I am starting to deeply regret not trying at all in high school. I’m currently at a community college, in which I have been required to take remedial courses for mathematics. The remedial classes I was required to take were- elementary algebra, intermediate algebra, college algebra, and precalc. Math has always just easily clicked for me. I never finished with less than a 98 in these courses. Now the problem lies where I want to apply to Lehigh to major mathematics, a decently selective school. I am worried that they will not take my application seriously even though I have a 3.9 gpa. I’m worried they’ll just look at my remedial courses and then look at my high school gpa and not even consider me. Any thoughts on my mindset? I’m going to shoot my shot no matter what, but this is just what has been on my mind. Thank you.
Those math classes are too basic at college level for math majors. Most high school students that are intended for math major will take Calculus BC before they even apply for college. As a Jr. Major in Math, you will have great difficulty at Lehigh, so I do not recommend you take that major. If they accept you, its better apply as a business major or some thing else of your interest.
to add to what I posted above, if I were to not get accepted, I would like to transfer to Temple or Pitt for mathematics. If I were to continue having academic success should I try to transfer to Lehigh after a year at one of those institutions, or do you think I should give up at that point? I am very interested in attending Lehigh, it is without a doubt my number one choice. I hate to sound maybe too optimistic but I just would love to attend Lehigh.
I understand where you are coming from, but as someone who knows they will be okay, if I get accepted I will pursue a degree in mathematics without a doubt. My brother, who happens to be my twin, is at penn state majoring in electrical engineering. He is currently in diff Eq and he has never gotten less than a 95 in any of his math classes. Just being naturally good at math, maybe genetically, is something that motivates me to pursue this degree. I’m interested in entering academia or the applied field.
Yes, some CC transfers do get admitted each year at slective colleges and universities. If you have excellent grades and recommendations from your CC that can overcome a shaky HS record. However, these truly need to be top notch. Also it is best if you fulfill the full requirements for your AA or AS degree and graduate from your CC in the major that you intend to transfer into. If your CC has any articulation ageeements for your major, be sure that you complete the specific coursework that your target institutions ask for. Provided you have completed the math coursework expected for an incoming junior transfer math major at your target colleges/universities, it won’t matter at all that you took a bunch of remedial classes before the college-level courses at your CC.
Temple and Pitt have transfer agreements with PA community colleges; Lehigh does not.
if you are serious about transferring you’d go to the Lehigh admissions page where they explain how to get in touch with the admissions officer handling your region and you’d email them discussing what classes you have taken and whether its reasonable for you to apply. You’d look at what classes they’d give transfer credit for on the admission “transfers” page and ponder the impact of applying as a transfer student that is basically able to transfer no courses; you’d ask your admission rep about this. You’d look at their page about regional information sessions and attend one if it is in your area.
Selective schools are perfectly willing to consider CC graduates with great academic records. In fact, they would probably prefer a strong CC grad (who appears to be ready to move up a level) over a mediocre student at another selective school (who doesn’t appear to be succeeding at the current level).
The problem is that many selective schools (including Lehigh) are relatively small and have high retention rates. This means that there simply aren’t very many openings for transfer students, and so transfer admissions can be even more selective than freshman admissions.
At Lehigh, for example, the Fall 2016 acceptance rate for freshmen was 26.1%. For comparison, the acceptance rate for transfers was 89 out of 537, or only 16.6%.
As a transfer candidate, Lehigh will be primarily concerned with your CC coursework and grades, particularly in math. If you have performed strongly in the highest-level math classes offered at your CC, then you may be a competitive transfer candidate. It won’t matter that you took some remedial math classes first.
Lehigh has articulation agreements with two local CCs (Northampton and Montgomery County), although I don’t think they guarantee transfer acceptance. They cover credit transfer if you do get accepted.
Have you thought about taking the ACT or SAT to be able to determine what your math skills are now? This is just a thought.
Your story is impressive. I think all the schools you apply to will be impressed with your academic awakening and your determination to catch up. I know someone whose child had an unusual couple of years out of high school and was then given a full ride to Stanford. Those early struggles can be real character builders!!! So many very successful people had struggles early in their academic career. Your story and what you have learned can be the source of very good essays on the application that may set you apart from the usual transfer student applications.
I would strongly encourage you to make an appointment to have an admissions interview.
Best of luck to you! I think you will be very successful wherever you end up!