I'm about 90% positive going to Troy University. Thanks to my 32 on the ACT, that qualifies me for a full ride merit-based scholarship. If for whatever reason Troy doesn't workout, a full ride to Jacksonville State University.
I teach high school seniors, and they often say this type of thing ... and it's almost always incorrect. That 32 ACT is wonderful, but what it does is
qualify you to apply for those full-rides. Perhaps 100 people have those grades and 10 of them might get the scholarship.
Very important: Apply for these scholarships -- and I hope it works out! But, at the same time, have in mind a financial back-up plan. What could you do
if no scholarships come through for you? Don't say, "Oh, I don't need a back-up." Everyone does.
What do you mean by "I want to do business"? I had that same thought when I was in undergrad and got a general business degree. Then I found out that "do business" doesn't really mean anything? Most of the people I graduated with as business majors went to work for consulting firms, sales, or whatever the could get.
I would strongly consider a major in finance or accounting.
Good advice. My youngest has "the business brain" -- no one else in our family does. However, like you, she's fuzzy on just what she wants to do with that inclination.
Two other pieces of advice I'd add:
- Look for internships during college. In business, you need to make connections.
- Look into specializing in Supply Chain Management; I've heard it called The New MBA.
Lots of great job opportunities if you major in Accounting. You'll need 150 hours to sit for your CPA exam, so check to see what the program is at your college. Some people get a Masters in Accounting when they get 150 hours, which looks good on a resume but doesn't really mean anything.
Credit hours, also called Carnegie Units.
You sign up for college English 101. It is a 3 hour class. This means the class meets 3 hours per week (and you're expected to put in significantly more time outside of class). At the end of the semester, you'll have earned 3 credit hours. Most of your early college classes will be 3 credit classes, but Biology lab might only count 1 credit hour, while student teaching might be 12 credit hours. You might say to a friend, "I'm taking 15 hours this semester", which would mean you'd be in class 15 hours per week. A bachelor's degree typically requires 210-230 credit hours, depending upon your choices.
By go technical, do you mean like learning a trade? I wanted to do that too, but my parents are forcing me to go to college, and with it being free, there's little reason not to. I do want to learn a trade as well, maybe after I'm FI, but who knows.
Technical jobs -- high paying jobs requiring formal education with a STEM focus: Engineering, Computer Science, Architect
Trade jobs -- blue collar jobs with specialized training, but not necessarily formal education: Plumbing, Heating & Air, Cosmetology
I see a couple huge red flags here:
- You're choosing college because someone else is forcing you in that direction.
- You think it's going to be free. Realistically, this just doesn't happen. Last time I saw one of my high school students earn a truly free ride was ... three years ago? And that was military academy. Tuition scholarships, yes. Athletic scholarships, yes. But don't set yourself up for the idea that college will be free.
Marketing is also an incredibly hot area if you learn digital marketing (Adwords, Facebook advertising, etc.)
Yes, my youngest is interested in marketing. That particular niche of the business world is good for people who have an artistic /creative side AND who are excellent communicators, especially in writing.
This forum tends to appeal to engineering types. That's why you see so many here. They are not that common in the "real" world.
Yes, and although you'll find lots of people leaving high school with plans to go into engineering, more than half of them won't finish the program. It's a tough field of study that only works for people with a very specific skill set and personality.
I also meant to recommend that you study abroad during college. That is a great experience to live somewhere foreign for a semester or year. Once you graduate, you will be working ...
In my recruiting experience (as a student and recruiter), we avoided the 4.0 students with no social skills.
Studying abroad is a great idea; of course, you should keep this in mind as you choose your college. Choose a school that'll allow you to study abroad for local tuition.
As for the "we avoided the 4.0 students with no social skills", we see the same thing in high school. Every year I have students with excellent GPAs, AP credits ... but no real involvement outside of class, no leadership experience. Scholarships go to well rounded students, not necessarily those with tip-top grades. Don't get me wrong: I'm not saying grades aren't necessary ... but I am saying that grades aren't a stand-alone guarantee of anything.
You know yourself best. My cousin almost flunked out of college because of partying too much. But don't avoid a school because of a party reputation. It's not like high school where there are only a few hundred people. At college/university there are literally thousands of people, and it is very easy to make friends with people who don't party a lot.
Yes, you know yourself best.
When I headed out to college I chose a "study hall" dorm, which was sort of the precursor to today's Honors programs. It was an awful environment. I moved out after one semester.
My daughter just graduated from one of the biggest party schools in our region. She graduated on time with an excellent GPA, a month later passed the NCLEX exam, and starts her professional job next week. Clearly being at a "party school" didn't hold her back. She practiced good time management and did what needed to be done.
Some people can do that, while others are easily led astray by a roommate who says, "Come on, you can study tomorrow night." Be honest with yourself about what you really need to succeed in college.
And as far as your extracurriculars go, pick a few things to emphasize, not everything. The weirder the better, I think. If you were President of The Bagpipe Society for 4 years and took your school bagpipe team to Nationals, where you took the prize for Best Kilts, that should be front and center. Pick something that makes you stand out. If you list your clubs and positions, we can help you highlight your achievements. Also, any volunteer work? Again, looking for something unusual, like helping native Tagalog speakers learn English.
Yes, I tell my students that it's better to have been involved in 1-2 activities for a long period of time /showing a progression towards leadership rather than being minimally involved with a smattering of interests. And, yes, your Bagpipe Society, which I assume is fictional, is exactly the type of thing that catches the eye of scholarship committees.
Don't ask "have you ever hired someone from Troy?" The question should be "Do you recruit on-campus at Troy?" You want the firm to be doing on-campus presentations, interviewing on-campus, etc.
Nicely worded. What you're really asking is, "Do you consider Troy's program strong enough that they consistently turn out graduates who are ready for the rigors of the work world? Do you see enough of them that you're willing to pay to send a recruiter out to find these people at Troy?"
(3.8 GPA, 32 ACT, parents combined income is around $115 k). Any suggestions?
Is this an unweighted GPA? With a 32 ACT, I'd have expected a higher GPA.