Help me out here, please. I want to know my options.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Alright, a little background about my first.
My family and I moved here from Brazil in 1999, graduated high school in 2007.
In high school, I graduated with a 3.0 GPA, even though it could've been much higher but I slacked off because I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life, I became lazy and all I ended up caring about were girls and just doing the bare minimum to pass.
Sadly, that carried over into my first couple of semesters at CC.
- My first semester at CC was a disaster - I took 4 classes, and I ended up getting 2 Fs, 1 D and 1 A. The following spring I signed up for 4 classes, but ended up dropping them all because I wasn't taking it seriously, and I was lazy. All I cared about was partying and playing games. Childish, I know. My GPA for that first year ended up being 1.33. I got a college dismissal e-mail, basically telling me I needed to pick it up. I panicked, I had one of those 'oh, crap' moments where I realized I was messing with the rest of my life.
- Come second year of CC, and I ended up signing up for 4 classes again: I dropped one, got a D in the other, and passed the other 2. My problem was that I became lazy again, and apparently didn't grasp how serious my situation was turning out. It also doesn't help that during this time, my father was laid off and my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite all of this, my GPA went from a 1.33 to 1.92. Progress, but still had a long way to go.
- Spring of that year rolls around, and I signed up for 4 classes again. Ended up getting Cs in all 4 of them, mainly because I slacked towards the end.
- Summer after I decided to change my major from Undecided to History, and I took a history course during the summer. I got an A.
- Fall of that year (3rd year of CC) I ended up taking 4 classes again, and got a 3.0 GPA. These were all history classes. Come spring, I took 3 classes and got 2 Bs in my history classes, and a C in my psychology class.
- Spring of that school year, and I took another 2 classes - got Bs in both. Come summer, I took my 'last' history class and got an A.
- This fall I ended up taking 3 classes, all of which were the final classes to finish my pre-req's. I'll be finishing with 3 As. </p>

<p>My GPA went up from a 1.33 to a 2.6 (by the end of the semester). My childishness at the beginning of all of this is what has messed up my GPA.
What are my chances of getting into a UC with this? CSU? </p>

<p>Also, another thing. I want to change my major from History to Computer Science because there's much better job openings for CS majors rather than History majors, and they just sound more fun to me. Computers is something I've enjoyed since I was little - it's a wonder I didn't choose CS to begin with. However, this is my question: if I change majors now, I want to take some classes for it. I'd need to take Trig and College Algebra, which I took in high school and got As, but I don't particularly remember most of it. I'd also like to take Calculus with Intro to C++ before transfering. Is it worth it to wait another year?</p>

<p>In the end, what should I do? As far as going somewhere, what are my real expectations? Be harsh. It's taken 4 years to really figure out what I want to do, all the while messing up my GPA. If I could start over, I would. So, thoughts?</p>

2

<p>How many total credits have accumulated so far? I think your chances at a UC is slim to none. CSU might take you but a 2.6 GPA is still low. Of course this also depends on what CSU you are aiming for.</p>

<p>What you can do is continue taking classes for a few semesters in whatever major you are interested in and do well in them. No more C’s and D’s. F’s is out of the question. Show that upward trend amigo.</p>

<p>If you feel a bit rusty with your trig/algebra then start with the introductory classes. It is better to gradually get to calculus with good grades rather than jumping straight to it and fail. You can’t afford to do bad or fail anymore classes.</p>

3

<p>55 after this semester is over. </p>

<p>As far as being rusty, if I just re-took the courses, I feel like I’ll be more than fine. It’s just that I don’t want to move straight into Calculus without at least reviewing, and if anything it’ll just help my GPA. </p>

<p>As far as the upward trend you’re talking about goes, it’s been ‘going’ for 3 semesters now.</p>

<p>When do you think would be a good time for me to apply, if you feel it’s not all that sure right now? 2.8? 3.0?</p>

4

<p>

</p>

<p>This isn’t good. </p>

<p>As far as transfer goes, since you attend a CC, get your associate there and transfer. Retake all the classes where you got a D and F in. Also, take extra units if you need to. 3.0 is the bare minimum if you want a chance at transfer. Get some Recs from your professors, join some clubs, do some volunteering if you want to show the adcom you really made a 360 transition.</p>

5

<p>I agree with kawnseffect that you should try to get your associate degree. But if you trying to major in something different, there is NO point of retaking the classes you did poorly in except for the classes that are required for your choice of major. </p>

<p>Do NOT join any clubs or volunteer. You can NOT afford to do bad anymore. Your grades are the most important thing.</p>

<p>I got admission offers from many good universities including cornell, columbia GS, Maryland college park, Lehigh, Case western, UNC chapel hill, and others as well.</p>

<p>MODERATOR NOTE: WHILE THIS MEMBER RECEIVED EMAILS CONCERNING PBK SCHOLARSHIPS FROM THE SCHOOLS LISTED ABOVE, THEY NEITHER APPLIED NOR WERE THEY ACCEPTED BY THESE SCHOOLS. THE MEMBER APOLOGIZES FOR THE POSTING FALSE INFORMATION ON THIS BOARD.</p>

<p>I had zero volunteering hours but I was a member of PTK.</p>

<p>A good time to apply would be at least after 4 semesters of good upward trend(no c’s, d’s or f’s). Looks like you only have 1 or two more to go.</p>

6

<p>@kawsneffect, what isn’t good? Do you not recommend I change my major?</p>

<p>@bottlecap1990: the only classes I retook were the classes that were needed in order to transfer/get my AA. They were the ‘general ed’ classes, if you will.</p>

7

<p>I do not see a UC in your future. Even just looking at your best semesters, you still pulled about a “B” average at best. UCs generally admit transfer students who are strong A or maybe A- average students, and usually these students stay at that top level the entire time they are at CCC. You simply haven’t performed at that level at all, ever.</p>

<p>CSUs are an option. Switching to a CS major is also absolutely fine. You should be able to get admission to your local CSU (once you finish pre-reqs in your major) because they are required to take local-CCC admits first. Do pull up your gpa, because a 2.6 for a few majors won’t be enough even for a local admit.</p>

<p>Look into Academic Renewal at your CCC. It can wipe out a few of your first semesters of bad grades GPA-wise (still shows on transcript, but I believe recalculates your gpa). Each CCC has its own rules about this, but it could be VERY helpful for your case.</p>

8

<p>Yeah, I’ve already done the academic renewal for the 4 classes I got below Cs in. Is there any way I can retake the classes I did get Cs in? </p>

<p>Looking at assist.org, most of the schools I’m looking at require me to take Intro to C++ 1 and 2, as well as Calculus 1 and 2. Everything else they ‘recommend’, I’ve already taken. </p>

<p>What GPA should I reach before I even think about applying?</p>

9

<p>My only concern is that one of the reasons you want to switch majors is because computers seem more fun. My husband graduated with a degree in CS and it was far from “fun.” It is not gaming classes that you will be taking but programming. I don’t want to talk you out of it but changing majors because it seems like fun may not be the best choice. There are going to be really difficult classes and a lot of hard work.</p>

10

<p>I misworded that - what I actually meant was the fact that anything regarding computers, to me, is interesting and I honestly don’t think I could live with myself for the rest of my life if I went with History, which I like, instead of going with Computer Science, which I love. </p>

<p>I’ve done some minor programming in the past, and it’s honestly the most fun I’ve had. I like it. It’s something I can actually see myself doing… forever.</p>

<p>Anyway, it seems to me like the only way to get my GPA up besides getting good grades, is taking a course or two in top of what I already have planned out. Would this be good? Thoughts?</p>

11

<p>How viable is it to transfer as a history major now, and switch majors once I’m at my school of choice?</p>

12

<p>holyeuphoria -</p>

<p>Have you run your questions by the transfer counselor(s) at your CC? They surely have dealt with students with similar situations in the past, and they should be able to tell you what options are better than others.</p>

13

<p>I’m going there tomorrow. However, they only give you a half hour, so I wanted to be really prepared.</p>

14

<p>Sorry about this - bump</p>

15

<p>Computer science is a major which requires tremendous work ethic and you haven’t showed that so far. Even in your best semester you haven’t showed that. To show an upward trend, you need to start getting A’s. B’s really aren’t even acceptable for you at this point, you have taken too many credits and gotten too many low grades to recover from without getting A’s.</p>

16

<p>I think you should make an inventory of yourself, analyze what is your strenghth and weaknesses. As a professional computer progammer/analyst, I can tell you its a big change from a history major to CS major. I would not want to make the switch if I don’t know I am a CS inclined person. Slacking off is one thing, the mind of computer programming is another. It requires a different mind set and you may or may not have it right now.</p>

<p>I think you need some help from some one who can analyze your skill set. Other than acadamics, there are many avenues you can succeed.</p>

<ol>
<li>If you are people oriented, you can succeed in sales.</li>
<li>If you are good to use your hand, you can succeed in learning a trade: construction, plumbing, electrical, auto repair or whatever.</li>
</ol>

<p>By just looking at your life history, I cannot tell how to advise your future path, but I think you should sit down and find yourself first and make the wise move.</p>

17

<p>Please read Moderator note on post #5.</p>