Three Ways to Get into the College of Your Choice (Even If You Don’t Exactly Have the Grades)

For those of you who are going on to higher learning after graduating from high school, you probably have a college in mind that you would love to be accepted at and attend. It does not matter if you are a senior or junior in high school; there is a college out there already cemented in your consciousness that this is the only college for you. 

 

But a funny thing can happen on your way to that first day at that college. 

 

You don’t get accepted. 

 

It is not so humorous—it kind of stinks. 

 

It Can Happen to the Best of Us

It happened to me, and it sent me into a spiral when I was 18 years old. I had been accepted at my college of choice only to have them say they had made a mistake two months before I was going to be moving into the dorm. It turns out they were concerned about my grades in high school from back when I was a freshman. I had struggled with a couple of courses then, and it was apparent they had gone back and read through all of my transcript instead of just relying on my overall grade point average. 

 

It was not fun trying to explain to my parents how I had been accepted and then not accepted in a couple of months. Plus, it left me scrambling to find another college that I believed I would like to attend. 

 

If Only… 

At that time, I accepted my dream college’s decision to turn me down without even trying to make my case. After being an educator for more than 15 years and teaching at the college level, I realize I had a few options to try to change their mind. Here are three ways to get into the college of your choice, even if your grades are not exactly the best out there. 

 

College Application Cover Letter

There are times when you don’t need the best college application cover letter (like when you have terrific grades in high school). However, if you are reading this article, you probably have to present an outstanding cover letter to get into that college you want. 

 

In this cover letter, write about the significant moments in your life, the obstacles you have overcome, and explain what exactly happened when your grades you were earning were less than ideal. Come clean with them! Don’t try to hide your poor grades from high school. Inform them instead of how they happened in the first place and how you plan to fix the problem in college. 

 

Key Recommendations

If you get suitable recommendations from educators, administrators, or other professionals, then it might just open up a closed door for you. Perhaps you know alumni from that college of choice that can put in a good word for you as well. Having the right person vouch for you and put their reputation on the line in doing so could have them take a second look at you. 

 

Ace the ACT or SAT

A high score on the ACT or SAT will show your dream college your potential even if your high school grades don’t quite picture it. This means that you better be prepared to spend quite a bit of time studying. Invest some time and money into a tutor that specializes in these standardized tests. Luckily, iAchieve has such tutors! Let our professionals help you get your best score on the ACT or SAT. If it is good enough, you may open some eyes on the college acceptance board and perhaps a door or two in the process. 

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