. My mom’s a secretary, and my dad's an HVAC tech. They’re divorced, and though they’re hopeful I’ll get financial aid (merit and need).
I’m scared I won't or it won't be enough. I’m loading up on APs this year to try to improve my chance of admission.
If anyone has advice on how to move forward this year, I’m open to it.
My dream schools are Howard (administration issues aside) and UNC (but I'm out of state in Louisiana, so that's kind of a pipe dream)
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2 answers
Hey! I would definitely say not to stress out about APs because if you are already have straight As in mostly honors classes, I think that will be enough to show some academic rigor. Building college credit doesn't really matter because each university has their own terms and conditions for AP so it might not even matter in the long run. I think that I would definitely just stay consistent with your extracurriculars because it is a little late to add any new ones as you are a senior. I would say that you should really really work on your essays if you are worried about academic rigor or extracurriculars; essays can really make or break your application. I would definitely research the schools that you want to attend and look into financial aid packages, scholarships, grants, etc. Many schools give decent financial aid but you have to look at what is most cost effective for you and your situation.
UNC out of state is definitely not cheap. There are plenty of colleges that give great merit aid. The most important thing is to do your research! Don't stress too much about AP classes -- they do not play a "make or break" role in college admissions!
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