I want to transfer to a top engineering institution.

I messed up in highschool. I didn’t care and didn’t try. I got accepted at a CUNY school (queens college). I will be going there come fall. I think it’s a perfectly fine school and I’m glad I even got accepted considering my grades in hs where in the high 70s, but as long as I stay there I will be reminded that I got there because I didn’t work hard. I really want to turn things around and focus on getting somewhere that’s right for me. Right now I want to be an engineer. Recently I’ve fallen in love with all things math and physics(just one of many things I wish I practiced in hs, but now I’m determined to change things for the better). So I ask what top schools or top engineering schools would be likely accept a transfer? I know M. I. T. is considered the best school in the country for engineering, but I also know it is next to impossible to transfer in. Should I even try? What other schools could get me similar opportunities like MIT but not as selective in their transfer admissions?

First you will need to prove yourself at CUNY. If you blew off the prep work in high school you chances of getting a high GPA at CUNY are reduced greatly unless you will be taking remedial courses.

Sorry, I don’t understand that sentence. Do you mean I’d need remedial classes to get a high gpa, or would remedial classes prevent me from getting a high gpa?

He is saying you might have a higher GPA if you are taking remedial classes than if you are taking standard initial college courses. You will need to excel at Queens college and understand that the likelihood of transferring to top engineering schools like MIT may be low if there are few spots and lots of applicants. Does Queens have any engineering classes?

Oh I see. Thanks. Queens college doesnt have an engineering program but they have a pre engineering program, they have a decent over all physics dept

MIT is a huge reach for everyone. My suggestion would be to google the College Transitions Dataverse website. On there is a list titled “Selective and transfer-friendly.”

Check out the engineering programs at those. You’ll still need top grades in a rigorous pre-engineering schedule, but they’re more realistic.

Thanks.

Before thinking about where to transfer, you have 2 years of work ahead and you need to (1) take all the required pre-engineering courses and (2) do well in them. In addition, you have to figure out if engineering is precisely what you want to study. Focus on getting good grades in Calculus and General Physics and starting in the Fall of 2019, you can look for transfer programs if engineering is where you want to be. There are lots of fine engineering programs that are not at MIT and if your grades are good enough then you will certainly get in. If you decide that physics is a better choice for you, then you have the option of staying at CUNY which has a fine physics program.

http://physics.qc.cuny.edu/undergraduate-programs/

http://www.qc.cuny.edu/admissions/undergraduate/undergraduate_degree_programs/Pages/degreedetail.aspx?DegreeID=68