The thing most students don’t get is that it is not the quantity of the things you do, but the quality. If you played ten sports but rode the bench in all of them, I don’t think it would speak as highly of you as would playing one sport but being “all-state.” College admissions people are on the lookout for “clubbers”—people who join but don’t do. They want to see passion for a couple of things you really care about. My advice: find the couple of things you really enjoy and try to excel at them.

College admission committees look at more than your grades. Among other things, they look at the courses in which you got those grades, your experiences outside of school, the competitiveness of your high school, etc. The fact that you’re Asian might or might not play a role in the decision; it really depends on your credentials and the applicant pool at the time you apply. So do you have a shot? Again, that depends on the applicant pool at the time you apply. But it is worth a shot.

You might also consider why it’s so important to you to attend a “prestigious Ivy.” You’d be better served if you considered what you want from college and then looked at schools, both Ivy and otherwise, that provide the best match for your desires. If, for instance, you want to go to medical school, check out the med school admission rate for a number of different colleges. If you want your professors to be more involved in mentoring you, you might want to pick a university that focuses on teaching more than research. You might discover that a “non-Ivy” will prepare you just as well.

First, let me say that I am not an expert on Cornell’s admissions criteria. Second, I’m going to assume that you applied to Cornell out of high school and, for whatever reason, didn’t get in.

Every university has a unique transfer policy; many schools welcome transfer students with open arms and go out of their way to make it easy for them to do so. Your first step in making your dream come true is to find out what Cornell’s policy is. Call the school’s undergraduate admissions office, tell them you’re interested in transferring, and ask for all the appropriate information. As a prospective transfer student, you will need to structure your current academic work so that it will transfer as credit for graduation to Cornell. This means you need to review Cornell’s requirements for graduation and begin to work toward that goal even though you are not a student there. This will likely require some contact with Cornell to ensure that the courses you are taking in Albany do transfer in the way you expect.

Keep in mind, though, that you may eventually want or need to finish at Albany, so it is best to try and take courses that “work” at both schools. It's sort of a "back door" approach. This does not work at every school and has an element of risk, but I’m going to lay this out for you as truly an alternative for dreamers.

Many universities have an evening college or continuing education school where you can take courses offered by the regular university, often at the same time of day. The difference is that 1) you are not a degree candidate; and 2) you aren’t going to get certain benefits of other students (like the option of living on campus which, for freshmen, lessens the college experience). The strategy here is to rack up a number of hours (maybe 30-50) toward your intended major, then apply to the school for admissions as a degree candidate.

Then, if you’ve done well in these prior courses, the school typically admits you as a degree candidate. Again, there is always the possibility that you won’t get in, but if you discuss this possibility with Cornell openly, you may feel good enough about your chances to give it a try. I know a number of students who have gained admissions to colleges and earned degrees by this back door admissions approach. But by all means, apply to the school first as a transfer student. Good luck with your dream.

Washed up at 16? I don’t think so. You should see the questions I get. What pressure students feel to be absolutely perfect. Do well the next two years, work hard to score well on the SAT, get involved in things you enjoy, and you will get into a great school. Maybe it won’t be Harvard or Stanford, but who cares? There are many excellent colleges out there who will love to have you, you’ll get a great education, and you'll have fun in the process. So relax and enjoy high school with the confidence that your future has good things in store for you.

Personally, I’d set my sights a little higher. Your grade point average is only one part of your application. Perhaps you’re an outstanding baseball player. Or maybe you play the flute. What about your SAT/ACT scores? Select a group of five or six schools whose admissions reguirements range from non-selective to selective (you can find these in any college handbook in your local bookstore). Then structure your application in the best possible way. You might surprise yourself. There’s no reason why you can’t attend a good school and make a living afterwards—especially if you are “very intelligent.”

In earlier questions, we talked about transferring from one college to another, and the same strategies apply. If your intent is to end up in a specific four-year college, and you’d like to start out at a community college, you need to begin your studies with that in mind. Some four-year colleges actually have “feeder” community colleges that they look to for transfer students. A few calls to the admissions offices of the colleges of your choice will help you discover what they are.

Extracurricular activities matter (there are questions below and in the Guru archive which address this subject thoroughly). Whether they can overcome Ds is doubtful. You need to do better in those classes, and if you can’t do better, get out of them.

My dad used to tell this joke about the kid who brought home three Fs and and a D on his report card, and when his father asked him what the problem was, the kid says, “I think I’m spending too much time on one subject.” The point is that maybe you can spend less time on the subjects you do very well in, and more time on the subjects that are kicking your butt.

Also, when you get around to applying to college, make sure you select schools that match up favorably with the work you have done. Put some thought into it. As for being a ward of the state, it probably won’t affect decisions on admissions at most places. On the other hand, you have obviously had to deal with problems that others have not, and you should, on your application (perhaps in the essay), describe your less-than-ideal home life (and in particular, how you have overcome those things to achieve anyway). Admissions people love a winner.

I believe you will find a college that is right for you, and with a college education, you have the potential to create a far better life for yourself than you have had growing up. Good luck.

Gee, where to start? Well, first, law school comes after undergraduate college, so no point in thinking about that for about six years. I think you might be better off trying to figure out how to get out of high school and with luck and hard work, a decent college.

Maybe at the moment you're struggling to think of yourself in a positive way, but that’s the first step. What do you do well? Sports? Mr. Personality? Hard-working? Try to build on those things.

Next, you say you were diagnosed with ADD. Are you being treated, too? If not, you’re only halfway there. Since your folks have money, encourage them to spend some of it on other testing. You may have learning disabilities that are holding you back and not even know it. Check it out.

I’d encourage your folks to spend some money on tutoring, too. You are probably so far behind in everything that just wanting to do well is going to be tough. Check out a Sylvan Learning Center or the host of private tutors to help you. You can catch up.

Finally, do not count yourself out of the game at age 16. You have much ahead of you to live for. I personally think you’ve had some crappy support along the way to be in the situation you’re in. Write me again and let me know how it is going.

A note to the many educators reading this column: Please look around your school tomorrow and see if there’s a kid that fit’s the description above. I’ll bet there is. If so, reach out. That’s a cry for help.

Colleges typically prefer students with higher GPAs and lower SAT scores to those with high SAT scores and lower GPAs. The reasons for this are many. Among them:

Grades reflect your performance over an extended period of time while the SAT only reflects your ability to take a particular kind of test.

Some students just aren’t great standardized test takers.

Standardized tests don’t reflect your intelligence, just your ability to take tests.

And admissions committees prefer students who live up to their academic potential in high school to those who don’t. After all, they want to get a sense of your commitment to your high school education so they can gauge how likely you are to succeed in college when you lack the structure (and parents) that help keep you focused on school.

All of that said, it’s important to remember that college admissions aren’t based on your SAT scores and GPA alone. Admissions committees also closely evaluate recommendations, essays, and extracurriculars (and leadership in those extracurriculars in particular). Consequently, low grades don’t have to be the death knell of your application. Good luck!

I can't tell you whether you'll get into one of these schools eventually, but I would say that if you maintain an excellent academic record, and if you're an exceptional engineer (I can't tell your level of skill from this question, of course)...then certainly you have a shot at getting into a great engineering program.

I would even say that you don't have to attend one of these three schools to enter a well-founded engineering program and create your own version of professional success. (Although, please go ahead and apply to those three!) Collect a couple of stellar recommendations from current professors who can speak to your engineering proficiency, and certainly maintain your 4.0 if at all possible. Talk to your adviser at your current college as soon as possible to form a game plan for transferring into a four-year university. I would also recommend you apply to several different schools that have varying levels of selectivity.

Above all, I would say that the tone of your e-mail demonstrates your confidence in yourself and in your abilities. That is so very important. Remember that your persistence and confidence, added to your talent and work ethic, will take you much farther than if you relied on your intelligence alone. Good luck.

It doesn't really work in the way you're thinking: You can't just take more extracurriculars to compensate for the difference in bad grades.  Schools look at a combination of extracurriculars, grades, tests, and your personal essay, but they also always prefer better grades to worse!

What you need to do most is figure out how to get the help you need to raise your grades. Consider tutoring, rearranging your schedule, giving yourself incentives to study (besides junk food, probably, although that's always my struggle...), asking your parents or guardian to hold you accountable to do your homework, having study gatherings with your friends, asking your teachers for extra assistance outside of class, etc, etc.

There are so many ways you can work on getting your grades up. That should be your main focus for right now. Yes, of course get involved in some activities you love--it adds variety to your life--but don't think that joining X number of activities will make up for the D's you have earned. That's an algebra formula that just doesn't hold up.

Thank you for writing me. I think that the fact you are determined enough to take the first step and even write someone for help means that you really do want this. You sound committed to your goals. And if you know you're intelligent and can handle the training when you apply yourself, then I also believe that you will be able to work in IT or computer engineering.

Now, the best thing you can do is work with what you've got where you are. See what local resources are available to you. Get on the internet and find all the four-year and two-year schools with technical/computer training in your area (I'd suggest a 30-mile radius to start). Then your next step is to contact the admissions office of each school and ask them some general questions about what kinds of computer or IT degrees they offer. Also ask them how a GED can apply to their college admission tracks. The admissions officers will be much more helpful to you than I can be.

Research the cost of each program you find out about, and make a list (or more than one!) of pros and cons. What appeals to you most about each option? What sounds most unappealing? Don't be afraid to ask for help from the admissions advisers when narrowing down your focus. Be bold. Ask what kind of financial aid could be available to you. Ask how you can succeed. The people you talk to really will want to help you succeed.

Those are the practical steps I suggest you start with. Now, my last thought is this: You're really not that far behind. Don't worry about the few years older you may be than your colleagues. Just focus on your goals. It's really not too late. I have a lot of hope for you. Some of the schools you apply to may even have childcare options for your son, or may offer financial aid packages for you since you're a parent. You can use your current circumstances to your advantage. So go for it. You don't have to be the worst-case scenario...and I don't think you will be.

I will tell you this absolutely: Your life is NOT going to be a waste just because you didn't get into an Ivy League school. There are so many great and inexpensive public colleges in the country. For example, lots of state universities are focused on teaching students well, and the professors are more available to you than at big-time research universities. That is a factor that can contribute to later success for students.

My point is, don't quit now...you just need a little perspective. As you begin applying to colleges, here is a tip: Apply to some schools that are "reach" schools, apply to some "safety" schools, and a few in between. Then work hard in college. That will speak volumes for your character and your willingness to keep persevering. By no means are you destined for failure. Trust me.

I get questions from a myriad of students who have GPAs and extracurriculars all over the board, and they get accepted into college all the time. There are more than a few factors of college admission. You have plenty of hope. Don't give up while you're this young.

All that being said, would it be worthwhile to stay and finish out a four-year high school career? That way you could take some tougher classes, such as honors or Advanced Placement classes, in the subjects you excel in. Retake your ACT, raise your GPA, and get in a good year and a half of a couple more extracurricular activities. I'd suggest you give some consideration to this option as well. Good luck.

You're not stuck yet even if you haven't done as well in school as you hoped. Talk to your high school adviser or guidance counselor about your best options for four-year schools. For example, state universities are frequently less selective, and you certainly have a chance of getting into a few of those (plus, you can get a terrific education through many state universities - it's all about what you put into it). You might even consider retaking the ACT if you have time. Good luck.