<p>I'm in my last stretch at the community college and I am wondering what types of schools I should apply to. If I maintain my grades I should finish with a 3.85-3.9 (4.0 science/math) GPA and have the following classes completed:
Calc 1-4
Chem
Biochem
Phys (trying to self study to get into calc based but otherwise algebra based my school offers no prereqs to get into their calc based series)</p>
<p>I am on the fence about what exactly I want to major in. Chemistry is at the top, but geochemistry sounded interesting as did a few others. I like the sciences a lot but there's nothing I have a particular passion in. I have no research experience and not too many EC's yet. I will be a regular in my chem club and will be volunteering at the local library's drop in tutoring program. I would prefer a more science related volunteering opportunity but can't find any that weren't internships. I would love to participate in an internship but will need to take summer classed the next two summers to be able to finish my AA and transfer next fall.</p>
<p>For a lark I am thinking of applying to MIT and Caltech. My resume wont be very impressive and I doubt I would get accepted (especially if I can't get into calc based phys). Does anyone have any recommendations or advice? I know most schools have chem programs, but that's what's making it difficult for me to decide. I know I want to get out of state and I would like to find a school with great research opportunities and might be okay with me not 100% on my intended major.</p>
<p>Sorry for the ramble and thank you in advance for any suggestions or advice you might be able to lend me.</p>
<p>Does your college have any articulation agreements with 4 year universities? If so and you have completed the requirements you could apply there as a safety. Your GPA is very strong, but some colleges may want to see your SAT scores (if you have them). As it stands, I think that you should consider UNC Chapel Hill, as I don’t think they require scores for junior transfers and they have a relatively high acceptance rate.</p>
<p>I’m in Washington State, but wish to attend and out of state college. I’ve lived here since I was born and want to ‘break out’ hehe. There are agreements and UW will be my safety net school, but I’d prefer an out of state college and I don’t mind ones that are more challenging to get into. I can always prep for an SAT or w/e.</p>
<p>It’s been 7 years since I left high school, so another trouble I am having is that very few resources are designed to help non-traditional students and it has been rather frustrating working around such systems to give me an accurate idea about transfer chances.</p>
<p>RE: surfwakesnow: I’ll look into UNC for sure.</p>
<p>OP wrote:
“I like the sciences a lot but there’s nothing I have a particular passion in. I have no research experience and not too many EC’s yet.”
Why do you want to go the Caltech /MIT?</p>
<p>To answer your question Batllo, I’d have to tell you a little more about myself. It has been 7 years since I graduated from high school and there were very few opportunities for me in JH or HS to explore fields of learning outside the highly generalized classes offered to most kids. I ended up doing very poorly in both schools, not because I didn’t know the material, but because I never turned homework in, even if I had completed it. I have spent the last year at my C.C. trying to find a subject area I was interested in and stumbled into Botany. I had a lot of fun in the class and got an A so the next quarter I decided to try gen chemistry 1. I lied to my adviser and said I had taken high school chem (with 6 years since high school it wouldn’t have mattered) and got an A in the class. I’m in the next chem and in a biology class and I enjoy both. </p>
<p>Botany, Chemistry and Biology are the only fields of science I have experienced our side high school’s general science classes and I like them all, hence why I said I had no particular passion besides everything I’ve be able to participate in.</p>
<p>I have this idea in my head that I might be able to explore areas of science in an interdisciplinary sort of way at Caltech or MIT. Some of the majors offered to undergrads display this (geophysics, biogeology, etc.) and at MIT I’ve read that they encourage you to take classes outside your major. Which is something I think is absolutely amazing. Both those reasons are why I plan to apply. </p>
<p>Other than those two I guess I could say I am looking for schools that will lend me some wiggle room to explore my interests in various fields of science. Whether its by being presented with class opportunities, club activities, student research, or what have you. My CC doesn’t offer me much of that, but I really wish to be able to have the opportunity. The cost doesn’t bother me much. If I did not wish to accrue any debt at all I would attend one of the small local schools. Maybe my idea of what some universities could be is more fantasy that reality, but I can dream.</p>