Academic Long Shot.....?

<p>I Posted This On Yahoo Answers, But after deliberation i decided this would be a more fitting venue.</p>

<p>So this is the scoop, i am in my third semester as an engineer at R.P.I. In Troy, NY and i absolutely hate it. I often reflect on why i dislike this place so much, but often come up empty handed in terms of pinpointing any one problem, but that is another discussion entirely.</p>

<p>I find that i often set goals that are unattainable based on my intellect, i have always dreamed of going to an ivy league school, graduating with a respectable GPA and attaining a tailored suit wearing, high paying professional position in one of Americas' top companies or becoming an entrepreneur and stating my own highly professional company. This is where the intelligence factor comes in, i have never done particularly well in school, on standardized tests, or in most so called "cookie cutter" academic environments. I went to a very very small rather poor rural high school in upstate NY, (like actuality upstate as in the Adirondack mountains not Albany like some like to refer to as upstate) and was not prepared for college at all in my opinion. I am one out of the two people who have stayed in engineering, of the 13 that started out along this path last year, and one of only four who have stayed at a private school of the more than 20 who started out. if this is any indicatiuon of the preparedness level of graduating students from my high school.</p>

<p>This has not changed any here at R.P.I. I know of no other way to state it that that i have "worked my *** off here" and seen little to no return on my investment or time and labor. i don't drink, party, or play a sport i just do homework and study with no results academically, and i am currently the not-so-proud owner of a 2.56 Cumulative GPA.... Not So Hot. Here at R.P.I. this is sometimes referred to as "Failing In". You come to R.P.I. and are somewhat stuck when you end up with a mediocre G.P.A. often due to curving or curtailing of any grades above C. This means your stuck here, because when you attempt to transfer you'll never get into a school even as well revered as rpi let alone better. so this is where my dilemma lies. I want to transfer out of here but am afraid i am stuck... I would likely kill a man to go to a prestigious ivy, such as Cornell, or better yet Princeton Or Harvard. But both I as well as anyone reading this knows i have a greater chance of winning the lottery and being struck my lighting simultaneously.</p>

<p>Is there any way to "restart, or erase my record here? and say attend a private Jr. College so that i am prepared enough when i get to college? also what can i do to get into a better school?</p>

<p>Additional Details:</p>

<p>In Response To The First Answer, I Have Run My Own Mobile Dj Business Since age 14. I am currently 19 and a business license, an employers tax id and three employees, so i do have some business sense, also i have done some small investing through ETrade with moderate success. Also i have a personal tutor as well as bi weekly meetings with ALAC (the advising and learning center) here on campus, i also go to Supplemental instruction at least once a week, still no increase in GPA i think test taking anxiety is a HUGE part of my grade problem. Also i am a regular at office hours and all of my professors know me by name</p>

<p>I am completely undecided as to which direction to take my life, Engineering was kind of a shot in the dark, if i would i would start all over and forget all about the last year and a half and go to a jr college, can i just say forget the credits i have and restart from zero at a different institution?</p>

<p>no. you <em>have</em> to apply as a transfer student. you can take the risk and apply as a freshman but if the school finds out (and there’s a very good chance that they will), your admission offer will be revoked.</p>

<p>I understand what your saying, but do i have to apply as transfer student if i don’t wish to “transfer” any of my credits from RPI to Cornell?</p>

<p>yes, because you have attended a post-secondary institution. you can wait for more replies, but i’m 99% sure they’ll tell you the same thing.</p>

<p>Every time you apply for admission to a degree program at an accredited college or university in the US you are obligated to provide official copies of your transcripts from every single college or university you have previously attended. So yes, you have to send the transcripts.</p>

<p>It is entirely up to the institution that receives those transcripts to determine whether to accept any of the credits and as what. So yes, it is possible to be admitted as a transfer (based on your years in colleges) only to find out that none of your credits have been accepted as anything, leaving you with four full years ahead of you. Unlikely, as normally some credits will be recorded at least as electives, but yes, possible.</p>

<p>Some institutions will allow you to take coursework in non-degree status without submitting previous transcripts. However, if you later wish to become a degree-seeking student, you will have to submit the transcripts. </p>

<p>Whether or not you stay where you are, or go somewhere else, you need to deal more effectively with your test anxiety. Pop by the counseling service at your college, and get a recommendation for a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in that area. I talk therapy doesn’t work for you, consult with someone who can suggest medication.</p>

<p>You are running a business right now that may be more interesting to you than your studies. If you can make a living at that, it is perfectly OK to take a leave of absence from college and concentrate on your business for a while. In the future when you have a good reason to be in school, you can go back to college. Nowhere is it written that you must complete a degree in engineering to have a productive fulfilling life.</p>