Hey guys I have been wondering about transferring from my four year college (New Jersey Institute of Technology) to a community college (Middlesex County College). I know that sounds like a weird idea because who would want to transfer from a four year college to a county college. But the truth is that I am not doing that well college right now. I am a freshman and for my first semester i failed physics and withdrew from calculus. This semester I am doing much better in physics and at my college they replace your grade if you fail and retake the same course. However I failed calculus this time and did not withdraw early enough. If I take summer classes this would be my third time taking calc 1. I am a mechanical engineering student. I feel like I am not college material and want to transfer so my gpa isn’t that bad. If I do transfer to a community college I would do much better and then I would transfer again to rutgers new brunswick which has been my goal since the beginning of the semester. I need some idea about what to do. Sorry for making this post so long and I really do appreciate any feedback. Thank You!
~Mark
I took a break from my original 4-year school and ended up at a community college for two semesters. I don’t regret it at all! In fact, if I could go back I would probably go to a CC before the 4-year I chose. Are you thinking about completing an associate’s there and then transferring back to a 4-year? I believe that it’s an excellent idea. You need to be doing well in your STEM classes since you are pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. It will most likely give you that boost of confidence you need and help you get back on your feet.
I’m planning on going there to get my gpa back up and then transferring to Rutgers so I get my bachelors. If I am able to get my associates then I will gladly do so. And thanks for replying so fast rvalover7!
I mean no disrespect, but if you struggle this much with calculus maybe that means you’re not cut out for engineering? A lot of universities require calculus 1, 2, and 3 in addition to differential equations and linear algebra.
@MarkP1208 No problem! I do agree with @philbegas though. Engineering (no matter what specialty) requires you to perform well in math and physics, which is highly related to math. Do you understand why you are struggling? Once you start taking higher level engineering classes, it will only get worse. Did you go to tutoring and office hours? Also not sure how it is at the CC you plan to attend, but for the CC I went to the first semester for an associate’s in engineering required you to take Calculus I. Since you haven’t completed that yet, I assume you will be behind.
@rvalover7 and @philbegas I was told by my advisor that I am probably not meant for engineering. I thought the same thing as well. However when I asked the seniors and juniors around at my college they all told me that they experienced the same stuff as I did such as having a hard time in math. What they did was take math classes and a community college and they are doing really well now. I guess its just the college that makes it so hard. Our college’s graduation rate for students that have been going to college for four years is 20%. Its really low so it takes time for most of the students to graduate.
I mean, I don’t know you, so it’s not my place to tell you what to do. HOWEVER, I would recommend you prepare a back-up plan just in case this field isn’t working out for you.