Going to College
 

I just have a question regarding colleges.
I joined the army right out of high school as a way to pay for college. I never took my SATs or anything while in high school nor did I do any community service or anything like that. My GPA was ok like 3.5 or something like that. Anyways, I want to go to a good university when I get out. Is that still possible or is that something you can really only do right out of high school? If so, what all is required to get admissions?

you might want to write to a few universities in which you're interested, tell them your situation, and ask their advice on how to proceed. also, there may be career counselors in the army who can help you out. i came out of the air force and began school, but i knew where i wanted to go so it was pretty straightforward...

I would guess that for a lot of schools your situation would work to your advantage. It makes you unique compared to those just out of high school and demonstrates your maturity and self-sufficiency.

As Uncle Phil says, you should contact the schools you're interested in. If a lot of time has passed, you might need to retake SATs or something like that.

The best advice I could give you is to take the SAT/ACT. That will pretty much open the doors now and later on. As sad as it is, colleges tend to rate test score as more important than GPA. Not to say a horrid GPA and a great SAT is better than an average in both. But, a good SAT and an average GPA beats a good GPA and an average SAT. So take the test, do the military thing, worse comes to worse its 3 hours out of your life and the rewards might be worth thousands a year.

I got a 3.0 GPA and a 28 on my ACT...
I didn't get into the college that I wanted, aparently because of the GPA.

Since you have done something in between high school and college and you still want to go, I imagine it shows some more devotion to wanted to go, so you should be well off.

Neato, alot of times if you go to a community college and then keep your gpa up there say a 3.5 or so they don't even look at your act when transfering into another college all you need is a gpa of 3.0 out of college. So if the college you applied to didn't like your gpa in the first place try to transfer again.


spived2 I would suggest the same for you, if you find a community college or something like that, that doesn't need a act test to get in you should be able to transfer out into a univercity after just taking a few of the basic courses for a year. Although if i was you I'd still take the ACT's they aren't that tuff. Just do a little review in allgebra.

OK thanks for all the advice. My hopes are a little higher now for getting in.
Miekle, I have taken some college through Georgia Military College so hopefully they will take that.

Thanks all

Most colleges require you take the SAT's so just keep that in mind. And a 3.5 GPA is certainly nothing to be ashamed of.

I knew this girl who transferred to Harvard from the Junior College. She had a 4.0. I did not think it was possible, bust she said it was easy. You should have a good chance. I agree that you should call the schools you want to get in to and explain your situation.

yep.
given your experience, grades, and if you take the SATs, I'd say you will get to go to a good school, no problem!

Best of luck too.

Most folks in positions to make those choices understand that military experience just about guarantees a certain level of maturity and level-headedness not present in those coming right out of HS.

Aren't most GPAs weighted? so a really high GPA is more like a 4.6 but reduces to a max of 4.0

It's amazing that about half of college freshmen drop out during the first year. So it's true that your militiary experience will help you get accepted. Plus, you're probably prepared to go to various locations across the country for a good college that will accept you. And can't you get cheap flights on militiary transport aircraft if youve been in the service, in order to visit family? At least that's what I've heard.

Doesn't the army help you to get into the school you want to go to? Or have you thouhg/can you do ROTC. I really think that with your GPA you're probably smart so you'll do well on the SATs (which aren't that hard). Good luck in your search!

Seriously, its not hard to get into a good school, i got to Toledo U, which is a damn good school, i only got a 25 on my act, and had below a 3.0 for my gpa, and i got in no prob...so seriously, no worries.