Need Transfer Help Please!! 10+ year college plan :(

Transfer Students
1

<p>My college career has been quite a journey. </p>

<p>I got accepted into a decent tech school in the east coast out of high school, but opted for a state college, where I basically never went to class.</p>

<p>I then started over and enrolled at Santa Monica College, racked up over 80 units, mostly in Computer Science classes (I shouldve taken easier classes to raise my GPA), and got into UCI with a 3.15. This was back in 2004. </p>

<p>I spent about a year and half there and did horrible, was able to get about 60 quarter units of credit, for a total of around 170 units (including the transferred credits). You need 180 to graduate but my classes are all over the map, and dont align up to a degree well at all. I didnt get kicked out but due to personal reasons, had to leave for a lil while. Since my GPA fell a lil short of 2.0, they are now telling me I have to take extension classes to raise my GPA prior to re-admittance. </p>

<p>I am now taking more classes at Santa Monica College to obtain a AA in CS and programming, but want to pursue Business Marketing or Ebusiness/Ecommerce degree. I dont want to pursue a bachelors in CS anymore. </p>

<p>I talked to a CSU Fullerton advisor and she told me when applying to CSU, dont mention the UCI attendance as none of those classes would really count much (since none are business related), and the poor GPA would only reflect negatively. I got waitlisted for Fall 2010 (probably because I didnt have all of the Business required classes completed), but of course got the notice too late and missed the wait list.</p>

<p>As I finish SMC CS courses (only 1 left in the Fall FINALLY) and get some of the business required classes out of the way, I should have 100+ units total, which 20% wont even count at the university (i think they cap it at like 80 units or so). My GPA is currently a measly 3.13 . I have worked for software companies doing marketing for about 2 years fulltime.</p>

<p>Counselors at SMC dont help, and Im not sure what to do! I would like to transfer by Spring 2011 and should have most of the required Business classes done by then. Question is, what schools should I apply to? I will not list my poor UCI status, and just view it as 2 years of growing up.</p>

<p>Again, I want to do Business Marketing or if the school offers, an Ecommerce/Ebusiness degree. Since I did so much CS coursework at SMC, Im thinking maybe they may apply towards a minor or something at the new school.</p>

<p>Could someone suggest the best schools I should apply for? Here are the schools I was thinking about, that I may have a chance of getting into and is may be decent for my future:</p>

<p>San Diego State University
CalPoly San Luis Obispo
CalState Fullerton
CalPoly Pomona</p>

<p>CalState Long Beach
CalState Northridge
CalState LA</p>

<p>OR go back to UCI, transfer over to the business program ( need to raise GPA with extension classes and all new business classes, the ones Im taking now at SMC should count for something though ).</p>

<p>Any other schools I should look into? I dont think UCs would be a good idea for me and private schools are pretty much out of the picture (not rich enough and dont think I can get scholarships/grants)</p>

<p>Any suggestions/recommendations would be truly appreciated! Spring 2011 applications are being accepted very soon at some of these universities and I need to decide quickly, this 10 year track is really no fun - feel like I took a bunch of hard classes for nothing (physics, philosophy, calc2, etc...)</p>

2

<p>I believe what the CSU counselor told you was completely unethical. And if you get “caught” at your transfer university after the fact, even after getting your BS degree, you can be in big trouble. </p>

<p>There are many data bases out there for colleges to use to track where students have been enrolled and as time goes on there will be more and more of this.</p>

<p>You can search CC and the internet for more information on the troubles of “hiding” an old transcript. Don’t do it. It is <em>not</em> okay with your transfer schools. If you doubt it, go ahead and ASK the transfer schools if they are cool with you holding back one of your transcripts. I bet you already know the answer.</p>

<p>That said - what is your TOTAL GPA for all schools attended? That is the number we need to give you advice on where you are competitive for transfer.</p>

3

<p>Thank you for responding. I know I should let them know about my past UCI attendance, but that GPA is like a 1.7ish, so it’s very embarrassing and CalState Fullerton did allow me the opportunity to get waitlisted for Fall 2010 (after applying last year). My SMC current GPA is 3.13 .</p>

4

<p>Start by finding out how to be re-admitted at your old university. You are closest to finishing there. Even though you don’t want a CS degree anymore, it might be the fastest route to graduation (e.g. one year of CS vs 2 years or more of business). </p>

<p>You also should sit down again with the folks at CalState Fullerton to find out how to convert a waitlist for fall 2010 into spring 2011 admissions.</p>

<p>In the future when someone asks about that 1.7 GPA, remember that the proper response is to sigh, shake your head, and say “When I was young and stupid, I was REALLY young and stupid!”</p>

<p>Just remember that you may still be reasonably young, but you sure aren’t that stupid anymore!</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for suggesting that, but I really dont want to do CS as a bachelors major, I failed a few of those classes there and hardly received any CS credits at UCI (maybe only like 1-3 classes I think), so I would essentially be going for Business and have to do about 2 years worth of work there plus raise my GPA at extension courses just to get back in, then transfer into that Business school. Im very lost and confused as to my complex situation and really could use some more advice. I just want to hurry up and graduate undergrad with a bachelors in Business marketing as efficiently as possible, so I dont keep spending money and time on extraneous courses! Thanks in advance for anyone who can help!</p>

6

<p>How much more coursework would you need to do to turn that AA in CS into a double major with business? With a business AA in hand you should be able to transfer into a business program at a university that has a formal articulation agreement for business with SMC.</p>

<p>You also should make appointments with transfer admissions counselors at two or three of your target universities. Walk in with all of your records. Talk with them about your work experience, ask for specific steps needed for admission.</p>

7

<p>You realize that CSU Fullerton will likely rescind any acceptance if they figure out you LIED on your current application. You did not indicate your UCI transcript, which would have been part of your CSU application last fall. This was not an oversight on your part, you simply decided to cheat your way into the CSUs by omitting required information. </p>

<p>By the way, very few CSUs are accepting Spring 2011 transfers - so double check that it is even an option.</p>

<p>You have a lot of conflicting goals, or at least goals that aren’t necessarily compatible. Sometimes “go fast” and “deal with my bad GPA/past” just don’t go together. In your quest to “go fast” you are setting up unrealistic expectations such as a Spring transfer (again, most CSUs are not taking these) or trying to ditch your past by LYING on your your applications.</p>

<p>I suggest you slow down, regroup, realize that you may have remedial work to do to rehabilitate your GPA. You messed up your GPA and now you get to clean it up, even if it means extra time and effort.</p>

<p>I would seriously suggest you take a route that doesn’t require you looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life for a rescinded admissions, or worse, a revoked diploma. Do these worse case scenarios happen? That is the wrong question. You should ask yourself if you really want a diploma so fast that you are willing to LIE.</p>

<p>Not to mention you’d be stealing that transfer spot from someone else who actually <em>earned</em> it this time around. </p>

<p>So - go out and <em>earn</em> your transfer - even if it takes longer or requires a different path to get there.</p>