Non-traditional student programs for B students [3.3 college GPA, 40 credits, transfer student from community college, philosophy major]

Parents Forum
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One thing I want to add is to not rule out schools that are called “universities” even though you are looking for an LAC. A lot of small universities really function more as LACs, but happen also to offer a few masters programs, so get the university label.

For example, the 3 schools I mentioned (Augsburg, Hamline and St. Kate’s) are all “universities” but their main focus is undergrad education.

Here are some more things I like about each of these schools:

Augsburg is nationally recognized for being LGBTQ friendly. This was a value of the school decades before it was on the radar of other colleges. They also have an amazing program for students with history of substance use disorders called the Step Up program, and great supports for students with autism and learning differences.

Hamline has an outstanding creative writing program. They also have a law school that is very social justice focused; big strengths in immigration law and the rights of those in prison.

St. Kate’s was one of the first schools nationwide to offer a major to become an ASL interpreter. Also a good school for pre-med, and health sciences in general.

Really so many terrific schools are out there! You are going to find the right school for you.

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Just a reminder that each college differs in its requirements for what is considered a transfer student-ranges from those requiring 12 up to, at some places, 60 credits. Make sure you qualify before you apply.

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Yes, the OP has a record of a 3.3 at a community college, which they say that they struggled to achieve. This is most definitely a predictor of how they might or might not manage the rigor of a 4 yr public college or of a flagship state U, or of a highly selective LAC, should they be so lucky as to be accepted by one.

Virtually all community colleges have transfer agreements, often even with the flagship state U. It’s sometimes used as a back door into the flagship state U by students who would never have been admitted otherwise. Just because the comm coll credits are accepted by the 4 yr or flagship state schools does not mean that the level of rigor at the community college comes anywhere near the level of rigor of even the state public 4 yr colleges, let alone the flagship state U. People who are 4.0 students at community colleges often have a great deal of trouble with the transition to the level of rigor at flagship state U’s, or even at 4 yr public colleges. It’s a totally different ball game - and if you have taken courses at a community college, and at a flagship school, and at an Ivy (I have), you would know that the level of rigor at community college is much, much lower.

People on here get so caught up in the competitive admissions game that they forget that for some students, getting accepted to the most selective, rigorous college possible (often by virtue of something other than their past academic record and test scores) is not always the best thing for the student. The OP did very poorly in high school, and struggled to achieve a B minus average in community college. This is a good predictor that attending a selective college where the majority of the students admitted are much stronger students might be a disservice to the OP. The OP’s goal is to learn, and to get a 4 yr degree. She’s far, far more likely to achieve that goal if she chooses a 4 yr college which is not far more academically rigorous than their community college, even if she were able to get accepted by one, and even if she wanted to pay an extra 50K/yr to attend one. If she transfers to a college whose standards and expectations are very high, she could easily wind up with no degree, just a big bill. Better to finish up undergrad at a college with lesser rigor, and if the OP is highly successful there, she can always go on for graduate education at a more rigorous institution.

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Agreed, @parentologist. Many students at community colleges are struggling with balancing their academics with full-time work, caring for young children,and/or running a household with financial struggles. Understandably, their academics often suffer. Since it doesn’t sound like that was the case here, OP’s academic record suggests she aim for far less rigorous schools if she hopes to get a degree.

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Aww thank you so much! I try :sweat_smile: Yes, I think you’ve been able to sense some of my struggles. I didn’t post this because I didn’t think it would change my application but my PCP and therapist have both told me that they highly suspect that I have a learning disability. I am actually scheduled to be evaluated by a Neuropsychologist but the waits are crazy long in my state. I will have results before I transfer schools though!

I assumed it wasn’t worth bringing up because most schools have accomodations and it won’t change my stats. I’ve never been tested before but here’s an example that made me question myself. In my Biology class I would get As or Bs on my exams but I was always the last person to leave by at least 30 minutes (except for maybe 1 or 2 exams where I was one of the last 3 to leave). My professor suspected I was just stalling because I didn’t understand the material but he ended up speaking to me about it and was surprised that I was scoring well.

It usually just takes me longer to process information than my peers. It has also been this way in my English classes. Couple this with a bunch of self doubt and I never considered getting tested until my therapist brought it up!

So sorry for the info dump! Thank you for taking time out of your day to help me in my college search. I really appreciate you and this community. You hit the nail on the head.

I appreciate all of your encouragement :heart:@compmom

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I agree with you! I am not an exceptional student. I’m very average. I want a school that is small and supportive. A school whose bread and butter is working with students like me to thrive, grow, and graduate. Name recognition,etc. doesn’t matter to me at all. Unfortunately, the programs that have been easiest to find are the most competitive which is why I’m on this forum. I’ve gotten some amazing answers so far. I appreciate your honesty.

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Thank you! I definitely will continue my progress with my therapist and discuss my realistic capabilities. I will say that Philosophy classes have always been my favorite. I love round table discussions and am passionate about the subject. I hope that I can be honest with myself but this is why I value a supportive community because I am not ashamed of asking for help :relaxed: Thank you again!

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I’m glad that you’re going to get the testing done, and hopefully get the accommodations in place (which for you, I suspect, will be mostly extended time on tests). Based upon your writing here, I think you will likely succeed in getting your degree.

If you can pay out of pocket for testing, you should be able to get tested quickly. You want it done by a well-trained PhD neuropsychologist, who will be able to discern which more specific tests you need done by virtue of what they see in the initial screening tests, and will also be able to make informed recommendations about which accommodations and approaches will be most helpful for you. Beware - there are a lot of people who are not trained neuropsychologists who are putting themselves out there as qualified to do this testing.

Slow processing speed means just that, it doesn’t mean that the person is not smart. As long as the field that you choose eventually doesn’t require rapid processing, that disability should not limit your achievement.

If you’re anywhere near Hershey, PA (central Pa near Harrisburg), send me a private message.

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Thank you! I really agree. I’d like the experience of leaving home and getting out of my shell since I am extremely sheltered. There is so much more than grades. The experience with my future professors and peers is something I really look forward to as well! I want a community and I want to learn.

This is such a big scary step for me but if I don’t push myself then I know I’ll talk myself out of it. Right now is the best time for me to go and I’m committing myself to the process. It’s uncomfortable though :grin:

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Yes. I agree. I wasn’t struggling with any of those issues and have still struggled. I’m looking for a school that would be a good fit for ME and all that this entails. :grin: I meant it when I said I was looking at schools for the B student. I hope to find a school with a good pace for me and a community that can meet my needs as a student without competitive stats. Fortunately, it seems like there are a lot out there! Many more than I thought thankfully.

Thank you!

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Sigh. This makes your choice more complicated. It sounds as if you’re thinking that you’d like to live in the dorms at a college. If you’re older than, say, 23, this might not be the best setting for you, socially.

College dorm life adds another factor to consider. Some state 4 yr colleges are virtually commuter schools, with the dorms emptying out on weekends. Some have a very heavy party culture, with lots of rowdy drinking and drugging. This might not be the right match for you. It’s not that this doesn’t go on at the flagship state U’s, the third tier private colleges, and even at the most selective schools - it most definitely does. But I’ve had a lot of students report to me that these things are pervasive to the dorm atmosphere at the non-flagship 4 yr public colleges that are not in extremely geographically isolated locations.

So, under the circumstances, you’ll have to consider dorm life atmosphere, too. Some schools have substance-free dorms (not that they’re encouraging substance abuse in the other dorms, just that they know that there are students who don’t want to be around people who drink and drug, for whatever reason). The people whom you meet in a substance-free dorm will likely be more to your liking socially, too, and the dorm is likely to be less rowdy.

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It really depends on location. Where I live, neuropsych testing has a 1+ year wait even for self-pay.

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Thank you so very much @parentologist

If I may pick your brain. My therapist said something similar. My insurance will cover testing at a University hospital. Still, my therapist strongly suggested private pay for similar reasons. I could find a way to make it work but I’m looking at around 5k.

Would you say that there is a significant difference? You seem familiar with the testing process. I can pm you the university if you think it would make a difference. My degree is a significant investment and this testing could be critical to my college success. You have brought up a fantastic perspective on the subject.

Thank you for spending so much time reading these long responses :heart:

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I’m really optimistic about OP finding a suitable living situation. I feel she will find a good place to land!

I agree that substance-free dorms are a good idea to explore; they can be a good fit not just for students who are trying to stay sober, but also for more serious or mature students in general.

Another option to look into would be private dorms. In cities where there are multiple colleges, there are even some private dorms with mixed student populations --students from more than 1 school, graduate students etc. This can make for a rich community.

There seem to be many more good housing options than there were even just a decade ago.

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It’s not the university that’s the issue - it’s the individual neuropsychologist, and their training.

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That’s a really good point! I assumed that I’d be assigned to dorm with other non-traditional students in my program. I’d prefer to not dorm with the 18-22 crowd (no offense, it’s really not a big deal if I have to)

I have a pretty decent ability in setting boundaries so I hope that will make the transition easier. I’d describe myself as pretty chill and don’t really care what others do. I’m also a heavy sleeper so fingers crossed that I won’t have any issues :sweat_smile:

(I have more chores/errands that I need to do but I promise to respond to everyone later tonight. Thank you so much everyone!)

Thank you @parentologist

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The thing about being a non-traditional student is that you are exactly that-outside the norm, and it is highly unlikely that any school has a critical mass of nontraditional students in any dorm situation. Candidly, I do not think it is in their best interest, or yours, to be rooming near that age group if you are over 23. Anticipate lots of requests to buy alcohol for them.

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I really wanted to PM you to raise the issue of evaluation.

One of my kids has slow processing speed and ADHD. There are students who do work that might be considered brilliant, despite their challenges, and without accommodations would be B students or worse.

If testing finds a significant difference between ability and performance, you would probably have some kind of learning disability.

If that is true, then your grades are not a good guide to what you are capable of with accommodations. Accommodations enable you to, basically, do the best work you could do without the disability (in theory).

I am actually afraid you could end up at a school that is not stimulating for you, if grades alone determine where you go.

Maybe you could contact Landmark School or University for advice-?

If a neuropsych. is not available for awhile, a psychiatrist can at least talk to you about ADHD.

The reason this comes up for me is, again, the quality of your posts, as well as your deep interest in a very academic subject. Don’t let anyone discourage you!

I have kids with various disabilities (including medical) and they have achieved what they wanted to achieve and are thriving- with the support of acccommodations along the way. You would not have been a 3.3 GPA student most likely with proper supports.

One other thing: if you are a slow processor and like to do things with depth, part-time attendance is an option. You can take two classes and still get financial aid.

Maybe living in a house or apartment with students your age would be better than dorms-? I was a non-traditional student myself and felt more alienated at 23 than at 35, because at 35 it was clear I was no longer a peer. During my non-traditional years, I did not live in dorms but in households with peers who were working and done school.

I had to accept that my chance at a traditional experience had passed. The program at Smith may still be possible for you if you talk to them. We are all impressed with you.

Your profile is private so I am writing things I would have written privately!

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Because your profile is hidden, I couldn’t send you a private message, but then the site offered me that option.

No college will provide a dorm for non-trad students specifically, or with a critical mass thereof. Nontrad students, especially women, are often mothers with children, certainly are people who are established in their lives outside of the college community, and who are seeking education, not so much seeking a new social life.

If you can afford 80K/yr for a private college, you can afford 5K for a good neuropsych evaluation. I have a close friend who is an excellent neuropsychologist who got her PhD from the premier institution in the world for neuropsych training. If you tell me approximately geographically where you would like to get tested, I can ask her if she can give names of highly qualified people in that area.

If you are older than 23, I don’t think that you will fit in well in a dorm at any school. That doesn’t mean that you couldn’t live in a dorm, but I think you should definitely have a single, and be prepared for some rowdy behavior. People who are just past college age often live in group houses, each with their own bedroom, for a few years. They often make new social connections with and thru their housemates. This would probably be a better setting for you.

How old are you? Seriously, if you’re older than say 26, college is for education for you, but is unlikely to provide you with social connectedness, unless you go to a university with a large grad student population, with whom you might connect via shared interest organizations.

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@parentologist both Smith and Wellesley have special programs with separate housing for non-traditional students, and there are probably others. The crux, I think, of what the OP is asking about is whether there are programs similar to those at Smith and Wellesley, at schools that are less selective.

Goddard’s residencies are definitely mixed ages, including people in their 20’s and 70’s.

I would still talk with this program at Smith: Ada Comstock Scholars Program | Smith College They might be more flexible but could also suggest other programs-?

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