I've tried talking to counselors at relevant universities but they've always been a bit vague. I was looking for some opinions on my somewhat unusual case as far as my academic record, and how a university board might view it.
Grade-wise, I didn't do very good in high school. A lot of C's and D's. I did, however, participate in Honors Art classes and ROP Animation programs, both of which I excelled in. In the animation studio (which won numerous awards, had graduates go on to work in major animation studios like Disney and Pixar, and was recognized nationwide) I took over as director of the backgrounds production program for several films. About two months into my senior year I took a test, the CHSPE I think it was called, and graduated early with what according to the state education code is legally equivalent to high school graduation.
I entered community college not really sure what I wanted to do. I started as a journalism major because I loved research and didn't have the confidence for trying anything harder, even though I really wanted to do something in a scientific field. My second term in college, and my second term in the student newspaper, I was made Editor-in-Chief, and did a fairly good job as that was also the term that the student newspaper suddenly had a huge amount of students joining. I won several awards (from both the newspaper itself and from a statewide organization) during my 3 terms as a journalism major. My grades were pretty good, all A's and B's, aside from one D of which I am ashamed (the class was painfully easy, but I'd actually forgotten to take the weekly online tests, which allowed infinite time to take, infinite retries, and had the answers directly in the book).
During my third term as journalism major became unsure if I really was okay with a career in journalism. I wasn't super enthusiastic about my major, and never had been, but I had always loved the research. I'd gained some more confidence and decided to consider more scientific majors. I took an anthropology class over summer break, adored it, and decided that was far closer to what I wanted to do. I declared myself an anthropology major the next term, which unfortunately became my first and only "bad term". Difficulties at home (my stepmother turned out to be a junkie and overdosed twice, I had primary responsibility over her, etc) made the term pretty bad. After moving out I went back to having a high GPA (~3.5). I am now taking time off from school to move to a new state, get a job, and save up for college (since my savings have run out).
I feel once I apply, I can make a good case for why I want to do what I want to do. But I am unsure if my high school record or horrible term will hurt me too much when transferring. What can I do now to help my chances?
Grade-wise, I didn't do very good in high school. A lot of C's and D's. I did, however, participate in Honors Art classes and ROP Animation programs, both of which I excelled in. In the animation studio (which won numerous awards, had graduates go on to work in major animation studios like Disney and Pixar, and was recognized nationwide) I took over as director of the backgrounds production program for several films. About two months into my senior year I took a test, the CHSPE I think it was called, and graduated early with what according to the state education code is legally equivalent to high school graduation.
I entered community college not really sure what I wanted to do. I started as a journalism major because I loved research and didn't have the confidence for trying anything harder, even though I really wanted to do something in a scientific field. My second term in college, and my second term in the student newspaper, I was made Editor-in-Chief, and did a fairly good job as that was also the term that the student newspaper suddenly had a huge amount of students joining. I won several awards (from both the newspaper itself and from a statewide organization) during my 3 terms as a journalism major. My grades were pretty good, all A's and B's, aside from one D of which I am ashamed (the class was painfully easy, but I'd actually forgotten to take the weekly online tests, which allowed infinite time to take, infinite retries, and had the answers directly in the book).
During my third term as journalism major became unsure if I really was okay with a career in journalism. I wasn't super enthusiastic about my major, and never had been, but I had always loved the research. I'd gained some more confidence and decided to consider more scientific majors. I took an anthropology class over summer break, adored it, and decided that was far closer to what I wanted to do. I declared myself an anthropology major the next term, which unfortunately became my first and only "bad term". Difficulties at home (my stepmother turned out to be a junkie and overdosed twice, I had primary responsibility over her, etc) made the term pretty bad. After moving out I went back to having a high GPA (~3.5). I am now taking time off from school to move to a new state, get a job, and save up for college (since my savings have run out).
I feel once I apply, I can make a good case for why I want to do what I want to do. But I am unsure if my high school record or horrible term will hurt me too much when transferring. What can I do now to help my chances?