Should I start over?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I have a dilemma: I'm not sure if I should transfer to another school or not, with two years left to go, being miserable. Because I have such mediocre grades, I would want to start over with the math/science courses in order to be competitive and have a solid background. </p>

<p>First, some background info: I'm currently a junior in the medical informatics program at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Medical informatics combines information technology with introductory biology, chemistry, and anatomy/physiology courses. I transferred here from another school. I'm 23, and married. I'm here on a full scholarship. </p>

<p>From the start, I was torn between biology and computers. Since you can make a decent living with a bachelor's in computers (and I love computers), I chose the medical informatics / IT route, thinking I could possibly pursue graduate work in biology afterwards, while also getting some expertise in computers. I have exactly two years left to finish it. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, my passion for biology (rather than computers) is growing. I've learned about different areas of stem cell research that I am really passionate about and would love to study. I'm also finding out that to pursue graduate work in biology, you need an undergraduate degree in the sciences - way beyond what my medical informatics degree provides. </p>

<p>For personal reasons, I can't stand my school, and it shows - my GPA is 2.7. Between marriage problems (my wife attends another school 12 hours away), serious depression (from said problems), working insane hours to pay credit card debt, and frequent travel, my grades have been average, at best. Most of my grades have been Bs and Cs. I've withdrawn from 3 courses, and I've got 3 Ds (although I made those courses up). </p>

<p>The practical side of me is telling me to stick it out and graduate, and get the best possible GPA / academic record I can. I dropped out of <em>both</em> high school and community college before coming here, and this is the best thing I've ever had academically. Since I enjoy computers and I get some science with it, maybe I should get the degree - FINISH something - and then consider a second bachelor's degree? </p>

<p>Or, should I start over? I even found a combined BS/MS biology program that I have a shot at. But it costs ~50k a year. And transferring would make one more school on my record that I did not finish. But, finishing means...being miserable for the next <em>two years</em>. </p>

<p>Sigh...thoughts / advice ???</p>

2

<p>How old are you? I say you either finish there or give up on school. No point in dropping out of school over and over again and letting it take a financial and emotional toll on you with no benefits.</p>

3

<p>Most schools cap the amount of undergraduate credit you can earn, and if your transfer application suggests you can’t finish their program within their cap, they won’t admit you. Suck it up and finish what you started. It will really improve your self-esteem if you graduate, regardless of your GPA. Most employers won’t ask for transcripts, so just finish the degree at RIT so you can get on with the rest of your life.</p>

4

<p>Dude… just look at what you HAVE. A FULL SCHOLARSHIP?! If you aren’t proud of that I can’t even think of what would make you happy. You have financial freedom to do whatever you want (unless you have heavy debt from the school you transferred from). </p>

<p>Finish your program. I know so many people who have gotten degrees in one major and ended up doing something else. Plus generally only government jobs check for your GPA - unless of course you want to pursue a graduate degree.</p>