When to apply if GPA is not high?

[Chris in VA]

As most of you know, ds17 has been in treatment for drug and alcohol abuse, and is now home. He managed to pull straight A's for the last 3 quarters of his 11th grade year, when he was in the alternative program offered at the center. His GPA is now about a 2.7, which speaks volumes about the grades prior to treatment. He will take the SAT in Oct, and then again in Nov and even in Dec if he has to. I predict his score will be about a 550 verbal and maybe he'll break 600 maths (not sure of grammar portion/essay).

He is doing GREAT at home, and is now in his senior year at our regular high school. I told him he needs to do really well this semester, to nudge that GPA up. So,my question is, since he could raise it just a bit, should he wait on applying for college until the last possible month or so? He could demonstrate on his transcript then the awesome changes he's made--Or, should he just turn his stuff in without a lot of proof that he can make it in a regular school? His recommendations will be strong, but mostly about his changes, potential, and work ethic (much improved now).

[JFS in IL]

Could he plan on attending the local community college first, just to get and keep grades up and prove he can do the work. Then he could transfer to a 4-year college.


I used the local cc to improve my dismal (low C average - I HATED school) GPA - ended up at a four-year private school, then masters program at UCLA, then full tuition scholarship for doctoral program at Northwestern. There is NOTHING wrong with starting out at a community college.

[Chris in VA]

I think he would find CC very disappointing, and I think I want him in a dorm with a few rules instead of in an apt--he's not going to live at home after next Aug. He's been hoping so much to go to 4 yr, and he's been working very hard, too. ITA that CC is a wonderful option, and I think it'd be ok if he lived at home, but that's not going to happen....I think!
But thanks for the suggestion.