Just getting back into school. Trying to figure things out, any help would be appreciated.

Transfer Students
1

Hey, I’m just recently getting back into school and trying to figure everything out. I’ve chosen to pursue a degree in Finance, and I would like to get into a competitive school to further my chances of success. I thought I had all the tools available to get my GPA back on track, but after talking to my counselor, my ignorance has been exposed. I was under the impression that I would be able to retake classes that I had passing grades in "B’'s "C"s and the new/improved grade would be recognized, but it just doesn’t work like that. Also, Academic Renewal, a process in CA that removes sub-par grades, apparently is only really recognized within CA and not really recognized outside of it. So, I’ll just go over myself in the past and current situation and hope that someone might have any relevant advice. I’m really putting in a lot of effort and I keep getting negative feedback on my situation the more I research, and it’s becoming a little discouraging. So I’m just hoping for more information to better define my situation and come up with a new game plan going forward.

In the past: I went to CC right after highschool because it was either that or get a job, and I took, what I viewed to be, the easier route. I eventually stopped going after 2 semesters because I wasn’t really motivated and just started working. I got back into school a year later after solidifying what I wanted to do and was really motivated, doing well in my classes. However, after a semester, I found out my girlfriend was pregnant. I tried sticking with it, but had to keep dropping out randomly through the semester because I just didn’t have my financial situation stabilized and was just learning how to incorporate being a father into my life.

Currently: Just got back into school, I’m taking 19 units of course-specific prereqs while working full time and being a father. My GPA, after Academic Renewal, is at 3.5. I used a GPA calculator to calculate that my GPA would be at a 3.77 if I continued to get A’s for the next 3 semesters/60 units, I plan to take a class during Summer/Winter every term. It will be difficult, I’m mainly worried about my math courses up until Calc II, but I’m keeping on top of everything. I just passed my first round of exams and have A’s in all my classes. I’ve never put this much into school and feel like I have what it takes to continue to get good grades. I had planned to retake classes and get my GPA up to a 4.0, but that’s not possible. I had delusional hopes of transferring into a top undergrad business program (Wharton, Stern, Stanford), but my path is a bit more narrow now. I’m specifically looking at UCLA Bus/Econ Program and UC Berkeley Econ.

So, like I said, I would really appreciate any relevant advice/criticism that you could just add on top of the questions that I have.

My questions:

  1. Does anyone know how much admissions takes into account upward grade trends?
  2. Does me having to work full time and not develop any extra EC's (joining a finance club, starting a business, volunteering) worsen my position? I can maybe scale back when I get financial aid next semester, but my situation doesn't allow for it right now.
  3. Are there any other competitive programs that I might have a realistic shot of getting into?
  4. Is there something I haven't touched upon that I should take into consideration/start focusing on?
  5. Does anyone have any experience with Academic Renewal outside of CA? If so, could you tell me a bit about your experience?
  6. How do you view my situation as it stands right now? Is there a chance, or should I focus on more realistic pursuits?

So, that’s basically it. Sorry for the wall of text, but I wanted to try and give as much information as possible in the pursuit of being accurate.Thank you for taking the time to read all of this.

2
  1. Does anyone know how much admissions takes into account upward grade trends?

Depends, in California I can tell you exactly what the story is with most UCs and CSUs. UCs have a holistic review of an applicant and you also submit a few essays to describe your situation, lessons learned, and efforts to change the old trend by being a bad ass student today. CSUs from what I have heard really only will look at your GPA. Private schools and out of state schools I don’t know much about, but I’ve heard of plenty of private schools that will use a holistic approach. The fact that you are an A student now is very important, don’t be discouraged and don’t think that you wont get in somewhere just because a school as a certain stigma. You should apply to the schools you want to apply to, even the ones you think you wont have a chance at. If you look at some of the stats for various schools you will see that sure most students admitted for transfer are above say a 3.5, but there are a fair amount above and below as well.

  1. Does me having to work full time and not develop any extra EC's (joining a finance club, starting a business, volunteering) worsen my position? I can maybe scale back when I get financial aid next semester, but my situation doesn't allow for it right now.

I know that working full time is actually respected quite a bit, especially if it is related to your field of study in some way or you can make it SOUND LIKE it relates to your field of study in your application. Volunteering can be as simple as 1 day a week for a few hours, you can record that you volunteer at XYZ facility weekly for however long. I know that at least with UCs they aren’t going to ask you to send in proof of anything like that or hours. As for joining a club, some clubs don’t require you to actually go to meetings like Phi Theta Kappa, which is an honors club, others have minimal requirements and may require you to attend one or two events per month.

  1. Are there any other competitive programs that I might have a realistic shot of getting into? Don't know
  2. Is there something I haven't touched upon that I should take into consideration/start focusing on? Don't know
  3. Does anyone have any experience with Academic Renewal outside of CA? If so, could you tell me a bit about your experience?

No, but I had like years of bad grades from CCs in the past and used ARs to fix up as much as I could, some accept it and some don’t it’s worth doing and shows that you are at least making every effort to correct the past.

  1. How do you view my situation as it stands right now? Is there a chance, or should I focus on more realistic pursuits?

I commend you on returning to school, I am also someone who went back and had to work hard to get to a point where I am now. I was full of doubt and didn’t know what I was up against, didn’t want to waste time. I suggest you go straight to your transfer center on campus and make an appointment and start working with them on evaluating schools you wish to attend, build an academic plan for each. Earn your Associates of Arts for Transfer so that you have maximum chance of getting into at least a UC or CSU school. Use the TAG program. Back to the transfer center, you can set up appointments to meet with representatives from the schools you are interested in attending and you can talk one on one in many cases with them. It’s not an interview, it’s a chance to get a very good idea of where you stand and what you can do to improve your odds for that school. Be aware, campus counselors will sometimes have bad info that they are sure is legit, they will even contradict each other if you see more than one and ask the same question, so beware. Use ASSIST (website) to check the transfer-ability of your CC courses. Plenty of your old CC classes may not count against you at the UCs, since some classes aren’t at that level, and this impacts your GPA.

Lastly, you can do this and you can achieve what you are setting out to achieve. Be ok with things changing a little bit as you move forward and adjust to new information, be flexible, but keep your aspirations high and maintain your pace. I got through my CC with all As, you can too just keep it a priority and do the best you can, use the library, use tutors, have people review your papers before you turn them in, do the best you can. Also, be wise about what professor you choose to take a class with, use the ratemyprofessors website and at least get a feel of what different professors are like, avoid the ones who are total nightmares and burnt out on teaching. I’m sure most of the stuff I wrote here is already known to you and within your values as a student, but I know it worked for me so I’m sure it will for you too. Have a little faith, and good luck ! :smiley:

3

Working full time, raising a child, and getting straight As is very commendable, and colleges know how difficult that is. I don’t think you should pull yourself out of applying to places like Stanford. Express your maturity in your essays. They’re known to accept veterans a lot, and I know you didn’t mention being one but you’re an adult whose gone through adult life things so that maturity-factor might also be in your favor the same way it is for veterans. You can do it! It’s tough but you just have to keep at it.

4

I can only speak for UCs:

  1. Upward trend is definitely considered. They like to hear how you overcame setbacks.
  2. Working full-time usually can take the place of ECs - but finance is a selective (impacted) major so if you can get some finance-related club in there somewhere (or a job related to finance) that will help. Maybe an internship?
  3. UC Berkeley has TAP program if you are one of these: under-represented minority, first generation, or low income. You must be at a participating CA community college. It's a great program. Supposedly about 80% get in from it. UCLA has its own TAP Program, which is honors-based. Again, only at certain CCCs. It gives priority consideration and about 80% get in. Six UCs have TAG, which is guaranteed admission, assuming you meet the requirements: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UCSB and UCSC. Again, must be at a CCC.
  4. I thought there was AR outside of CA. Google the school/s in question, along with academic renewal, and see what shows up on their web pages. The drawback is you often need to correct the problem at that school, making it impossible if you've moved. However, if it was awhile back and the grades can't be changed, the UCs will take that into consideration.

I’m not sure if you’re at a CCC, but if so, I think you stand a very good chance for some UCs. For Berkeley or UCLA, you may need to get up to 3.7 or so. Haas School of Business (Berkeley) is probably out of reach, however.

Re: Stanford, I simply don’t see it. Sorry.