<p>I originally entered university right out of high school but only completed 3 semesters - during that time I was a bit more interested in the girls around campus and going out; hence my grades weren't that great (approx 2.5 gpa).</p>
<p>After leaving school I worked in the medical field for 7 years and have been quite successful - most people who have my job have a master's degree, or higher, in a life science. I have what may be cosidered an impressive resume including a couple technical patents applied for.</p>
<p>This past fall I decided to re-enroll in school to finish my degree. Since I was working full-time, I was only able to take 7 credits and had a 3.76 gpa.</p>
<p>I've now taken a position with a major medical company, doing the same work I have been. I think the fact that they hired me, even without my degree, to do the kind of work I will be doing speaks to my ability and experience. I guess the long story short is that I screwed up a bit when I was younger, but got my act together and have become quite successful. My plan is to take a leave of absence this spring, to get into my role at the company and perhaps get a professional certification. During the summer I can continue at my current school with some online classes. I would then hope to transfer to JHU for the fall semester. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Ohh alright. As far as I know, JHU does not have a special program for continuing studies so you would be coming in with no distinction form other transfers. Your app would be very interesting because you have indeed a strong work ethic and have learned and developed a lot as a person, but JHU accepts so few transfers that it would be difficult to say what anyone's chances are.
On the GPA issues: they will not care for your mess ups in the beginning because you're obviously much smarter than that.
Also, have you looked at Penn LPS and Columbia CGS? Those would be easier to get into since they cater specifically to continuing ed students and your stats indicate you would probably get in to both.</p>
<p>hmom5: Not having an undergrad degree in my industry is pretty much unheard of - particularly since many have advanced degrees. When I was looking for a new position, there were a number of companies interested in me that assumed I had my degree. When they found out I didn't, that ended discussions.</p>
<p>ccTransfer10: thanks for the reponse - I had seen Penn's World Campus but not LPS. Do LPS/CGS offer online classes? With the new job JHU will be local to me, which is why I was considering that.</p>
<p>There are different strategies for someone in your position, depending on where you want to end up. The last part of your post is unclear, are you planning to work and go to school?</p>
<p>I think a lot of schools would ignore your false college start as it's been 7 years and you've done well in industry. If you were to go back full time there are some interesting returning student programs that might be interesting. Did you ever take SATs? Where did you originally go to college?</p>
<p>Online classes will not get you an impressive degree in most cases.</p>
<p>To answer your questions - yes, I am planning to work full time and go to school. Before I got lazy toward the end of my high school career (which then slipped into the beginning of my college career) and that kept me out of MIT with SATs only around 1300 (11 years ago). When I was in high school I took all honors/AP/college co-op classes. I went to Quinnipiac as my local backup. Had I not taken the new job (which is in the Baltimore area) I would have tried Yale's Eli Whitney program for the fall.</p>
<p>Wish I could be of more help but don't know Baltimore schools. You'll in general find the best advice here on CC by posting on the parent's board, lots of smart professionals there who know the colleges all over the Country. Good luck!</p>
<p>Cgs does not have online classes nor is it a continuing education program. Do not confuse it with harvard extension school or even penn lps. Both of which are separated the regular undergrad colleges. We are completely integrated into the columbia community and will earn the same degree had we just come straight from hs. I myself am only 20 years old. cgs has around an 80% rate of advancing students on the med school. This being said I would highly recommend you look into columbia school of general studies.</p>
<p>Check out the University of Maryland University College
[UMUC[/url</a>]
Classes are offered online, and at various locations around the state and around the world. Depending on the program, credit can be awarded for experience. </p>
<p>Since you are already in the Baltimore area, why not just go ahead and set up an appointment with the transfer admission office at JHU? I think they'd really like to meet you!</p>
<p>Thanks happymomof1 - I didn't know about those and will certainly check them out.</p>
<p>Last night I was looking into JHU's advanced academic programs, and they offer an MS in my specific discipline. Looking over the courses for the program, I have more experience (e.g. a course for Introductory XYZ and I've dealt with more advanced situations of that in the real world). I sent an email to admissions regarding my situation and they have put me in touch with the program chair.</p>
<p>Hello markus, I don't have specific suggestions for you. However, I think you present an interesting and strong profile. I wonder if you would consider posting on the JHU forum here on cc? Admissions Daniel posts there. He is excellent. He does NOT respond to "chances" requests. But I think he would respond to a more general question, which would still be helpful to you: along the lines of whether JHU has programs suited to individuals in your situation.</p>
<p>One more idea for you - sometimes, in very rare, very special instances, people can be admitted directly to a graduate program without completing a bachelor's degree first. Given the amount of technical experience that you have, you may find that you fall into that category.</p>