<p>Ok, my situation is I am at a horrible liberal arts school (forced here by my parents). My sister got very very very ill (Anaplastic Astrocytoma (Brain Cancer)) and I totally screwed up this previous semester, I was not all there. </p>
<p>I took 15 credits (I am a fresh.), dropped a class (now 12 credits) ended with a 2.25 GPA. </p>
<p>I was taking:
ECON-B
ENG- B
Origins of The West- C
Span-D (Thought I had a C)</p>
<p>I am currently taking 18 credits to fall into compliance with most schools transfer policies so my HS records/Test scores aren't reviewed. </p>
<p>What do I do? I am looking for a large respected engineering school. I live in MD, but UMD is not a realistic option at the moment given my shameful GPA. Help please.</p>
<p>I am sorry to hear about your sister, i am sure that was very hard. I am glad you are ruling out UMD, that school is overated.(Im from maryland) What school are you currently attending. I would suggest focusing on bringing up your GPA and taking classes that are transferable and arent to basic. Your GPA is pretty low to transfer to any good schools, but if you bring it up you may have a chance at some. I am not to familiar with your academic history. You will need to reach for A's and B's if you want to get into a "good" engineering school. I would suggest just staying at your current school until you increase your GPA.</p>
<p>I am at Mount Saint Mary's University in Emmitsburg, MD. I wouldn't be able to stay because tuition is being raised to 41k next year. Yeah I def recognize that my GPA is not good enough. I think I will probably end up with a 2.9-3.1 GPA overall this year. I really am not allowed much in the choice of my classes, since it is a liberal arts school. Thanks for your help. Anybody else have some suggestions for new school?</p>
<p>I believe that many/most(?) schools will be looking at your hs record and test scores (if they are test score schools) if you are applying for transfer as a sophomore. What schools are you thinking of, that you think won't look at hs records?</p>
<p>I'm a little more concerned about the courses you have taken when you are wanting to be in Engineering. That is not the curriculum that is typical for an Engineering freshman; and having the right freshman courses under your belt is typically a key requirement for transfer into an Engineering program.</p>
<p>Ah yeah. Right now I am taking Req. Statistics, Econ, Eng, Req. Western Art, Req. Western Hist., and Introduction to the Internet. I know it is not solid at all, but again I am allowed almost no choice. </p>
<p>I am taking the bs computer class online through my community college. I needed it to get 30 transferable credits and it was all that was available. </p>
<p>I would be totally fine with taking a calc and physics class over the summer at community college. I know from what I have read that most schools have a hardcore curriculum esp. for engineering students, realistically I wouldnt be graduating when everyone else would. I would probably apply as Undecided.</p>
<p>My HS record is pretty terrible, 2.7? I had a 1.7 freshman year and spent the rest of the time trying to bring it up. I made 1st Honors and Principles List, but I didn't really care about school then. </p>
<p>I thought Purdue, USC (Columbia), and Univ. of Kentucky seemed within the realm?</p>
<p>i would imagine you need at least a 2.9 for UKentucky, South Carolina. Purdue's engineering program is much better than those two, so i imagine at least a 3.2ish.</p>
<p>Purdue Engineering really wouldn't work for transfer. They are, I would say, rigid in wanting to see that curriculum I outlined. I know this from first hand experience, although I suppose there could be exceptions. Highly doubt it, though. Purdue Engineering, one of the top 5-10 Engineering schools in the country, is much harder to enter than Purdue in general. So the question becomes whether you could transfer into Purdue and then later into Engineering. I can't speak to that. I do know that they close admissions to individual Engineering programs from time to time when full, so it would not likely be easy.</p>
<p>Maybe the wiser course for you is to transfer to a nearby cc or state school. Spend the next year doing the required first year curriculum for Engineering. THEN try to transfer. At the same time, you can see how you like/thrive that type of curriculum. Those heavy science/lab/math courses are a difficult load and are often graded very tough. Make sure that it is what you want before you transfer based on a desire for a major that might or might not be right for you.</p>
<p>I don't think summer courses in calc and physics will do the trick. You'll need two semesters of each, and they should be rigorous. The school might require more rigor and length than a summer course entails and you will appreciate the thorough preparation.</p>
<p>Yeah I have thought about going to a CC or state school. My mom is one of the registrars at a JHU grad program and thinks she knows everything about admissions. She said that going to three schools would look bad, and she refuses to let me go to a CC (Even though it is by far the most practical approach.). </p>
<p>As far as the intensity of Purdue's program, that is kind of what I am looking for. Business (my current major) isn't really my thing either. I currently have maintained a 4.0 as of now, so I think I will hopefully come out with about a 3.0ish. I took precalc and physics in HS and did very well, so I think id do 'ok' in a college level class.</p>
<p>I'm not really focusing on Purdue, but they obv have a real good program. I was really hoping someone knows of some very good engineering school/program that is relatively forgiving to transfers, with that idea that if the transfer weren't smart enough they'd washout?</p>
<p>Honestly, asg, I feel your dilemma. I have a fair bit of experience looking at Engineering transfers specifically. I just think the real problem is that you have more than one hurdle to address: GPAs which don't reflect your ability (hs and first term) as well as lacking the courses needed to transfer into Engineering. I think this will be the case at virtually any "very good" Engineering program.</p>
<p>So I think you and your mother need to brainstorm how you will get the required courses under your belt. At that time, you can be accumulating the good GPA that will show you can handle the strong Engineering programs.</p>
<p>If she doesn't like the idea of three schools (I understand that, although I don't think that is a problem) then the question is whether you can stay where you are and take the two terms of Calc, two terms of physics, two terms of chem to get what you need. Or whether you can transfer into a school as a non-Engineering major, do the coursework and then move into Engineering. That is a rocky road, also, as many of those programs are very difficult to transfer into. </p>
<p>I think that the best approach might be to talk with the Transfer Admissions people at some of your preferred schools. Ask what could work for you. I can tell you that the Purdue Transfer Admissions staff are very very helpful. If I can find the name of the helpful guy I once spoke to, I will PM you. He sees it as his mission to help kids find the right place, whether or not it's Purdue. That might be a place to start your inquiry.</p>
<p>Actually, the Purdue expectations for Engineering transfers are a little less stringent, I guess, than what I remembered. Maybe this will help:
[quote]
Engineering<br>
Transfer students interested in entering First-Year Engineering must:</p>
<pre><code>* Have a GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) or higher in the subject matter outlined below.
* Have completed at least 14 semester-credit hours of the First-Year Engineering subject matter expectations (see below), including at least 8 semester credit hours of calculus, chemistry, or physics.
</code></pre>
<p>Transfer students interested in being admitted directly to a specific engineering discipline must have completed all of the following college-level coursework and have the necessary GPA.</p>
<pre><code>* Calculus: 2 semesters
* Chemistry: 1 semester
* Science Elective:
o 2nd semester of Chemistry, OR
o Computer Science (programming content only): 1 semester
* Physics (calculus-based): 1 semester
* English Composition: 1 semester
* Speech or Humanities: 1 semester
</code></pre>
<p>GPA Requirements of Specific Engineering Programs:</p>
<p>Hey thanks, yeah I'm looking into EE first, which fortunately is the easiest to get into it appears. If you do happen to remember the Admissions counselor I would really appreciate it. Every time I call an admissions office they stop being helpful when they ask what my GPA is.</p>
<p>Yes, I can imagine that. That's why I'm suggesting that you do the coursework where you are or at a cc. I think that is your best avenue, regardless of your mother's concern re "three schools."</p>
<p>I haven't found the name and so I probably won't.</p>
<p>So i learned how to study, earned a decent GPA ~3.4, ~2.9 overall, bringing up my 2.25 obviously [took 18 credits :-( last semester]. I got a letter the week before finals telling me that UMCP wanted nothing to do with me pretty much, on a black and white xerox. Then 3-4 weeks later I get a massive envelope from UMCP, obviously I was accepted to University of Maryland, College Park--took me by total surprise. I almost didn't bother to pay to have my final transcripts sent there. I don't think I've ever been so happy in my life, no joke. </p>
<p>I thought I'd post how it all turned out because there needs to be more threads like this one, AKA some kid totally doesn't have it together first semester at a school he hates and is depressed as all hell, somehow (divine intervention?) gets it together at the last possible second, goes to a top tier school. I am still in shock, i just registered for orientation today lol. </p>
<p>Big thanks to the college confidential forums for being such a invaluable resource, without it i wouldn't have had my edge applying [UMCP essays :-( ] .</p>