Foreign Student! Need help!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello guys,</p>

<p>I am a foreign student living in NY and come from one of the best private schools in my country.
As I got here, I realized my English wasn't good enough to go to college. Someone recommended "Community College" - it sounded great to me. I had no idea the meaning of it but since I found the word "College" in it, I assumed it was just a college as any other. I really wanted to study.</p>

<p>My grades were between B- and A+ in my country.
Here, I passed the reading (don't remember the result) and the math (9.8 on the final exam out of 10).
Since I have a strong background, I found it normal to take 5 classes because I didn't have to work - I was 17. Of course, I went to advisers and all they said was "Do you want 4 or 5 classes?" I said 5. I had no idea what I would go through.</p>

<p>I passed my reading and math through my independent studies. I just bought books and tried to find the subjects I was taught in my country - but in English.
I was a diligent person - but right now I feel betrayed by everyone who was supposed to help me: my college advisers, professors and counselors.</p>

<p>One of the 5 classes I took was writing since I didn't pass it. My professor used to tell me my essays and point of view were great and never corrected my grammar.</p>

<p>But weirdly, I didn't pass the ACT once again in the end of the semester. I took speech and got B-. I took business - which is my major - and got a C- and dropped one course because my business course was taking too much of my studying time already. I didn't know what "dropping" meant but my counselor advised me to do it, so I did it.</p>

<p>My gpa was extremely low during the first semester. During the second semester, I was determined to change and improve my situation. I went to counselors, writing lab, advisers and all they did was nothing! It seemed they were just worried about going home.</p>

<p>The people in the writing lab would always say my writing skills were great!</p>

<p>I had political science during the second semester and got b+. I am very good at classical music so I took music (singing). It was during the winter and I had sore throat during the entire semester and I ended up getting a C- because I wasn't able to sing. I tried to explain my professor I took that class just because I enjoyed and really understood about it. He thought I was lying as the other students who took it for credit.</p>

<p>I took advanced Spanish. Spanish is not my first language, but I got 10 on ALL assignments, quizzes and tests. Also, I missed too many Spanish classes because I hate going to my college and being in that environment where people are not friendly at all. I assumed my professor would give me an A...but she gave me a B- because I missed over 5 or 6 classes. I had A on ALL exams! It's not fair! I believe transcripts should reflect your knowledge about the subject! I am basically fluent at it and got a B- ?</p>

<p>My gpa is now around 2.6. And I improved !</p>

<p>I took Computer Application and my professor told me I am one of the best students she has ever had and most diligent.</p>

<p>Now I will start my third semester and am very scared to mess it up again and not be able to recover my grades and transfer to my dream college - which is hard. Not the hardest, but hard. I believe in myself and I have always been diligent. </p>

<p>I was proud of my B+ in political science because it was mostly writing. </p>

<p>I don't really know what to do...it seems the help I could have is not really there for me.
I am scared about my moves right now because I don't know the system and I might cease my chances of going to a good college if I don't get a better gpd this semester.</p>

<p>I tried to explain to my counsoler that some professors haven't been very helpful. She was angry and said "With this thinking, you will never get into a good college". She also told me that in my situation, I should start thinking about other colleges to which I could transfer. She was very rude. Her statement just killed me! Nothing hurts me more than believing I won't transfer to a better college.</p>

<p>I wasn't rude because I normally speak in a very low tone of voice and said it very politely without trying to accuse anyone directly.</p>

<p>Could someone tell me something helpful ? Please, don't scare me because I am very scared about my situation since I talked to my counsoler.</p>

<p>THANK YOU SO MUCH!</p>

2

<p>I hope someone with a better understanding of CC could help you, but based on what I know, CC is a 2 year college. My friends go there because the schools are cheap and they could transfer to another 4 year institution. I think your wrong move is that you did not search and research thoroughly when you were in high school back in your country. I am an international student too, so I understand… Perhaps you should get help from the prof who seems nicest to you all of all, who considers you his/her best student; and apply to schools which are easier to get in (as well as your dream schools) as safety. And also get help from your friends who are from the same country and studyin in the US. I hope these help and good luck with your application and if you still believe, still hold on :)</p>

3

<p>Dont miss any classes ever!! then your gpa will jump.
also check your professors before you start the classes …
the most easy way to increase your gpa is to repeat the classes you got low grades in.</p>

4

<p>Ohh thank you so much!
I think this forum will be the best help I’ll be getting!
But…do you recommend repeating all the classes in which I’ve had low grade or taking new classes and try to get a better grade in order to raise my gpa?</p>

5

<p>Okay. Yes, we will help you to the best of our ability. Before we get started, though, I have a number of questions I’d like to ask you:</p>

<p>1- What schools are you looking at? It’s best to compile a list comprised of two safeties, three matches, and four or more reaches (that’s my opinion, at least).</p>

<p>2- You said you’re starting your third semester… so you basically have two semesters left to get your act together, correct?</p>

<p>3- What major are you looking at?</p>

<p>4- Will you be needing any type of financial aid?</p>

<p>Note: -Safety schools are schools that you- according to average stats and such- are almost guaranteed acceptance to.</p>

<ul>
<li>Match schools are schools that you have a reasonable chance of getting into- again, based on stats etc.</li>
</ul>

<p>-Reach schools are schools that are either very, very selective or schools that are basically somewhat “out of your league”</p>

6

<p>You make a lot of excuses for yourself. Perhaps for the future you should make a point of not committing to a course of action before you understand it. Whatever it was that you didn’t understand about “community college” could have been clarified if you had invested some energy into researching it. Start with wikipediea, the college’s website, College Confidential.</p>

<p>Most professors are very clear about explaining their grading policy at the first class meeting. At most institutions, they are free within quite a wide range to establish a grading policy that reflects their priorities. Some care about your class attendance, some care about your class participation (which is different from attendance), some care about homework, and all care about tests. Very few of them only care about tests, however, and it’s up to you to pay attention when the teachers of your classes explain their grading policy at the beginning of the term. </p>

<p>Although I agree that in a perfect world your professors would have spent a great deal more time on helping you one-on-one with understanding how to improve your performance in each class, the truth is that you are not likely to find many professors with that amount of time and energy to invest. But it doesn’t matter - if you commit to attending every class, engaging with the class format and the material (that means, read the assignments, do the homework, participate in class discussions) and do well on tests and papers then your grades will improve - right? Hopefully you will also be getting educated.</p>

<p>My last piece of advice: don’t become overly connected to the idea of transferring to one specific school. Investigate other possible schools, and have a range of schools in mind for transfer applications (unless your CC has an articulation agreement with a 4-year – but it doesn’t sound like it from your description).</p>

<p>So that’s 3 things you can do that should make a difference. The bad part is that they are all UP TO YOU, and the good part is that they are all UP TO YOU. Good luck.</p>

7

<p>My major is business. I was given a list with all the courses I need to transfer to where I want. One of my advisors gave me. It seems a lot to be able to get in only a few semesters. I am in my third, but I haven’t completed not even half of the list because of the prerequirements. When I got into college, I had a list of all the courses I could do that I saw online. So I was just enjoying courses as music, political science, history because those are things that I also like. I didn’t know about the prerequirements because those were not in the list I saw online for my major. So I went to my advisor and finally someone told me that each college asks certain courses and that I would not be able to transfer without taking them. In my mind, I would take all courses related to business adm. and be able to transfer to where I wanted based on grades.
Here it is (the list of courses I need to transfer):
Accounting **** - Prereq: ACC 122 and ACC 222
CIS **** - prereq: CIS200, CIS 100 (I took 100 already)
ECO **** - pre: with a also another prereq. course
ECO **** - pre: "
ENG **** - pre: ENG 101 (I am taking this semester the pre)
LAW - pre: BUS Law (I am taking this semester)
Math *** - pre: mat *** (I need 3 courses to get to the prerequirement!!!) I’ll be doing indepedent studies and see if I can skip some with an exam. Hopefully, I’ll pass.
STA: pre: MAT ***</p>

<p>This third semester I decided to take 3 classes (11 credits) to assure I will get better grades and raise my gpa instead of taking many and not handling it. First and second semesters I took 14 and 15 credits.</p>

<p>I have 2 colleges to where I can transfer and both ask basically the same.</p>

8

<p>I was not in my country when I decided to get enrolled in a community college. I was here, my parents moved (work related) - My mom went with me to the NY department of education and they advised me to go to Community college. Why would I not trust someone working in there? I was new in the country and who better to tell me what to do than someone working in there, right? That’s what I thought - so did my mom.</p>

<p>Professors not necessarily follow what they say and I have perceived this as I went to college. I saw my prof grading a girl with an A - who could barely understand a sentence in spanish and grading me with B- with A on all exams. My CIS prof. said no one could miss more than 4 or 5 classes. By the middle of the semester, she decided she wouldn’t take in consideration the number of classes one missed and still, those who missed 10 classes could get an A.</p>

<p>This is the response I have seen since I got into college. I just wished professors, advisors and counselors were more serious.</p>

<p>If my first advisor had asked me, “What college do you plan to transfer to?” everything would have been clarified since the beginning and I wouldn’t have done this mess.</p>

<p>I couldn’t barely speak english and it’s funny that my advisors and counselors would assume that I knew what I was doing.</p>

9

<p>A big part of growing up is taking some self-accountability for your actions. If you feel lost or confused, try finding help in other places. If one counsellor is not someone you like, get a different counsellor. Community colleges are easier than universities, and grades are pretty objective, they have no side story: you do what the teacher asks, you get an A. You don’t, and you get some other grade.</p>

<p>I had an oceanography teacher who had three exams on her class. I got a C on test one and an A on test two and three, but with extra credit was able to make that C into a B or A and she ended up giving me an A in the class. i also had a really stupid speech professor who gave me a B even though i should have received an A. And i was also in a similar position with you when i took spanish I and received a B due to abscences, but i only got a few abscences in spanish II and got an A in the class. </p>

<p>You need to become more responsible and utilise whatever resources you have available to you. Complaining about how unfair life is isn’t going to get you anywhere.</p>

10

<p>I really understand what you say. I came to a point in which I reflected, “I am either giving to many excuses for my failure or being wronged.” I concluded no matter what the response is, I will still have to deal with the consequences anyway. On the other hand, finding the source of my mistakes could help me not commiting those afresh.
I am still reluctant, however, to blame myself. Blaming myself would be the same as blaming my innocence. Like, it’s not that I am an American High School student and is acting irresponsibly just because I am in college and think I am supposed to have “fun”
I would certainly assist someone who comes to me, willing to learn and hear what I say or is in trouble but not because of lack of interest but innocence - I wouldn’t even use the word lack of knowledge.
I am not here giving excuses for my failure because I expect someone to say “Yeah, you’re right.” I am just saying how it really happened and explain it wasn’t because of lack of interest.
But yes, i understand what you say.</p>

11

<p>Hi!! I’d like to thank you once again. I felt very optimistic when I read your response and tried what you said. I felt very hopeful when you said “Dont miss any classes ever!! then your gpa will jump”. I got A’s this semester!! Thanks a lot!! =D</p>

12

<p>Thanks so much for the update! Keep up the good work, and you will have lots of options when you finish at your CC.</p>