<p>Hello,</p>
<p>I am in a difficult situation. Out of high school, I was only accepted into a state college, during which I flunked out due to low GPA. I continued on at community college, and maintained poor-average grades for my first two semesters there, and only last semester, (an A in Physics-Mechanics, and a C in Calculus II), and my current semester, in which I am on track to receive a 4.0, in what are arguably the most difficult classes I have yet taken (Linear Algebra, Calculus III, Physics E&M, and Chem 101), have my grades begun to trend upward.</p>
<p>Now, I have only one semester left to complete the lower division requirements for my major (Mech Eng), and I would like some advice on what my options are.</p>
<p>In the case of UC's, I imagine I have little to no chance of making it in what with my poor performance in my initial semesters of college. However, I can honestly attribute my poor grades to having to work 35-40 hours a week in order to help the family with bills; my inability to receive financial aid during those years (immigration-related); and the fact that I lived 60 miles from the state college I first attended, without a car to transport myself with (this resulted in 4+ hours a day commuting).</p>
<p>I also had a high SAT score out of high school (2200) but I'm not sure that would matter at this point.</p>
<p>I would like to mention all of these things in my personal statement, in addition to mentioning that recently I have rediscovered science/math/engineering to be a true passion of mine; I enjoyed taking things apart as a child, understanding the inner workings of everything, etc. and I was in many different "talented youth" programs but during my teenage years I suffered from a lack of motivation/depression/very low self esteem (which I realize is not an excuse, but looking back, I can't quite understand why I ended up in the deep hole I am right now).</p>
<p>What advice could you give a student like me? Would it be possible to stay in CCC a semester or two more to bring up my GPA if I have only one semester left to complete my lower division requirements? Will a 4.0 in the aforementioned classes this semester and the coming one improve my chances of transferring to a decent school? Lastly, would UC's care if I explained this story to them in my personal statement?</p>
<p>Thank you</p>