Is it possible for me to get a scholarship to a top university?

Question

Hey, I want to get a scholarship to an Ivy League school. I basically failed freshman year (my school still thought I was a complete moron and put my in general ed classes, I started smoking weed and everything, the whole nine yard, I was really just screwed up) Last year I did VERY well, I recieved straight A's high honor roll, the whole deal. However, I do not have any honors classes or AP classes. I do plan on taking classes at a local university though which hopefully will work for whatever college I'm applying to. The thing is though even though I may be able to handle all this and do all these extra activities for college on the side, I still feel that I won't even have a shot at a GOOD college, like NYU let alone an Ivy. I'm also fed up with people saying it's impossible, it's not impossible, I'm willing to put the time and effort in.

NOW TO THE QUESTION:

I just wanted to give anyone who is reading this a little background on what the deal is here. So basically I want to apply for scholarships next year or the year after. I have NO IDEA what scholarships, merits, or grants are, or how to apply/receive them. Could I get a full ride to Columbia or Harvard, NYU or UVA? Are there certain requirements? Please let me know.

Answer 1

First, let's correct some of the totally wrong info here. Ivy league schools DO NOT give any merit scholarships. They give need based aid only, which is to say if your family is low income getting a full ride will happen if you get in. They meet 100% of everyone's financial need as determined by them. NYU does offer merit scholarships to their top applicants.

That siad, your best bet is to aim for an ivy for grad school. With a bad year and no honors or APs for 2 years, an ivy isn't going to happen for undergrad.

Work like crazy now and you will get into many good colleges. Do well in college and you'll have an ivy degree after grad school, and the last degree is the most important anyway.

Answer 2

First of all, NYU is not ivy league. They have a 35% acceptance rate.

I'm going to be honest with you.

Full ride? no. barely anyone gets full rides to these kinds of colleges, people who are 1st in their class don't get accepted. if you went to a public school its going to be harder.

Just work on getting into the college. Write your essay about how you decided to change because going to that particular school (change it for each college you apply to, so for columbia write you were focused on going to columbia, for princeton write princeton, etc). but make sure you dont make it seem like you want a pity acceptance. write about how this makes you a strong person and when you are determined and driven, you can accomplish anything. this way, you are showing your best attributes without seeming cocky or desperate.

as for the money situation, talk to your guidance counselor about applying to outside scholarships. many of them require you to write essays, and it sucks, but it has to be done. make sure you have your counselor or english teacher read them over. also ask about how you can apply for grants. also register with the FAFSA form.

make sure you also apply to some back up schools--a state school, other universites that are prestigous, just maybe not Ivy, such as University of Connecticut, University of Delaware, University of Maryland, Boston College, etc.

The best thing is that colleges are going to like seeing that you made a huge improvement from freshman year. since that is right now your strongest factor, I would play it up. Also, schedule interviews with the college if they grant them.

Taking classes at the local university is an excellent idea. I would HIGHLY suggest taking honors and AP classes.

Good luck and don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't do something.

Answer 3

well u do have a chance as long as all the bad stuff u did doesn't reflect on ur school records. if they do, ur chances are kind of lowered.

most ivy colleges are private and they offer merit scholarships to incoming freshmen. merit scholarships are based on ur high school performance and ur SAT and/or ACT scores.

most of these scholarships do not need a separate application; an application to the school automatically enters you into the scholarship apps pool.

you can also get money if u fill the FAFSA.

the best thing to do is to narrow down the colleges  want to apply to and go to their websites. it'll tell u the scholarships they have for freshmen and which ones need separate applications.

its not difficult, u just have to be ready to spend a lot of time writing essays, sitting in front of a computer. calling the university is also a really good approach. emails are faster tho.

hope this helps. if u need any more help let me know.