<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am a 22 year-old who recently graduated from UNC - Chapel Hill with a B.S. in Biology. I spent the past year-ish looking for jobs/volunteering in a laboratory at Duke. Because I have yet to find a job and am feeling discouraged by my research, I've considered the option of attending school for a 2nd bachelor's degree in Engineering. I live pretty close to State and have already decided on the program I want to complete (Biological and Agricultural Engineering - Environmental concentration).</p>
<p>Circumstances:
-I plan to pay for my entire education myself so I cannot attend a private college or relocate (thus I am only applying to NC State).
-my undergraduate GPA is quite low (2.5) but not a far deviation from the average (2.7 is the average for UNC-CH B.S. biology majors). I have spoken to a transfer adviser as well as the undergraduate coordinator for my intended program and have confirmed that 2.5 is the minimum GPA to be considered.
-I have a decent high school record (4.2 weighted, 3.8 unweighted, 1420 SAT (780 Math, 640 Reading) + 550 writing)</p>
<p>Given this, I am wondering what my chances are as a transfer student (where people pursuing a 2nd bachelor's degree are classified as). I am planning to take courses as a NDS student through the end of fall (calculus based physics PY 205 and PY 208 under their system and various electives or Calc 3).</p>
<p>I feel like I have an alright chance because:
a) I read somewhere on their website that preference are given to students with more than 60 hours of credit and I have about 120.
b) While my high school record isn't as relevant, it is still a factor that they consider. I have previously been accepted into NCSU as well.
c) The courses that pulled my GPA down the most were my chemistry classes and (sadly) biology classes. I could explain away the situation but in short I did not know why I was doing what I was doing and lacked the motivation to study.</p>
<p>I have since improved my study habits through independent study (and hope to prove to myself and the university by doing well in relevant classes). If I manage to get all A's (possible but I don't want to assume too much), my GPA after completing the 3 courses stated would be around 2.6 - 2.7. </p>
<p>I am wondering if the community here would be willing to chance my acceptance into the program or offer their opinions or advice on my current situation. Thanks!</p>
<p>orca - I can’t really chance you, because I don’t have any idea what criteria State uses in a situation like yours. When I read your story, I have to think that State would want a mature student such as yourself, who is ready for the rigors of an engineering degree. My oldest is currently a science major at Chapel Hill (youngest will be starting at State in the fall). Science at Chapel Hill is incredibly rigorous and those Chemistry classes are killers. I’m sure NC State is aware of that rigor. If there is a place on your application for you to write about what you have learned from your undergraduate experience at UNC, do it. Also, do well in the classes you’re taking this fall, boost your gpa, and get to know your professors. Maybe one of them will go to bat for you. I know I’m not chancing you, but I am wishing you the best.</p>
<p>Thanks BU; your response is very encouraging. I didn’t expect many, if any, people to actually be able to chance me because my situation is non-traditional. Regardless, I greatly appreciate your response.</p>
<p>I know this is a year later. But I’m also in a similar boat as you, in fact I also went to the same school as you in UNC Chapel Hill with a Studio Art degree in 2011. Two years later I’ve been working and have been in a temporary position with not much prospect of real full time work. I was in such a state of discouragement that I gave up on my art for almost a year and a half. I’ve recently went back to Durham Tech and tried out some courses the fall of 2012 and was incredibly encouraged that I can go back to school and go for one my first degrees of choice which was computer science. I’m hoping to do many of my prerequisites here at DTCC and transfer fall of 2013 at NC State. </p>
<p>I don’t know how your situation has turned out, since 2012 but I wish the best of luck in your endeavors!</p>
<p>Why another BS? Why not a masters program which would enhance/expand the BS you already have? Have you worked with the career service at UNC? As a recent alum do you have access; I would think you would. You say you haven’t found a job - have you had interviews? Gotten feedback from them?</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>NJMom2017,</p>
<p>If orca wishes to become a Professional Engineer, she’ll need a bachelor’s degree from an ABET accredited school like NC State. She can work as an engineer with a Master’s, but cannot from there become a PE.</p>
<p>I can’t speak for OP’s reasons for a second bachelor’s degree but I wish her luck. I’m a freshman double-majoring in engineering degrees and it’s a challenge, but I love it every minute.</p>