Is a transfer even possible?

Transfer Students
1

Hello,

I’m looking for some advice about possibly transferring to a different college. I currently go to a liberal arts college in the middle of nowhere, a choice that I made begrudgingly with my parents. I was thinking of transferring before this year, but now I think I need to. I developed a strong interest in media and journalism from a part time job in the field and I want to pursue that career.

However, my college does not have any journalism major or classes. I’m currently a sophomore in an Asian Studies major because that was what I thought I would be interested in when I first applied to college.

My GPA was already not high (2.9 end of spring semester) due to 1 class in freshman year that didn’t go too well. Without that class on my transcript, my GPA would be mid to high 3 range.

The past year really took a toll on me, with having to transition to fully remote learning, 2 deaths of close family friends (one being a suicide), my uncle passing and my grandfather suffering and eventually dying from late stage Alzheimer’s. My grandfather fell seriously ill (in a different country) early in the year, which prompted my mom to go to said country and stay there until late October until he passed. Of course, not being able to be there to see him or go to the funeral was not easy at all. My grandmother also had to have emergency hip replacement surgery which led to her losing too much blood, being clinically dead and having to be revived in the hospital.

These events were sprinkled out throughout the two semesters and made it feel like an extremely long marathon of difficult situations.

Additionally, I had an absolutely terrible class schedule which didn’t help. I had classes at 8AM 4 days a week, with classes at 9PM 3 times a week (this was due to me being a remote student). I slept in 3 hour increments throughout the semester. This, on top of the COVID-19 pandemic and the chaos the US has faced was just too overwhelming.

I tried reaching out to my advisor multiple times throughout the semester, but each time I got bland, unhelpful responses with the tone of “just do your work”.

I tried my best to stick it out and get through it, but I failed to do so. I ended up with an A, B-, an incomplete and an F in a class. I will be meeting with my advisor to try to change that to an A and 3 P’s. My GPA is now a 2.6, and I’m not sure what do to. I blame myself for not getting things together to work on my GPA, but the situation was exceedingly difficult to say the least.

I’m looking to transfer to Temple University (which I was accepted to when I was applying to college), any advice on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

2

I’d sorry you’ve been struggling. Have you considered taking a gap year? You may need some time off from your studies to refocus your energies.

Temple requires a minimum 2.5 GPA for transfers. Yours is currently a 2.6 with one outstanding incomplete so (depending on the final grade for your incomplete) your GPA may be within range. But I think the profiles of the accepted transfers who are in the lower end of the GPA range matters. Are they full pay? Do they meet some other institutional need? I think I’d consider Temple a reach. Make sure you have academic and financial safeties on your list.

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3

That’s a tough situation, and it doesn’t look like you have the option of going back home. You might have to just retake the class. That should restore your GPA. The rest seem good. I’m not sure transferring is the answer, because you lose credits doing that.

Here’s my advice. Go to the health center and talk to a counselor. They can help you cope with this. There’s a lot going on with the family. And I’m sorry you have to go through all of this. Sometimes it’s good to just put aside those things and focus on you and getting your education. Sometimes external things, no matter how genuine, can turn into huge distractions. You can’t let that happen. They’re out of your control.

4

You do not need a major or classes to work in these fields. Lots of people do them with majors in the liberal arts (Philosophy, History, etc) You need writing experience so you can take classes with papers. You can join clubs and related activities such as the school paper at your school. Talk to the career center at your current school for more advice on how to take advantage of what you do have available.

As for transferring to Temple, why just that particular school? It’s a rhetorical question; just like in applying as a frosh you should investigate a variety of schools and cast a wide net in applying. Assuming Temple belongs in the schools that are right for you then you can talk to an adcom for more advice; see the link “schedule an appt” on Transfer Students | Temple University Office of Undergraduate Admissions

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