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Getting into college w/ low gpa and high test scores

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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
So i fucked myself this year (and in all of high school) by letting my gpa slip from a 4.0 freshman year, all the way down to like a 2.5 this year. Granted theyve all been AP classes and shit, but my transcripts gonna look bad. The good thing is i did well on the ACT and SAT (32 and 1380 out of 1600 respectively, so im wondering what my range of colleges is.

sparknotes: low gpa but really good test scores. anyone on NS in this boat? what colleges did you get into?
Apr 20 2016 8:51PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
Sounds like you are going to community college bud. Was it worth being a fuck up in high school?
Apr 20 2016 8:57PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884
Can get into a lot of public colleges and mid-tier privates maybe
Apr 20 2016 8:59PM
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
Just apply where you want to go and see what happens. You never know. If you get shot down, just go to community college for a year or two. All the basic electives and science classes are the same at a forth of the cost.
Apr 20 2016 9:01PM
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.Hugo.
Posts: 17360 - Karma: 28,488
DBack1321at a forth of the cost.


This is what happens if you go to community college
Apr 20 2016 9:55PM
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Brue
Posts: 392 - Karma: 1,948
You will get into a decent college without a doubt. People saying community college are fucking with you, or I hope they are.

You can submit a explanation for your poor GPA in the Common App (ask your counselor where). That alone will drastically increase your chances into your ideal school. With your current GPA and ACT, I would say UVM, and CU - Boulder are both likely to accept you. Alabama easily, High Point possibly, Anything under the top 100 rankings I would say would be safeties. Then again, rankings won't matter much...

There is a website called "Naviance" that shows student's GPAs, and their Test scores and where they got into and didn't get into. Just look online for a school with the option to enter their 'Naviance' page as a guest. Some schools on the list get an extra +1.0 to their GPA for having all AP and Honor courses.

Link: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/115922-if-your-school-guidance-has-naviance-please-give-me-the-code.html

Last thing, the college process makes no sense. You can get into a 'better college', yet get rejected by a 'worse' one. Just matters on what the colleges look at with more value. Good Luck!
Apr 20 2016 10:02PM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheSounds like you are going to community college bud. Was it worth being a fuck up in high school?


so funny story, i did the same thing as op, except for the 4.0 freshman year. i kept it classy with mid 2's the whole time. dropped out, got my g.e.d. skied and worked. started community college recently at 22 and im soon to transfer to the best school in colorado. so i guess what im trying to say is suck my dick.
Apr 20 2016 10:04PM
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270on420out
Posts: 7519 - Karma: 51,243
Just go to community college for 2 years. Do well there and dont fuck around. Then go to an actual college.
Apr 20 2016 10:05PM
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DFJ
Posts: 707 - Karma: 1,337
I would assume schools would rather see high gpa and low test scores if they had to choose because it is actually more of a representation of your "academic career" vs one test.

But yea if you dont get into schools you want community college and then transfer is probably a really good option. Not only will it cost less but your intro classes wont be giant lecture halls with teachers trying to get kids to fail the class so they can reduce the possible majors.

You also have two more years to bring your grades up.
Apr 20 2016 10:05PM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheSounds like you are going to community college bud. Was it worth being a fuck up in high school?


DBack1321Just apply where you want to go and see what happens. You never know. If you get shot down, just go to community college for a year or two. All the basic electives and science classes are the same at a forth of the cost.


THEDIRTYBUBBLEJust go to community college for 2 years. Do well there and dont fuck around. Then go to an actual college.


colorado community colleges have an almost guaranteed acceptance to almost every state school. assume its the same with other states.
Apr 20 2016 10:09PM
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JGWI
Posts: 2842 - Karma: 7,812
^ Yeah that.

Try to be realistic though, don't go applying to ivy league schools and getting discouraged when they turn you down. Admission boards love detailed applications so put an explanation in there. Also know that if you don't get into your ideal school right away, you can always transfer provided that your performance in college allows. I did poor in HS and ended up with a 3.0 thus shutting out a lot of opportunity. Now being in college with a good GPA, the door has once again opened for me to go where I want. However, I'm starting to like this place so I think I'll just stay right here.
Apr 20 2016 10:09PM
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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
RICK_ROSSso funny story, i did the same thing as op, except for the 4.0 freshman year. i kept it classy with mid 2's the whole time. dropped out, got my g.e.d. skied and worked. started community college recently at 22 and im soon to transfer to the best school in colorado. so i guess what im trying to say is suck my dick.


im out in colorado too and cmc seems like a sweet option right now, but would you say that the dropout to ged to community college was a rough route, or was it fine and not terrible? it seems like the people who shit on this route arent the ones who take it.
Apr 20 2016 10:26PM
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
Fred_BearThis is what happens if you go to community college


Lol good catch. Too bad I never went to community college.
Apr 20 2016 10:28PM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
Isaac.im out in colorado too and cmc seems like a sweet option right now, but would you say that the dropout to ged to community college was a rough route, or was it fine and not terrible? it seems like the people who shit on this route arent the ones who take it.


dude it totally it depends on where you live and your education before you drop out. i dropped out for some personal reasons early in my senior year, and before that i had an amazing simi private high school education. i am by no means advocating it.

that being said i had my g.e.d. within 2 weeks of quitting school. i had no plans of ever going to college. 3 years later i actually realized i need a degree. cmc is amazing! i went to ccd for a semester and now im at red rocks who has a direct transfer program to mines.

summarized, im kinda sorta smart, cant spell or read good, dyslexia dammit, highschool just wasnt for me and i never gave a shit because i was a shit but then i got my shit together.
Apr 20 2016 10:44PM
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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
RICK_ROSSi never gave a shit because i was a shit but then i got my shit together.


haha thanks man. probably the best insight ive gotten to that question
Apr 20 2016 10:49PM
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
RICK_ROSSso funny story, i did the same thing as op, except for the 4.0 freshman year. i kept it classy with mid 2's the whole time. dropped out, got my g.e.d. skied and worked. started community college recently at 22 and im soon to transfer to the best school in colorado. so i guess what im trying to say is suck my dick.


So your saying you fucked around in high school then went to community college? Ugh wake the fuck up dude. Exactly what I told op. So I don't really understand what you're trying to say. But I am a university man, so I don't speak dumb ass let alone associate with cc people.
Apr 21 2016 12:26AM
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User1
Posts: 402 - Karma: 2,218
RICK_ROSScant spell or read good


I can tell
Apr 21 2016 12:30AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheSo your saying you fucked around in high school then went to community college? Ugh wake the fuck up dude. Exactly what I told op. So I don't really understand what you're trying to say. But I am a university man, so I don't speak dumb ass let alone associate with cc people.


try and be a little less coherent, please. yeah, i fucked around in high school. yeah im going to cc, but im already excepted to school of mines in the fall/spring 2017, hopefully, my dad only has 5mil :(
Apr 21 2016 12:42AM
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foolmetwice
Posts: 613 - Karma: 1,182
I just went through the application process with a similar situation to yours and got into some mid tier public schools. My gpa went from a 3.0 when I started senior yr to a 2.65 after the first semester (along with 29 act). I applied to Colorado state, University of Denver, and U of MN Duluth before my first semester transcripts were released and got accepted into csu and umd and defered from du. I also never got a teacher reccomendation which I think all schools claim to be required. I got defered from UVM amd declined from Lewis and Clark, CU Boulder and Puget Sound all of which I applied to after my first semester transcripts were sent out. So OP you might not get into your top choice but if you make sure to apply to schools around the level of csu or msu you should be good.
Apr 21 2016 12:42AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheSo your saying you fucked around in high school then went to community college? Ugh wake the fuck up dude. Exactly what I told op. So I don't really understand what you're trying to say. But I am a university man, so I don't speak dumb ass let alone associate with cc people.


RICK_ROSStry and be a little less coherent, please. yeah, i fucked around in high school. yeah im going to cc, but im already excepted to school of mines in the fall/spring 2017, hopefully, my dad only has 5mil :(


forgot to add, suck my dick
Apr 21 2016 12:44AM
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foolmetwice
Posts: 613 - Karma: 1,182
foolmetwiceI just went through the application process with a similar situation to yours and got into some mid tier public schools. My gpa went from a 3.0 when I started senior yr to a 2.65 after the first semester (along with 29 act). I applied to Colorado state, University of Denver, and U of MN Duluth before my first semester transcripts were released and got accepted into csu and umd and defered from du. I also never got a teacher reccomendation which I think all schools claim to be required. I got defered from UVM amd declined from Lewis and Clark, CU Boulder and Puget Sound all of which I applied to after my first semester transcripts were sent out. So OP you might not get into your top choice but if you make sure to apply to schools around the level of csu or msu you should be good.


Oh and apply early action to your top choices because you'll have a much better chance of getting in and once your accepted u can chill for the rest of senior yr.
Apr 21 2016 12:46AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
foolmetwiceonce your accepted u can chill for the rest of senior yr.


wut. no.
Apr 21 2016 12:49AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheBut I am a university man, so I don't speak dumb ass let alone associate with cc people.


guys watch out. UNIVERSITY MAN OVER HERE. Hi's fraternity brothers dads will never hire me.
Apr 21 2016 12:55AM
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
RICK_ROSSforgot to suck my moms dick


K
Apr 21 2016 1:01AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNocheK


idaho universities killin the debate team huh?
Apr 21 2016 1:03AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
McNochei wish i had gone to cc and saved 40k over a couple years but i chose to play into the system. #trump2k16


k
Apr 21 2016 1:07AM
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
RICK_ROSSk


Is $40,00 a lot of money to some?
Apr 21 2016 1:29AM
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gapersarefriends
Posts: 2158 - Karma: 4,270
Im in the same place as you OP, i got rejected from colorado college, boston college, and udub, but got into boulder, boise state, uvm, umaine, unh, and a bunch of california schools, and university of victoria in canada. moral of the story is write a good essay and you'll be fine
Apr 21 2016 1:31AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
User1I can tell


I can only imagine how proud your family is from you when in the 8th grade spelling bee
Apr 21 2016 1:48AM
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RICK_ROSS
Posts: 6983 - Karma: 3,343
RICK_ROSSI can only imagine how proud your family is from you when in the 8th grade spelling bee


May I redo that? I feel like it would've been really good if I hadn't used Siri at midnight, and proofread, and not been drunk, and #520.
Apr 21 2016 1:51AM
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KravtZ
Posts: 6637 - Karma: 2,629
haha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.
Apr 21 2016 8:38AM
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McNoche
Posts: 1731 - Karma: 3,661
RICK_ROSSbut im already excepted to school


*Accepted
Apr 21 2016 9:18AM
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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


Thanks for the advice, but I think you misread it. The SAT is out of 1600 this year and I got a 1380. It's not a 1380 out of 2400 haha
Apr 21 2016 9:30AM
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Turd.Ferguson
Posts: 1437 - Karma: 2,713
Isaac.Thanks for the advice, but I think you misread it. The SAT is out of 1600 this year and I got a 1380. It's not a 1380 out of 2400 haha


also, a 32 is a pretty lit ACT score. I was happy with my 27 and am basically in the same boat as you GPA wise.
Apr 21 2016 10:29AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,191
Well to give you an idea MSU didn't even consider my GPA. They just looked at my ACT score. So you'll be able to get into schools but nothing incredible. But you'll still get money from a place like MSU.
Apr 21 2016 11:31AM
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CabbyArrant
Posts: 780 - Karma: 4,128
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


Cc sucks I go to one so I don't have to take out loans and they don't offer a lot of classes and they make them harder than they need to be to keep their accreditation.
Apr 21 2016 11:33AM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,191
RICK_ROSSidaho universities killin the debate team huh?


I'm ashamed McNoche lives in the same state that I do.
Apr 21 2016 11:35AM
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DBack1321
Posts: 410 - Karma: 485
To try and add a little to this thread beside the homo cock slapping fight those two are having, I had a 2.7 out of high school and I think around 1670 on the SAT. I joined the military, but when I got out I applied to MSU, UVM, Colorado State and UConn. Got into all of them but UVM (fuck them haha) so all hope is not lost.

If the rest of your application isn't buttholes, you'll get in somewhere.

Where do you want to go?
Apr 21 2016 11:54AM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
Fuck the haters. I didn't even have half bad highschool grades and I went to community college for my first year before transferring. I saved more than $30,000 in freshman tuition fees and was able to work and save money for my sophmore year at "real" university.

While it was not the most fun scenario, it was probably the best financial decision I've ever made. AND I was able to be accepted into every school I applied for after that year.
Apr 21 2016 11:59AM
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Peter.
Posts: 23796 - Karma: 13,014
you have great standardized test scores, and were taking hard classes which somewhat neutralizes that 2.5. as long as you have some sort of extracurriculars and can write a decent essay, you'll be fine.

but in all seriousness, this is the type of question that you should be asking your guidance counselor at school, not NS
Apr 21 2016 12:31PM
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Randy_Quench
Posts: 5447 - Karma: 4,343
KravtZGood luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


This.

CabbyArrantCc sucks I go to one so I don't have to take out loans and they don't offer a lot of classes and they make them harder than they need to be to keep their accreditation.


If you think CC is "harder than it needs to be" then you clearly don't belong in a real university. I'm far from being a great student and I made kids in my CC classes look like fucking plebs.

I do however agree with your comments on the affordability and availability of courses.
Apr 21 2016 12:49PM
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CabbyArrant
Posts: 780 - Karma: 4,128
Randy_QuenchThis.



If you think CC is "harder than it needs to be" then you clearly don't belong in a real university. I'm far from being a great student and I made kids in my CC classes look like fucking plebs.

I do however agree with your comments on the affordability and availability of courses.


I'm not saying all are harder than it needs to be but the communtity college I attend has a program for engineering students that if you maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA you are pre accepted to the University of Illinois engineering school. The reason I said the classes are harder than they need to be is because they follow the universities sylabus and employ many adjunct professors. three of my five professors last semester had Phd's in their respective subjectsand taught at larger universities
Apr 21 2016 4:13PM
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BedBugDoug
Posts: 590 - Karma: 2,253
All colleges care about is money, so if you can pay they will take you. plus your test scores are pretty good, so i think they would just overlook your gpa.
Apr 21 2016 4:21PM
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Deforestation
Posts: 1606 - Karma: 3,194
RICK_ROSSso funny story, i did the same thing as op, except for the 4.0 freshman year. i kept it classy with mid 2's the whole time. dropped out, got my g.e.d. skied and worked. started community college recently at 22 and im soon to transfer to the best school in colorado. so i guess what im trying to say is suck my dick.


Colorado College or Air Force?
Apr 21 2016 4:52PM
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.lencon
Posts: 6753 - Karma: 17,191
Also, haven't you missed all the deadlines?
Apr 21 2016 7:45PM
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Brue
Posts: 392 - Karma: 1,948
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


A 32 out of 36 is very impression compared to the national average of a 22 on the Act...
Apr 21 2016 7:56PM
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Brue
Posts: 392 - Karma: 1,948
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


A 32 out of 36 is very impression compared to the national average of a 22 on the Act...
Apr 21 2016 7:56PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


A 32 out of 36 is very impression compared to the national average of a 22 on the Act...
Apr 21 2016 7:59PM
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Spagett+
Posts: 3499 - Karma: 14,884
KravtZhaha dude sorry to break it to you 2.5 gpa is awful. Your test scores aren't that great either if anything they are below average (especially comparing them to top public school scores). I went to one and a 1600 was so far on the lower end of the spectrum. Not to mention your GPA trends downward every year which shows schools you truly dont care and didn't make an effort to get better.

Good luck with your community college goals of 2016. Nothing wrong with a CC. Crush it there and transfer out a year later.


A 32 out of 36 is very impression compared to the national average of a 22 on the Act...
Apr 21 2016 7:59PM
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Brue
Posts: 392 - Karma: 1,948
Spagett+A 32 out of 36 is very impression compared to the national average of a 22 on the Act...


You got me... ;L
Apr 21 2016 8:14PM
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Isaac.
Posts: 86 - Karma: 810
.lenconAlso, haven't you missed all the deadlines?


im still a junior. just thinking ahead and making sure i havent screwed myself entirely
Apr 22 2016 1:45AM
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