So I screwed up my GPA - Transferring options?!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey all. I've read this board for a long time, just never signed up until I felt I was in a really tight spot. Looking for some advice from those more knowledgeable than myself. :)</p>

<p>So, here's the story. I wasn't really anything special in HS, but graduated with 3.85 and fairly average SAT (~1800 - don't remember my ACT).</p>

<p>Currently I'm a sophomore in college and just finished my second semester at a school that I want to transfer out of. That's already decided. The next thing to tackle is where.</p>

<p>I totally screwed up my first year. From that 3.85, I took a couple courses prior to my freshman year (one of which was a B and brought me to 3.5) from a CC. After my first year my GPA was a 2.84 -- yeah, I know. The first semester, I had failed Calc I and I had to retake it second semester. Just an example of me screwing around.</p>

<p>So after the end of this Fall 2010 semester, I got my GPA to a 2.92. I had calculated it, and anticipated a 3.02 - however, a grade in one of my classes turned out to be below what I expected, and instead of dropping a certain class that I had thought I was going to fail, I ended up pulling a C+. My other grades were A, A-, B, C+. (I hate to give myself an excuse, but there was a lot of bad situations that arose right before finals week that screwed me over pretty bad.)</p>

<p>Current major: Electrical engineering
Transfer major: Biomedical engineering (which is a competitive/selective program in many places I hear).</p>

<p>Firstly, when should I send my transfer application for Fall 2011? Is it possible for me to apply after my Spring 2011 GPA has calculated? It wouldn't seem so, according to the deadlines for many universities.</p>

<p>Second, with this abysmal 2.92, what are my best options for which I would have a reasonable - even if a sort of long - shot? (I am hoping for something on the reputability level of say, USC, for example. Or, something mid-range but reputable.)</p>

<p>So am I going to have to write a really stellar essay or something? I can't express how much I regret my first year, and even this semester. Additionally, I was kind of unsure about what to do for my first year (and thus unmotivated), but now I'm decided. The only other things I have under my belt are that I tutor math (calc 1 & 2 -- believe it or not I got pretty good after failing it) and general chemistry. In HS I did quite a bit of community service, and between 20-30 hours for my first year in college as well.</p>

<p>Please help me out, I know you guys can give me some good advice....</p>

<p>Regards,
sisyphus1219</p>

2

<p>I don’t think you have a good shot trying to transfer into a more difficult major and a more difficult school (when you’re struggling to get a 3.0 at your current school and major). Your best bet would just be to stay in the school you’re in and try to raise that gpa to something more respectable especially if you’re trying to get into grad school.</p>

<p>Essentially, I don’t think you have a good shot at transferring in anywhere, and you should probably focus at the school you’re at now.</p>

3

<p>That sort of reflects what I was thinking too. But, staying here isn’t really an option for me. I would rather avoid it altogether, for certain reasons as well as the fact that they will not be able to prepare me for a grad program in BME (since they don’t have that program here as a major or minor).</p>

4

<p>You need to complete 2 years at whatever institution you plan to graduate from to meet requirements. It isn’t possible to transfer after the fall going into your junior year. So no, Spring 2011 isn’t an option. :/</p>

5

<p>Thanks for your reply. I meant transferring not for this Spring 2011 semester, but Fall 2012. I accidentally wrote “Fall 2011.”</p>