<p>I am an international student with the following HS credentials :- </p>
<p>HS GPA - 3.65 (from grade 9 - 11). Evaluated by Josef Silny and associates. </p>
<p>SAT - 2030
Math - 700
CR - 700
CW - 630 </p>
<p>Intended Major - Mechanical Engineering
Intended Minor (Optional) - Economics or International Relations. </p>
<p>I am currently in grade 12 and I will be writing the Board exam in March. I follow the Indian curriculum (CBSE) and I am expecting 80% plus. Which is distinction or A-. </p>
<p>Things in my family are not good, not financially, but socially. My parent's are going through a rough break up and I have been sucked in to this whirlpool. I have a sister who lives in Minnesota, with whom I shall be living for a year or two (since family is the one thing I need right now). I have not applied to University of Minnesota - Twin cities and the admissions department have sent me mail saying I wont be accepted for fall 2010 anyways. </p>
<p>So, I have decided to enroll in Minnesota State University - Mankato. I know the school is not quite as good when compared to other universities or even good by itself. But then I read in this very website that it it the student that matters. I have been consistently been a science and math person. I have always had a range of A to A+ in these subjects. I am a very hardworking and determined student. </p>
<p>Now, I am concerned with the transferring process. I do not know the process at all. I have always wanted to attend to UC- Berkley, Michigan or Harvey Mudd (Which is my personal favorite). I do know that these universities are tough to get into. But due to the circumstances I have to attend MNSU for a year or two. </p>
<p>I need to know what I should be doing in MNSU so that I have a good chance of getting in to a very good university and then get my degree.</p>
<p>It’s pretty simple, really–do your best in your classes and get the best grades you can. At least at first, concentrate on that, and not on transferring. Make friends. Get involved in campus life. You may decide not to transfer, but whether you do or not, make the most of your time at MNSU.</p>
<p>You could eventually transfer to the University of MN which has a very good math department (among others). It would be difficult to receive financial aid as a transfer student, especially an OOS one; but after one year in MN, you might qualify as an MN resident.</p>
<p>If you don’t have financial issues, there is still time to apply to a better college for Fall 2010, which would make transferring even easier or unnecessary because the pace is likely to be more commensurate with the top places that you eventually want to graduate from. </p>
<p>Where in Minnesota is your sister and how far from there are you willing to attend college. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana has a lot in common with Harvey Mudd and it has a March 1 application deadline, but there are others also.</p>
<p>These posters are right, it all starts with you. Get those grades and do the paperwork. And while you’re at the paperwork, be careful to check spelling and grammar. This forum is rather informal, and your errors are no big deal here. But, on any official paperwork, you will want to put your best foot forward. Good Luck!</p>
<p>I have committed to MNSU. It is not about attending the best possible school at the moment as I want to spend time with my sister. Thanks for the replies. </p>
<p>Do not worry yet about the college transfer process. It is very logical for you to be close to relatives when coming live in the US. Plan your freshman year to get as many preengineering courses and other nonengineering general courses you will need regardless of where you will transfer to. I’m sure there are many students at Mankato who also did not get into U of M and plan to transfer for their engineering school. You can look at the requirements at U of M and UW (Madison) for example to figure out which courses can be taken anywhere without compromising the quality of material relevant to your proposed major. I’m thinking you would be taking math and breadth requirement classes- humanities and social sciences, for example. You likely will want to save some science courses for the school you choose to transfer to to be sure to get the more rigorous version.</p>
<p>Once you arrive in the US next summer you can take time to study good schools for engineering and the other fields you are interested in- a lot easier with American publications and local library resources. It will be easier to explore options once you are here. I presume you plan to move in with your sister for more than a month before you start college. You will have plenty of time to work on applications and be ready to submit them by any fall deadlines while you are in college. Be warned that some schools are as hard to transfer into as they are to get into as a freshman for OOS students (CA schools likely) while a transfer from other schools is easier- think U of M and UW. Patience is required- plan your freshman year and the transfer options later, you have plenty of time once you have finished with your Indian school and have moved. Don’t worry.</p>
<p>Is your sister in Mankato (or anywhere near by)? Mankato is a lot closer to Minneapolis than India is, but it’s not actually CLOSE to Minneapolis. It would be pretty difficult to live anywhere in the Twin Cities and go to college full time at Mankato State.</p>
<p>Schools may look at your HS credentials if you choose to transfer after frehman year. They will also pay attention to your college grades- do a stellar job there and show you can do the college work. Try to live on campus at Mankato- avoid being a commuter. You will get a much better college experience and can visit your sister some (not all) weekends. So much of this will become clearer once you are here. Relax and enjoy your final HS semester in India (btw- H is from Gujarat).</p>
<p>Im wondering if it is too late to apply to other schools in Minneapolis? Macalester for example?
I expect that even if they do not have a mechanical engineering degree, that freshman courses that would apply to the degree would be offered.
I am also wondering if it would be possible to take classes at U of Minn- Twin Cities as a non matriculated student?
My impression is that Minn has fairly good public schools, and I agree that once you get here you can get a good idea of what is available.
( My daughters good friend from college is staying with her husbands family in Gujarat while she works on her doctoral thesis- small world)</p>
<p>Jeepers! Macalaster is like 100 miles away from Mankato, and does NOT have an engineering program, while Mankato most certainly DOES (in half a dozen flavors). Going to Mankato is going to a perfectly good second- or third-tier public university; it’s not falling off the edge of the earth. It’s not a place I’d look to to study epistemology, but I bet its engineering program is solid.</p>
<p>good luck dealing with your parent’s break up…we know this happens a lot when children are college aged…it happened to me as well. My advice is to spend 4-6 private meetings with the school counselor after you get settled in with your sister. I am a counselor and most counseling really is short term. You don’t have to go for weeks on end to get a new outlook. It is best to be able to vent to a stranger sometimes rather than have all that pent up feeling and hurt come just as you are working hard in school and making new friends…ie of course confide in your new friends but lean on a counselor for a few weeks…you may be surprised at how much a second ear can help you achieve a bit of balance and release. </p>
<p>It isn’t your marriage that failed, and you need to get on with your life and get some support in how to be as kind as possible to both of your parents as they regroup. </p>
<p>Good luck in Minnesota and I very much hope your classes and sister are a comfort to you. Keep in mind that a high percentage of college counselor hours are devoted to young adults who are dealing with parents who are breaking up. It can take a long time for your parents to recover but it does get done with time. </p>
<p>don’t be like me…and realize you spent a great deal of time fretting about the fifty year olds when you are 20. One day you will look up and they will have gotten on with their lives and you will realize you had no power to alter any of it. I wish I had not been too proud to wait to talk to someone when I was in college. I could have had a clearer perspective sooner if I had not been so proud and fearful about a simple hour to cry on someone’s shoulder a bit and think about how to deal with change with an impartial adult.</p>
<p>Excel whereever you are. Those you meet at Mankato will get to know you and will advise you on possible good next steps.<br>
and you have a fine record that should help you progress.</p>
<p>Many parents would be proud to be sending their child to college at Mankato. Many students would be proud to be attending Mankato. Please do not worry. You may find that you enjoy it there very much. And if you don’t, as long as you do well there, it will be easy to transfer to the U of M in Minneapolis.</p>
<p>Many students purposely choose to go to Mankato to study mechanical engineering.</p>
<p>You will find nice students at Mankato. You will find inspiring professors there. Enjoy it. I second the recommendation that you live on campus. It will let have the full college experience. If you can’t live on campus, be sure to join an extracurricular activity or two, and go to the hockey games.</p>
<p>I wasn’t referring to the engineering program- but to the social support of family which was mentioned as a priority. Big difference- being in the same city as a sibling, to being 100 miles away.</p>
<p>I know a lot of people who have gone to MSU Mankato and most of them are screw-ups… make sure you focus on your studies and don’t get sucked into the social life. I’m sure you’ll be fine, though. Minnesota is a nice place.</p>
<p>Actually, I hope you do get “sucked into social life” – just make it a nice crowd! Friends your own age can help a ton. It makes getting to class a joy. </p>
<p>It is not just the student – having excellent instructors is important too. Check out the professors. Usually there is a campus on line site where kids grouse or brag about their classes. You may be better off with an outstanding class in, say, political science than a poor quality math class. There are outstanding professors at all sorts of schools. Don’t sneer at anyone because it’s not MIT. </p>
<p>There are many, many people who find they get a better education and better opportunities at smaller campuses. Be one of them!</p>
If you can’t live on campus, be sure to join an extracurricular activity or two, and go to the hockey games.</p>