<p>Hey guys,
So, I spent 3 years at UC Santa Cruz and got a whole bunch of really bad grades. My GPA is about 2.0 with a fair number of D's and F's. Long story short, it turns out I'm not dumb, uninterested, or unmotivated; I have ADD. Time management, test taking, etc. all suffered bigtime (also largely due to alcohol and poor sleep patterns). I've come a ways now; I've changed how I do things, and I've learned a bit how to deal with it. Anyway, I have always intended to transfer elsewhere since UC Santa Cruz does not offer mechanical engineering. The good news is... I've completed ALL of the lower division requirements for most UCs (Math, Physics, Chem, Engr courses, and some GEs), but now I'm stuck trying to get in somewhere with a dismal GPA. I have always been 100% dedicated to this major and I've never wavered from it. </p>
<p>I'm trying to get an idea of what avenue I may take to get in to another UC for mech engineering. I have a hard time accepting that I'm doomed to never attend a UC again.</p>
<p>Are there schools out there that may understand my situation?
Does anyone have any stories like this?
Any suggestions, ideas, or input?</p>
<p>From what I gather the UCs are very sensitive to disabilities, so is that something I could exploit?</p>
<p>I know I cannot afford to be choosy here, but I'm not real hot on Riverside or any of the CSUs. Obviously, its kind of a long shot, and I'm trying to get the most as possible, so I'm open to ideas.</p>
<p>That’s a bad situation. I think regardless of your personal issues, a 2.0 closes most, if not all doors. Nowadays, the CSUs are actually pretty hard to transfer to, and of course UC-UC transfers are rather difficult as well. You also have probably accumulated too many units to transfer to another UC since they cap at 120 quarter units (something like that).</p>
<p>I would look into smaller schools, perhaps privates, that may take your personal situation into account.
Best of luck.</p>
<p>Eshug1:
If I don’t get in anywhere, my backup plan is to return to UCSC and major in Math and maybe throw in a minor.</p>
<p>Cali: Technically I’m a california community college transfer-student because I’ve oddly managed to fit their exact requirements (most recent school, unit requirement, etc.), so I guess that’s a small plus. Also, I’m at a comfortable unit level; can’t remember how many, but its not very close to the upper-limit. </p>
<p>I would check your SC portal + your community college’s to see exactly how many credits you have. Even if you failed several classes at SC, you should always check for an accurate credit amount/GPA. </p>
<p>This is the part where I’m not completely sure how it works. Your ~2.0 GPA is a UCSC GPA. When you apply to colleges, they will see your UCSC GPA as well as your CC GPA. Wouldn’t you be able to complete your GE’s/IGETC at a CC and then completely finish your pre-reqs to increase your GPA (then write about your earlier issue)? Even though this kinda clashes with a unit cap, I’ve known people who spent 5 years at a CC and they were still able to transfer.
Even if that little mess-of-an-idea I wrote above might not work, my best advice is to go talk to a CC advisor right away. They may be able to tell you schools you have better chances with and if you meet their requirements. Otherwise if you didn’t take a complete leave of absence from UCSC (I’m guessing you left because now you’re a CC student?) then I would return there right away. Getting a degree from UCSC is better than having to settle with a private school that isn’t that selective.</p>
<p>I think the problem not being addressed is that Mis has 4 year credits, which means he is unit capped, unlike someone who never took classes at a 4 year. Yeah, you can take classes at community college for five years and earn 200 credits. But once you go to a 4 year, you are ineligible to apply after 120 quarter units, or whatever the number is for the particular UC campus. I am not sure if it is only UCs that have this policy, but since those are the schools you are inquiring about, you probably cannot transfer if you have earned a lot of credits.</p>
<p>Antioch is a decent private school, from what I’ve heard. My guy friend had something ridiculous like 2 years at a CC, 1 year @ at university, and 2 years at SF State, which equals a LOT of units. But Antioch took what they could from the units, understood his situation, and he only had to do about a year for his BA.</p>
<p>Do UCs have Academic Renewal? If you can re-take some of the classes you got D’s and F’s in it would show that you’re serious about turning yourself around.</p>
<p>At UCSC I’ve retaken and passed every class for my major, but usually getting a B or C grade. The only engineering course I took last fall (here at CC) I got an A in, and I’m fairly confident I’ll get an A in the one I’m in now.</p>