It’s great that you turned it around, but your math is a bit off. If you were a full-time student for 7 years and then did CC full-time for at least a year, then you have 8 years of ballast to a GPA of ~2. Therefore, you would need about 8 years of a GPA of 6.0 (on a 4.0 scale) to get to a 4.0. Even if you shot for a cumulative GPA of 3.0, you would need years of excellent grades at the undergraduate level.
A good story, marked improvement, and good GRE scores will count for something somewhere, but not at top tier colleges.
Have you looked into Columbia School of General Studies? Also Penn Liberal & Professional Studies (LPS)? Both take students with atypical backgrounds like yourself. Columbia has a rolling admissions policy. I think they actually still might be taking applications for the fall. As long as you explain clearly why you messed up, and that you are now more mature, I think you have a decent shot.
However keep in mind that the financial aid packages are not that great, so you may have to find some money to pay out of pocket.
Interesting notes, but what if OP worked hard, did very well in the next two years of college, got a masters degree somewhere and did great research, would OP qualify for top-tier colleges? After all, won’t grad schools look at the transcript(s) and see the most recent coursework as the trajectory OP will probably take?
@International95: For a PhD? Yes. Those programs are looking for potential.
BTW, Columbia GS and UPenn LPS are still competitive admissions.
Harvard Extension School is open admissions, though you’d have to pay (though much less than Harvard College full-pay) and they don’t offer a physics major.
A lot of universities have something called a college of “continuing studies” (or other similar name) which is generally for non-traditional students (who are older than regular students, or who can only go part-time or at night, etc.). The Harvard Extension school is an example of this type of school. Admission is usually easier than for regular full-time day students. There are also an increasing # of online degree programs out there which have more flexible deadlines.
Since you are in your late 20s, I’m sure you’ve already thought about what you want to do with your future. Once you do get into a 4 year school and complete your bachelors, what are you thinking of career-wise with the Physics degree? Grad School or Work?
Your best bet since affordability seems to be an issue, is likely to be whatever in-state public has an articulation agreement with your CC. If your original U offers your major(s), then you also should seek reinstatement there.
Post #16 offers sound advice. TCNJ might be possible if you decide to reapply. You might also research whether or not your prior dismissal from Rutgers might be reconsidered, given your subsequent upward trajectory. If so, the Newark campus might be an option.
Good luck and congratulations on turning your life around.
OP, have you look at any of the CUNY schools? A good one for Physics majors would be CCNY (maybe Hunter, Queens, etc.). They are a number of CUNY senior colleges with Direct Admission up to July 13th, for fall 2017. Are any of the CUNYs within commuting distance to your residence in New Jersey?
BTW, have you given any thought to majoring in engineering as opposed to physics?
If I were you, I’d get a job. Then show up every day and work hard. Then go to night school.
There’s a top Twitterer (and podcaster) named T Greg Doucette. Originally a computer science major, dismissed, slept in his car, decided to get his act together. Got his degree the hard way and, after getting rejected from many schools, attended an historically-black college in NC, where he got a law degree. Check him out.
Redemption is possible, but it’s hard. It’ll make you even stronger.
Take a gap semester or year and apply to a more reasonable list of schools. Definitely include those dream schools like JHU and Columbia. I’m from New Jersey, and I HIGHLY recommend TCNJ. It’s a bit easier to get into as a transfer, and they have a really great Physics program. I have close friends in that major and you get great attention from your professors. What about Rutgers?
