Advice needed desperately. Ineligible to transfer from CC due to too many credits.

<p>Thanks jmmom! Wow, I had no idea that any schools allowed senior transfers! </p>

<p>Sanjenferrer:</p>

<p>I haven't checked with those schools, but that is a good idea. I was pretty fond of Bard in my search, and Reed also. I just quickly checked for Bard and Reed... Bard doesn't say anything about a max number of credits, but it seems kind of difficult to transfer in as a junior at Reed. Oh well, I will definitely read more later. Thanks.</p>

<p>Calreader:</p>

<p>The Markkula Center for Applied Ethics sounds really awesome! Yay for applied ethics! Wow, thanks so much. I am such a geek, but that seriously made me feel a little better. I am actually a fan of the women only schools. My top choices were Wellesley and Smith, which are both women only. I never <em>seriously</em> considered the west coast, but I think that it would be worth it if the school fit. Also, I've always secretly wanted to live someplace warm like CA, but let the distance deter me from pursuing it. Thanks again. I had no idea that that center even existed!</p>

<p>Calreader, I was going to suggest Santa Clara U for this student as well, but I couldn't tell from their website how the 100 credits issue would play out. It is a nice small university, frazzled, LAC "feel" imo, beautiful (California mission-style) campus. Great location.</p>

<p>Thanks to you too, jmmom. I hope that I won't be in the position of needing to re-apply, but, if so, that seems like a nice option. I don't know how they will feel about the credits either... I just want everything to work out.</p>

<p>I know you aren't in the military but many enlisted personnel are in the same situation as you. What THEY do is find a SOC (Servicemembers Opportunity Council) school that have shorter residency requirements and can wrap the credits together. Here is a list--<a href="http://www.soc.aascu.org/pubfiles/socmisc/UNIV_COLL.pdf"&gt;http://www.soc.aascu.org/pubfiles/socmisc/UNIV_COLL.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>I would contact the transfer admissions department at these schools and see if they also work with civilians.</p>

<p>I'm still convinced that this whole issue is a misunderstanding! If they know that you do NOT need financial aid, and that you do NOT plan to transfer in all those credits, there should not be a problem. If I were you, I would go in with the mindset that this is just a miscommunication, and clarify your intentions right from the beginning. I'm sure this is going to work out for you. :)</p>

<p>I know another young woman in a similar position. In her case she applied to several University of Ca campuses. She was accepted at one but her first choice rejected her. She had attended two different community colleges and they said she was lacking two courses. She was disapointed but returned to the CC and took the two courses. She reapplied the next quarter to her first choice school. She was the 2nd time rejected due to having to many units. She had been working with transfer reps at both the UC and the CC.
In her case she became frustrated and at this point has given up.
It does seem like an unfair rule if you aren't insisting on having them count every unit.
I think your idea of talking in person to Smith would be the best idea. With a small school I would hope there is room for some bending of the rules.</p>

<p>Take a look at Eugene Lang College (New School for Social Research) - good luck</p>

<p>Anxiousmom</p>

<p>That's what it sounds like to me--a misunderstanding, like they think OP wants credit for the extra hours. Why in the world would they discriminate against her for having extra credit she's willing to have disregarded?</p>

<p>OP</p>

<p>Any school that sticks to a foolish policy like this may not deserve you. Go in assuming you can work it out. If not, come back here and we'll help you find a more reasonable option, if not for January, for next fall. You can find something interesting to do between now and then.</p>

<p>I was thinking you might also want to try Sarah Lawrence. They have a number you can call for a preliminary evaluation of your transfer credit listed on this page:
Sarah</a> Lawrence College: Transfer Credit Policy</p>

<p>It seems they are very firm about what they will not accept, but that language implies that they are not focusing on what you have earned on paper, but more on what they are willing to apply. You could also have the opportunity to design a very individualized course of study there.</p>

<p>Have you looked at Brown University? They may value your passion for learning, hence the extra classes you took (even though they didn't apply toward your degree). According to Brown's website, they calculate credits transfered by taking the number of credits earned at school1 divided by 4 to determine the number of credits Brown will accept. It's not a straight forward class for class replacement since at some schools, classes are only worth 3 credits. Brown does not consider a 3 credit class equivalent to one of their classes which requires the amt of classwork of a 4 credit class. So, to start with, they'd consider your 100 credits at CC to be equivalent to 25 credits at Brown.</p>

<p>Their website states that if you transfer in with 15+ credits, it equals junior status. So, someone must be transfering in with more than 15 credits. But you may not actually have 25 credits. Brown does not accept any phys ed classes or summer classes so that might eliminate some of your credits. </p>

<p>If this type of school appeals to you, give them a call. Open curriculum. You need to fulfill the course requirements for your major, but that's it. You study what moves you - which it appears is what you have been doing all along. They may love to have you there.</p>

<p>I just called Brown and they said that it didnt matter if my 2 years were at a CC; all students with over 2 years are ineligible to apply.</p>

<p>I wish that this was a misunderstanding, but the more that I find out the more it seems to just be a random policy.</p>

<p>But you didn't study there for longer than 2 years, right? Credit hours may not mean as much as actual time.</p>

<p>I just called Beloit and they said that it is fine that I'm over, but if I'm accepted then I'll just need to choose which ones I want to keep! <em>crosses fingers for Beloit</em></p>

<p>This is good.</p>

<p>Frazzled:</p>

<p>Good for Beloit. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you will have other choices as well!</p>

<p>Beloit is a wonderful college -- I think you would be very happy there.</p>

<p>Thanks!!</p>

<p>!!</p>

<p>What you found re: Beloit is a good example that, in addition to finding out how to present your situation to higher-ups for case-by-case consideration, you will also find (with effort) places that have no problem with your transcript as is.</p>

<p>You will just have to work hard to present yourself to higher-ups where the answer below was "no", plus keep working to find some new opportunities. Pursue both paths at the same time.</p>

<p>Life is hard work, but you're ready for that, obviously!! Good luck to ya. Keep us posted, too.</p>

<p>I also think that, as disappointing as it is to give up on a dream school, you are going to be much happier at a college that welcomes students like you and is supportive. I hate to say it, but the attitude expressed by the schools who have told you that you have too many years or credits seems like elitism -- they are shutting their doors on many, many students whose life experiences have not been all that easy. There are so many reason why students need to start out in community college and why they may end up with extra credits -- for example, a change of educational focus along the way. </p>

<p>You have a tremendous amount to offer and part of that package is that you have a little bit more education and a little more life experience than the typical college junior. That's a positive, not a negative.</p>

<p>Yay!! Beloit is a great option to have. I've heard wonderful things about that school.</p>

<p>A bit of encouragement, my DD graduated from HS too young to go away to college. We live in a state where there is an official program to allow students to be concurrently enrolled in their HS and the local CC at the same time. My DD attended CC after HS grad so I spoke with some adcoms at small privates and they are able to view DD as a freshman with units for admissions and scholarship purposes.</p>

<p>This is somewhat different than your situation, but perhaps talking with some one at the top of the office might be helpful.... your situation is unusual and a private school ought to be able to view your entire package.</p>

<p>For instance, they don't want to disallow your units, but want you to take two years of their courses, so if they review your actual transcript, since you took several "fun" classes, you probably still need two years of coursework there to fulfill major & grad requirements.</p>

<p>Come up with your short, 1 paragraph explanation as to why you are unique and how your situation could still fit their requirements. They may have the power to think outside the box, but need you to show them how it could work. Do not expect bureaucrats to come up with out of the box ideas, but if you can present them an idea which could work, they can still be accepting of them.</p>