I am an international applicant from South Korea. I hope to apply to California State Universities for Spring 2017. Here’s my dilemma:
My high school grades were below average. Korean high schools use a different grading system with a class ranking and average, and my scores were usually average to below average. Most CSUs require 3.0 high school GPA.
Also, I attended 2 years at a Korean university. I got a few F’s with an overall GPA of 2.2. I dropped out of the university last year and have been studying the TOEFL test and working part-time.
It’s been 3 years since I graduated high school. I made many mistakes but I’m ready for a fresh start in America (preferably California) and willing to go to almost any 4-year accredited university. I’m fortunate enough to have parents that will support me. I do not require financial aid.
I really want to go to SFSU or SJSU. What are my chances of getting accepted into any CSU as a freshman? Should I apply as a freshman or as a transfer student and submit my Korean college transcripts? I’m ready to start over as a freshman but could submitting my college transcripts actually hurt my chances of being accepted? Thank you.
I don’t know as much about CSU, except that they are known for being more forgiving than the UCs in many cases. But I would recommend spending time at a California community college first and getting your prerequisites (both major and general education) done there before transferring. While you will likely have to submit your Korean college transcripts no matter what, generally the college you apply to will focus on your most recent school if that’s where you got all or most of your requirements done, and it’s a good chance to raise your GPA. Also, many of the California ccs do a good job of preparing you for the CSU/UC system in general and have robust ESL programs if you need it, especially in larger cities. Good luck!
It sounds like you have encountered some academic challenges along the way. Have you been evaluated for learning differences?
What are you interested in studying?
Are there any schools in your country that you are might attend? I ask because the schools in the California state system are supported by US resident’s taxes along with tuition. Some people reading this might think I am not being sufficiently PC but I really think that California residents should be the priority. Unfortunately there are not enough spaces to accommodate all of those who would like to attend despite the fact that many have parents who have paid into the system for decades and have yet to have one shot at attending. If you’ve already had a shot, gotten D’s and F’s, maybe it makes sense to try to complete school in your native country.
You need to attend a community college first, then transfer to a csu. I would recommend you choose a community college near a relatively residential CSu, such as Sonoma state or Chico State, so that there’s a bit of a college town feel.