Bad First Years, Now At CC

<p>So I had a terrible first year and a half at USC, withdrew from many courses, and ended up with a 1.96 before leaving and coming home to go to a local CC. I've been doing well here with just about a 4.0 and will have my associate's degree in business admin after another semester (maybe 2). After that I plan on transferring, the only problem is I don't know where to look, given my awful GPA at USC.</p>

<p>My high school stats are excellent, great SATS, SAT IIs, APs, etc., then terrible at USC, and now doing well again at CC.</p>

<p>My ultimate super impossible reach is NYU, other ideas have been Fordham (any chance?), Rutger's (instate), and TCNJ (instate). Any ideas for other schools to look at?</p>

<p>What happened at USC? Too much partying? Problems adjusting to college? Or was the workload too much? If it was just a maturity problem, then you can explain that in your application for transfer admission that you have learned your lesson, proven yourself in CC and are ready now to tackle the real world of college academics. I dont know how transfer applications are reviewed, or whether they will consider your USC grades with your CC grades or separate them. But if you do finish with a 4.0 at CC, then that might well sway them to give you another shot at it. You aren’t alone. These things happen all too often. </p>

<p>Look at Drew, Fairfield, St. Joe’s, Xavier, Canisius, LeMoyne, LaSalle.</p>

<p>Mostly problems adjusting to college (all the way across the country, completely different scene, on my own for the first time, big fish in a small pond –> small fish in a big sea, etc.). Thanks for the recommendations.</p>

<p>Yes that can be daunting. Like you were the poster child (young man) for someone who selected a college based on prestige? Mhmmmm… Well, you are on the mend and making the best of it. USC is a tough school in a tough town. </p>

<p>I favor gap years for lots of kids, and in some cases a short stint in the military to get real, get organized and get focused. Works wonders for kids. You are spending your time in community college. Hopefully now you have grown up a bit, and learned what NOT to do, as well as the secrets to success in college which have little to do with SAT scores and prestige.</p>

<p>This time, is imperative to pick a college(s) that is well suited to you. Take the time to look at all the angles, culture, programs, pressures, support system, location, dorms, negative influences etc. </p>

<p>Fordham is a fine school. Some really good things happening there. But its also an urban school, fairly competitive and not for slackers. Can you get in? Maybe. Which is why I suggested looking at several schools. </p>

<p>Let me add two more: Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. I have heard wonderful things about it. And UScranton- a Jesuit college I have heard good things about. </p>

<p>Best of luck to you. You know what you gotta do! So go do it!</p>

<p>Can’t edit this, but forgot to add I am also a National Merit Scholar, as well as a National Hispanic Scholar (National Hispanic Recognition Program).</p>

<p>^^^ Don’t think the NMF or NHS will make a difference as a transfer student. Being Hispanic might help you with some admissions though.</p>

<p>I do know someone who was in a similar situation a few years ago. He cleaned up his act at a CC. When he applied at a 4 year school, he didn’t mention his “flunking year” at all during his application process. He just included his CC transcript and info. I don’t know if it is ok to do that or what???</p>

<p>It’s probably not “ok”…but it’s not much different from when a student is worried about the difficulty of a class, so he takes it in the summer at another college. If he passes, then he transfers the credit. But, if he doesn’t do well, he never lets his college know that he took that summer class at another school.</p>

<p>Most colleges ask you to disclose all institutions you have attended in their applications. If you do that, they will want to see a transcript. It is what it is.</p>

<p>Being Hispanic helps you. Being national merit scholar helps, but they will want to know what happened in college at USC…why the disconnect. </p>

<p>I wouldnt worry. You will get into a good four year school and be given another chance. Just don’t blow it. Only you know deep in your heart what happened at USC and why. Whatever that is, fix it. Move on and get started on your adult life.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE=mom2collegekids]
I do know someone who was in a similar situation a few years ago. He cleaned up his act at a CC. When he applied at a 4 year school, he didn’t mention his “flunking year” at all during his application process. He just included his CC transcript and info. I don’t know if it is ok to do that or what???

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>It’s definitely not OK. If a university finds out that someone did this, they can (and probably will) withdraw an offer of admission or expel the student if they were already admitted. At least one university I know of will cancel any credits and even degrees that you earned in this case. There are various ways the university could find out.</p>

<p>
[QUOTE=mom2collegekids]
It’s probably not “ok”…but it’s not much different from when a student is worried about the difficulty of a class, so he takes it in the summer at another college. If he passes, then he transfers the credit. But, if he doesn’t do well, he never lets his college know that he took that summer class at another school.

[/QUOTE]
</p>

<p>This is also dishonest. It also causes problems down the road. If the student ever wants to attend graduate school, they will need to supply a transcript from all institutions which they previously attended. That includes the university at which they only took one summer school course. The same problem occurs if the student wants to, or needs to, transfer.</p>

<p>What schools are transfer friendly? Are there any schools with specific programs for transfers, helping them get integrated into the school and meet people? I feel like it can hard to get to know people when your transferring in after a couple years and everyone already knows each other and has their friends.</p>

<p>Just living in the dorms will help with that. You meet people. Even if you are there all four years, you meet new people in classes all the time. </p>

<p>Some schools are very transfer friendly, particularly from community colleges, which tend to be state sponsored schools, having to do with cost etc. But also in private schools kids transfer up and down the ladder for a variety of reasons. Your agenda should be about studying and making good grades. The friends will come in due course. Pardon the pun.</p>

<p>What other schools should I be looking at? I would prefer a school with mostly smaller classes I feel sometimes I can get lost in the shuffle if its too big.</p>

<p>For you I’d reccomend a college town so you can stay more focused on your studies, or maybe just somewhere in the suburbs.
Also definitely stay closer to home, maybe within about three hours?
And as you mentioned, a school with a smaller population would be better…
And it’s going to be a bit difficult integrating anywhere, but living in the dorms and joining clubs can help =]
What majors are you looking at?</p>

<p>Here’s a few I searched up for you (I assumed you wanted a school with the criteria I mentioned and it had to accept transfer credits from a 2 year college)</p>

<p>PA: Waynesburg University, Lincoln University, DeVry University: Fort Washington</p>

<p>NY: suny: Marytime College</p>

<p>NJ: Georgian Court University, DeVry University: North Brunswick</p>

<p>MD: Griggs University, DeVry University: Bethesda</p>

<p>CT: Post University</p>

<p>Oh…I missed that you live in NJ…</p>

<p>Did you go to USC (calif) or USouthCarolina?</p>

<p>What is your financial situation? Is money no object?</p>

<p>Went to Southern California. I wouldn’t say I’m in a position where money is no object haha, but yes I could pay if needed.</p>

<p>

Not a good idea. These days there are databases, such as [National</a> Student Clearinghouse: Degree verification & enrollment verification](<a href=“http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/]National”>http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/), that can be used to track prior attendance. If the places you apply run a query, USC will show up and you’ll either be denied or revoked.</p>

<p>Don’t worry I already knew about the National Student Clearinghouse and as much as I would like to, I don’t plan on omitting my USC attendance.</p>

<p>What other schools offer smaller classes (and are realistic given my situation) should I be looking at?</p>

<p>These are some of the other schools I’ve been looking at. Any suggestions?</p>

<p>U Texas-Austin (McCombs Business school)
Northwestern
Emory (Goizueta Business school)
UNC-Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler Business School)
U Penn (Wharton Business school)
Rutger’s New Brunswick (Business school)
Fordham (College of Business Administration)
NYU (Stern)</p>

<p>You should look at the LACs, they have smaller classes and usually give more preference to male, URM.
[Liberal</a> Arts Rankings - Best Colleges - Education - US News and World Report](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings]Liberal”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/liberal-arts-rankings)</p>

<p>U Texas-Austin (McCombs Business school)
Northwestern
Emory (Goizueta Business school)
UNC-Chapel Hill (Kenan-Flagler Business School)
U Penn (Wharton Business school)
Rutger’s New Brunswick (Business school)
Fordham (College of Business Administration)
NYU (Stern)
</p>

<p>I don’t know about this list. Wharton is one of the best, if not the best, business schools in the country. I have a feeling that they will suspect that if you couldn’t handle the stress at USC, you won’t be able to handle it there. Same goes for several others on your list. You’d have to make a pretty darn convincing case to gain acceptance.</p>

<p>With that said, I would also say that you have a shot at colleges stronger than those that several other people have listed.</p>

<p>But, again, just to clarify, you would say that your reason for messing up at USC was related to social problems, or academic problems? It’s important to pin this down, not only to know where to look, but also to know how to explain your situation to admission officers.</p>