Bad student that turned over a new leaf--help?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey there everyone, apologies for the long first post.</p>

<p>I was your typical troubled student in high school. I had a very difficult upbringing to say the least. I know it sounds terrible, but I ended up dropping out my junior year when my mother passed away. My grades from freshman and sophomore year were pretty below average.</p>

<p>I attended classes at a community college without a diploma and bombed everything. When I say bombed, I mean BOMBED. So from 2007-2011, my transcript is littered with very few C's, D's, a lot of F's, and incompletes. I got expelled from community college due to being on academic probation for so long(imagine that).</p>

<p>I knew my mother would be so upset if she could see what was becoming of me, so 2013 comes and I decide to turn over a new leaf. I am in the middle of obtaining my GED, got reinstated back into my community college district, and I've taken about 8 classes (~24 units) so far since then receiving all A's.</p>

<p>I was planning on trying to transfer to a few private schools (Pepperdine, LMU, USC) with a major in Fine Art so I've been working towards completing the 30 units required. Unfortunately there is no way for me to erase the grades that I obtained... Does anyone have any advice on what to do? Do you think a college will accept an explanation in my transfer application? I know that's wishful thinking, but I figured I would ask here anyways.</p>

<p>If anyone has any advice on what to do to make myself appear as a more acceptable student, I'd really appreciate it. I'm really trying my hardest. Thanks so much in advance.</p>

2

<p>Fortunately for you, your situation is not unique. Not in the least. Talk to your transfer advisor at your CC about this. If nothing comes to fruition, contact the transfer rep at the college directly and they’ll tell you about what to do to prove that you’re a vastly better student than you were two years ago.</p>

3

<p>Also definitely contact that college and explain to the admissions counselor. If you have the chance to visit the university and sit down with an admissions counselor, explain everything that you’ve accomplished and how you’re going to improve and do well in college. Then provide the examples that you have listed: all A’s.</p>

4

<p>Does your community college have an Academic Renewal policy? Similarly to you, I had two false start at community college, getting all Fs, but now having tried a third time have perfect grades. I contacted the two prior CCs, and discovered they had something called Academic Renewal which essentially nullifies your grades from a certain time period from your gpa. I’m currently in the process of sending my transcripts to these colleges so they can verify improvement. The grades will still show up on your transcript but will not be used to calculate gpa, and many universities accept this as a starting over. Defiantly ask about that, otherwise you may have some other options as well. Good luck!</p>