<p>Okay so basically out of high school I didn't take things too seriously and ended up with a GPA of 1.6 at my community college. Years and a recession later I am returning to school and serious about it.
With this quarter (fall), winter and spring I will be able to bring my gpa up (I'm getting all A's in my 4 classes this quarter) and have enough units. My issue is that I have to fill the application NOW and I don't want to lie on the app either. So should I even try applying or is it not even worth it? My major is not impacted by the cuts and I'm looking to apply to San Jose State University. I'm worried I have no other options but to wait until fall 2011 (since spring admissions are cancelled through CA), are there any other options I might have?</p>
<p>its not even possible to transfer below a 2.0 gpa. I’d suggest waiting a year, taking a LOT of courses to boost your gpa to at least 2.5 then you can be considered by csus. if you want to wait maybe another year on top of that you can get beyond a 3.0 possibly.
you might be able to qualify for academic renewal</p>
<p>Make an appointment with the transfer admissions office at SJSU. Sit down one-on-one with them. You are a non-traditional student now, and you have a very different focus than you did in the past. This shows in your current coursework, your potential letters of recommendation, and your work history for those years between your first try at college and now. The transfer admissions office will be much better prepared to advise you than we are. Other people to visit would include the director of admissions for Non-Traditional Students (if there is one), and the undergraduate advisor for the program that you want to transfer into. They are the experts on this particular institution. </p>
<p>@RileyJohn - CSU climate has changed drastically this year. The CSUs need to cut 40,000 students from its rolls. Transfer students have it better, but even with a 2.0 (which the OP doesn’t have yet) it is difficult to get in. </p>
<p>@Frankajinx - don’t lie - you have to send in your transcripts and they’d likely catch it anyhow. The CSUs are not afraid at this time to rescind acceptances for the smallest of administrative reasons (and lying about a GPA is actually NOT small). </p>
<p>If you have the $ to fill out an application for SJSU, no harm in trying. But I think that w/o a 2.0 you will not qualify, and even if that was waived, SJSU will be turning away MANY students because it will fill up fast.</p>
<p>Are you in SJSU’s local service area? If you aren’t in a nearby county, you will have an even harder time because the students of Santa Clara County and a few others (don’t have the exact list handy, but it is listed on the sjsu website) get first dibs.</p>
<p>Other options (because MANY students are having to do this now) are primarily to make the best of the delay.</p>
<p>1) Go to a private college. There are many 3rd tier privates that would be interested in helping you. Downside: expensive.</p>
<p>2) Go to CC and raise your GPA. This will take about a year anyhow… get straight As! It is probably your most realistic option. </p>
<p>3) Do the above GPA raising activity AND get a great job or internship. Challenge yourself beyond the classroom and get some real world experience in something related to your major.</p>
<p>Etc. People with less than a 2.0 who don’t have money for a private have to get realistic that the CSUs are not an easy ride anymore. The state doesn’t have the money and those at the bottom of the GPA pool have to recreate their path - and that takes time and effort. Good luck!</p>
<p>If the old classes were 5 or more years ago, I believe you could apply for ‘grade forgiveness’ in the CSU and UC systems and those grades won’t be counted. Talk to admissions at some of the colleges you’re interested in.</p>
<p>Maybe some of UCs that have winter admission will be possible.</p>
<p>Thank you all for your advice and for not mentioning the “well you should have thought about that sooner” argument.
I’ll apply anyways since my fee is waived and I am a local. Some if not half of my classes are 5+ years ago so I’ll try that route and visiting the transfer admissions office, otherwise I’ll be in my community college for another year…</p>
<p>Thanks once again (and if anyone can think of anything else more advice is always appriciated)</p>