NationStates Jolt Archive

So, I'm 19, in that awful trying-to-decide-what-the-hell-to-do phase, and I've made some dumb choices in High School (namely, not graduating with Bio and Chem, and being too rebellious for my own good), and I need some advice.

Firstly; What exactly does a mature student entail? is it worth it? what age qualifies as a mature student?

Second; My marks are as follows:
English, Social, Math (30 Pure, not applied): 75-78%.
Physics: 83% (96% on the final exam)
Biology 20 and Chem 20: Currently 84%ish (I am upgrading them upon realising my mistake).
Would I be accepted to a university on these marks, in your experience? Basically I'm very stressed out right now due to these pressures, which is also manifesting as some health problems, and I just need to get some of this figured out. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I would prefer not to have to wait and take Bio and Chem 30, if possible.
Hunter.
Oh, and I'm also stressed out because I'm not entirely sure what I want to take in university- I have changed my mind a thousand times before.

So, I'm 19, in that awful trying-to-decide-what-the-hell-to-do phase, and I've made some dumb choices in High School (namely, not graduating with Bio and Chem, and being too rebellious for my own good), and I need some advice.

Firstly; What exactly does a mature student entail? is it worth it? what age qualifies as a mature student?

Second; My marks are as follows:
English, Social, Math (30 Pure, not applied): 75-78%.
Physics: 83% (96% on the final exam)
Biology 20 and Chem 20: Currently 84%ish (I am upgrading them upon realising my mistake).
Would I be accepted to a university on these marks, in your experience? Basically I'm very stressed out right now due to these pressures, which is also manifesting as some health problems, and I just need to get some of this figured out. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. I would prefer not to have to wait and take Bio and Chem 30, if possible.
Hunter.
Oh, and I'm also stressed out because I'm not entirely sure what I want to take in university- I have changed my mind a thousand times before.
You should be able to make U of A. You will probably have to take chem 0** first year (0** typically means highschool/precollege level), but you should only need second year chem, so you can catch up by taking a heavier course load. You shouldn't lead bio unless you plant to minor in environmentalism or agriculture.

What I think may be the real hindrance is the fact that this is June and you haven't applied yet.

You could always go to a community college for two years.
That way, you can get your gen eds out of the way and figure out what you want to do for a lot less money.
At the very least, it will give you some time to stall while still working toward a degree.
And if you're worried about grades, just do well there and your high school transcripts won't really matter.
EDIT: And you'll actually be able to get in this late.

You could always go to a community college for two years.
That way, you can get your gen eds out of the way and figure out what you want to do for a lot less money.
At the very least, it will give you some time to stall while still working toward a degree.
And if you're worried about grades, just do well there and your high school transcripts won't really matter.True, but a real college would be better, as their courses are taken on par.

You should be able to make U of A. You will probably have to take chem 0** first year (0** typically means highschool/precollege level), but you should only need second year chem, so you can catch up by taking a heavier course load. You shouldn't lead bio unless you plant to minor in environmentalism or agriculture.

What I think may be the real hindrance is the fact that this is June and you haven't applied yet.
Well, I'd be applying for January, not September, anyway (I think it's january - the Winter semester, anyway)

True, but a real college would be better, as their courses are taken on par.

In the US most community college credits are transferable to "real college" and it's tons cheaper, especially if you need to take general ed credits.

I was able to test out of most of my first two years, but if I had not been I would have been going to the local community college.

Well, I'd be applying for January, not September, anyway (I think it's january - the Winter semester, anyway)
Well, according to UofA you meet the requirements (you would be using Socials as a substitute for Chem/Bio, but meh). It'd also give you time to get your chem caught up (if you even have too). If you do need to catch up the chem, use the semester to get ahead in math. The hardest part of the physics is the math. If you get ahead in math, you will have an easier time figuring out the physics and you should get better grades. Also, take a linear algebra course. It is damn useful.

In the US most community college credits are transferable to "real college" and it's tons cheaper, especially if you need to take general ed credits.

I was able to test out of most of my first two years, but if I had not been I would have been going to the local community college.
Up here College != University. College here == Community College down there. Community College here is weird and not really transferable, like those Devry ads where you can get a degree in three years instead of four.

Up here College != University. College here == Community College down there. Community College here is weird and not really transferable, like those Devry ads where you can get a degree in three years instead of four.

oh, like a trade school? kinda?

oh, like a trade school? kinda?
Not really. More like, you see advertisements for them on TV.

It's just so intimidating, though - moving to a new city all alone... Argh! I wish I was lucky enough to live in Edmonton already...

oh, like a trade school? kinda?

No, trade schools get more credibility.

But, I would recommend getting out of Alberta UNBC is nice (campus wise) and you have the marks for it. If not then there is U of Lethbridge. U of Sask. is excepting lower marks I believe.

But most schools if you go into a science (chem, bio, geo, physics, environmental) you only will need 2/3 of the sciences (usually 1 required and then a choice between the two others). So you might be able to just continue with your top mark out of bio and chem, if that is helpful and makes sense.

No, trade schools get more credibility.

But, I would recommend getting out of Alberta UNBC is nice (campus wise) and you have the marks for it. If not then there is U of Lethbridge. U of Sask. is excepting lower marks I believe.

But most schools if you go into a science (chem, bio, geo, physics, environmental) you only will need 2/3 of the sciences (usually 1 required and then a choice between the two others). So you might be able to just continue with your top mark out of bio and chem, if that is helpful and makes sense.
Okay, thanks a lot for the info. I had hoped to get out of Alberta if I can. I had even toyed with going to a university in Montreal, but I'm not sure how feasible it is. I really despise this province, with the sole exception of edmonton.

Okay, thanks a lot for the info. I had hoped to get out of Alberta if I can. I had even toyed with going to a university in Montreal, but I'm not sure how feasible it is. I really despise this province, with the sole exception of edmonton.
Edmonton is fucked. You can be at the thirty clicks sign and not be engulfed in suburbs. WFT is up with that?

Edmonton is fucked. You can be at the thirty clicks sign and not be engulfed in suburbs. WFT is up with that?

:)

Okay, thanks a lot for the info. I had hoped to get out of Alberta if I can. I had even toyed with going to a university in Montreal, but I'm not sure how feasible it is. I really despise this province, with the sole exception of edmonton.
One of my friends is from Calgary and she didn't apply anywhere in Alberta when she was applying to university because she hated the province... :P

Your marks might be alright, I'm not sure what the admissions averages are for most places anymore (I applied for undergrad over five years ago so I don't know how much things have changed) and if you apply to any school in Ontario they only take your top 6 or so grades anyways (well, unless certain courses are required then they count those and the remaining number of best classes...). Another thing is that a lot of schools don't require you to pick a major when you apply, they might require you to pick a faculty (science versus humanities or social science) but you won't have to be more specific than that.

No, trade schools get more credibility.

But, I would recommend getting out of Alberta UNBC is nice (campus wise) and you have the marks for it. If not then there is U of Lethbridge. U of Sask. is excepting lower marks I believe.

But most schools if you go into a science (chem, bio, geo, physics, environmental) you only will need 2/3 of the sciences (usually 1 required and then a choice between the two others). So you might be able to just continue with your top mark out of bio and chem, if that is helpful and makes sense.

Okay, thanks. Do you live in Prince George? is it easy to find jobs and housing there? what is the rent like?