<p>The reason I'm exceeding 180 units:
I majored in chemical engineering and chemistry in another state. I left early because my family needed me up here in this state. After working here over a year and settling all the issues here, I realized I lost residency in the first state and can't afford out of state tuition there. I wanted to go back to school, so I applied to a university here. I then learned that they do not have a chemical engineering program here.</p>
<p>My problem:
3/4 of my transfer units transferred as electives, not as classes I can use to meet any degree requirements. I do not want to take another year of working minimum wage to regain residency in my former state. I want to go back to school now. I also would rather work in an office building as an actuary than in a chemical plant as a chemical engineer.</p>
<p>My goal:
Applied math is the degree I'm closest to. I'm at 169 units right now. If I take the minimum classes to get an applied math degree with no minor, I could graduate in two semesters. I suspect my appeal would be approved for that. However, I really want a computer science minor, which would take an extra semester, but would give me much more job marketability. I know they won't approve that if I ask. So I'm thinking of taking most of the computer science classes the first semester while I can still pick my classes, and then asking them to let me finish the math requirements the last two semesters, when they will lock in my schedule.</p>
<p>My questions:
1. When deciding whether to grant my appeal, will they just look at the necessity of my classes the last two semesters, or will they also look at how I used this first semester, and possibly reject me for having wasted it on the computer science classes?
2. 12 units per semester are needed to get financial aid. I will need 9 units of math classes each of my last two semesters to graduate. Will they let me select a few computer science classes to bring my total up to 12 units each semester? I'll stress to them that I'm not increasing the number of semesters left.
3. Who decides my appeal? Someone in the Department of Education, or someone working for the university who is merely bound by federal guidelines?
4. If someone had only 1 semester left, and had exceeded 180 units, and needed only 9 units to graduate, would they likely let them take an extra easy class to bring their total up to 12 units, or would they more likely tell them to get a job and pay everything themselves?</p>
<p>Thank you very much!</p>
<p>You need institutional-specific advice. Get a meeting with your major advisor. Talk this through with that person, and find out what their experience has been.</p>
<p>Do you really need a minor in Comp Sci, or do you just need some courses? If all you need is courses, finish up that applied math degree, get a job, and pick up the comp sci later on the cheap at the closest community college.</p>
<p>I don’t need it to graduate. But the computer science minor would be just 3-4 extra classes and would make it much easier for me to get a job that uses my degree, instead of continuing near minimum wage jobs that don’t require a degree. Having a minor in computer science looks a lot better on a resume than stating that I took some computer science classes at a junior college, but got no certificate.</p>
<p>An applied math degree is not a vocational degree. It needs to be combined with knowledge in another field of application, obtained with a minor usually. </p>
<p>It’s not clear to me that you have definitely forfeited your residency in your original state since your stay in your new state has been temporary. </p>
<p>I filed an income tax return in my new state, and filed a part year income tax return with my old state. That may be true I’m still a resident. But I’d have to move, find a job, break the lease I already signed for the fall, and apply right before the semester started. I was told it is possible to be considered a non-resident for tuition purposes by all states. </p>
<p>But you’ve paid instate tuition at the school before, so as far as they are concerned, you may still be a resident.</p>
<p>You can go through life with an optimistic can-do attitude, or the negative one that you currently possess. Which do you think is more likely to be successful. </p>
<p>Most of the questions you have are specific to the schools (both previous and current/proposed), states (both previous and current); the rules and likelihood of exemption vary. Since you did not name any of them, most replies will be guesses.</p>
<p>Your questions are better answered by the institution you are planning to attend, except the question 4 where the answer is they will allow you to fulfill your full time status with most any sensible class.</p>
<p>There most always is a minimum required number of credits required to be taken at the school to qualify for their degree. In other words a transfer student taking 18 credits will not meet a 36 credit minimum requirement at the school for graduation.</p>
<p>Schools waive the out of state tuition premium, and grant in state tuition for special considerations all the time… I don’t think it would be to difficult. Unfortunately, you have a commitment to your new creditors in your current state. Find out, or beg for the exception at your old school and work out a deal with your creditors. Often a lease can be unraveled by surrendering your deposit plus 1 month.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the likelihood of an residency exception will drastically decrease in year 2. Can you take the classes at your old school online? Do what you can to achieve your Chem Engr. degree.</p>
<p>Find the most expedient route to a degree. Acquire your CS skills in summer course or at a local community college, don’t worry about a minor degree. Demonstrate you have the CS skills and that will punch the ticket. There are plenty of sources for learning R, SQL and MatLab. </p>
<p>say you almost fulfilled the Chem Engr core requirements. Try to preserve your achievement. Can you get into a Master Chem Engr program if you have a B.S. in something else? </p>