Hello. This year I went to college at a UC. I was miserable at the UC and developed major depression and anxiety. Due to not feeling safe mentally and changing my major, I decided to leave at the start of the quarter, so it seemed that I didn’t even attend. I am wondering if this would affect my transferring abilities. I have a history of health issues, I had two heart surgeries where I developed ptsd and depression. I have recently done therapy and feel better about the issue. I left with a 3.12 and 24 quarter credits. I am going to my local community college in the fall, will this affect my chances of transferring if it was a medical withdrawal that I’ve demonstrated I’ve gotten help for?
Are you trying to transfer back into another college that is not a community college? If so, I think it will matter because they will want to see your transcript. However, on the Common App, there is space for you to explain why that is so, and considering your circumstances, I think you can have them look over it if you write well on it.
I would like to transfer to a private four year university, preferably Chapman or LMU. What do you think I should focus on the most? I do not want to seem a liability for the institution.
Focus on your recovery and what you are doing to insure you won’t be likely to relapse.
The Transfer Advisor at your CC should be able to give you some advice about how to handle this.
You also could re-post in the Parents Forum using a title along the lines of “Transferring after mental health withdrawal - what do I do?”. A number of parents have had experience with this issue and will have ideas for you.
Well basically I left after winter quarter for that reason, but mostly because my parents did not want me to be far away because I have a heart condition and they wanted me to be closer to home
To better your chances for admission to LMU or Chapman, then find out if “showing interest” helps for transfers. Since LMU and Chapman are about 90 minutes apart (depending on traffic), you might want to try for the one that’s closest…and include schools like Whittier and maybe Azusa Pacific as well.
I cannot 100% speak for Chapman and LMU but I really do not think your leaving after a quarter for health reasons will have a negative impact. The fact that you are still committed, despite setbacks shows grit. They like that.
From the little you’ve said I believe you would do better in a smaller school such as Chap, but also, crucially, you need to be close to home.
I wish you the best of luck. But to reiterate, I do not see it as a hindrance at all.
You said that your transcript will not show any registration in the third quarter. It will have no impact at all because you don’t have any “W” or failing grades on your transcript, just a missing quarter which you can easily explain.
Okay, thank you. Do you think that not taking summer classes will be an issue? I did internships to try real world experiences within my major to make sure that I was in the right major. Is that a good reason? I really just wanted to boost up my resume. 
Will they look down on that?
I missed the deadline for spring classes at SMC, and decided to start internships and volunteering. Will this be seen as negative?
No, you’re fine.
Thank you so much for clarifying my worries! Do you guys know what a competitive gpa should be?
Oh, and also, if I start volunteering now (July), will it look odd to colleges? I was on a competitive sports team throughout high school all year, and had a serious health condition that prevented me to do a lot of different stuff.
I would say just start volunteering, etc and note your health issues as a reason you took time off.
A competitive GPA is the average GPA of students admitted into a particular major. You will only know what it is if a college decides to release it. Many don’t.
I volunteered in middle school, but didn’t in high school. Will it not look odd if the reason I say that I didn’t was because of various health condition and school activities? Or will they not really even care?
And also, do any of you know how much they weigh high school grades? I think I got a 3.1 weighted in high school, will that be a major deciding factor?
I think they will be understanding because of your health setbacks. I mean I would.
I assume if it was heart related, you also got tired easier. No one expects you to be superwoman. (I assume you’re a female…)
Is it a huge factor though? I mean if I raise my GPA significantly then it wouldn’t be as much of an issue right?
( I mean raise my GPA in college) I had a lot of concussions sophomore year (3), which caused me to change my lifestyle, and I got really sick in junior year with my heart condition, which I got two surgeries for in senior year ( it took me a while to recover from that) so yeah, basically my entire high school career was health stuff. Should I state something about that?