I was expelled from university about a year ago from a prestigious and competitive university in the U.S. because I had a psychological disorder that affected my concentration and memory, which in turn resulted in very poor grades (cumulative GPA of about 1.73) I was previously given a year of suspension after my sophomore year to deal with my problem, but I did not deal with it effectively, and I was expelled for good after my first semester of junior year after another series of very bad grades.
I have been seeing a psychiatrist and a therapist for a year now and have markedly improved my mental condition, and am considering my next steps. As the universities in my country of origin are very poor, I am currently unwilling to consider higher education in my country. Furthermore, my parents have informed me that they are willing and able to pay for my education in the U.S. I was wondering which of the following options is more realistic for a person in my position:
- Go to community college, get a respectable GPA and then transfer to another, less competitive university to finish my degree.
- Take the SATs again, get a respectable score and transfer to a less competitive university without going to community college. (Bearing in mind that my GPA at my previous university is very low and I can’t get recommendations from my professors for obvious reasons.)
Which option is more realistic, or are my chances of ever attending a U.S institution of higher education permanently closed?
FYI, I have completed 58.50 credits completed and 15 transfer units from when I was suspended. Is that too much units for universities?
Every American university will REQUIRE a formal transcript from each institution perviously attended. That transcript will unquestionably document your expulsion (and probably your suspension, as well). Candidly, your expulsion plus your 1.7 cumulative GPA will be EXTREMELY difficult to overcome (even if you can provide medical information that indicates your psychological problem(s) has (have) been addressed), because:
a. What university will offer a seat to a questionable applicant, when so many other eminently qualified candidates – with no adverse issues – have applied?
b. If your “psychological disorder” suggests even the slightest possibility of misbehavior, criminality, and/or danger to others in (and/or beyond) the university community, what institution can reasonably assume such legal/liability and/or such adverse media/political risks?
[Please note, certification from your physicians and therapists may not be adequate: you pay them, they may not meet US standards (you did not indicate where you were being treated), AND (in any event) the university – not your doctors – would have principal responsibility/liability were you to cause, or even to be suspected of involvement with, any problems].
I believe it is particularly important for you to understand “b” from the institutional perspective. Were a university to matriculate you AND were you to cause – or even be suspected of involvement with – any incident that hazarded others:
a. The victims’ attorneys would doubtless claim the university was grossly negligent in its knowing admission of someone with a psychological problem(s) of such severity that they were previously EXPELLED from another institution.
b. The politicians and press would similarly excoriate the university: “How utterly irresponsible, to admit a student with known psychological issues, so serious that they were EXPELLED from another college!”.
I recommend the CC/JC route (#1 in you post); however, I believe you need realistically to appreciate the challenges you will potentially confront.
SAT scores are of limited to no consequence in most transfer situations, especially once you’ve attempted 30 credits, so I would not waste any effort trying your suggested #2 route.