<p>I have recently started at a top 25 USNEWS university and I really am enjoying myself and having a good time here.</p>
<p>Heres the problem: I transferred in here (after 2 years at community) which means that I basically had to pick from the bottom of the barrel when choosing classes. Now, I am am facing a 22,000 semester bill (with no fin-aid) to essentially take classes that I have no use for (completed all gen-ed work). Plus, I am another semester behind to start my pre-business track, which means i'll need another semester or 2 to graduate. Today is my last day to withdraw and recuperate most of my tuition.</p>
<p>I am loving the experience of college, but does wasting one semester and alot of money justify that? Do you have any suggestions or other courses of action to take? I'm just really confused right now!</p>
<p>depends on what you want to do after college (does it absolutely require a degree)
and how much money will you be making after college (starting salary NOT median salary)</p>
<p>@jimmyboy I am supposed to be back on the pre-business track at one of the nation’s top 10 business schools. But this semester I am in 0 out of the 4 classes I should be in and at this point I wont be able to apply to the business program until spring 2016! I just don’t know if I should leave behind a good school with a great reputation and a new experience (at a high price tag!) to go back home to probably just go back to community college…</p>
<p>@philadelphia001, have you visited your academic advisor recently? They should be able to help.</p>
<p>Consider going today to the offices of the professors whose classes you would like to attend this semester for your major. If you politely explain your situations, they are usually are very nice. </p>
<p>The professors often can add a student with their approval. If they approve, then they can usually add you electronically on the registration/roster right then. You would be able to know today. They tend to be used to it on the last day of drop/add.</p>
<p>Lastly, consider going to the registrar’s office, as sometimes seats in classes open up as people drop courses. You need to go today to see all these people to get this resolved asap.</p>
<p>Don’t waste money retaking GenEd courses…you should be able to get your schedule changed today to add major courses, if you talk to these various faculty and administration.</p>
<p>@busyperson Thanks for the response. I should have mentioned in the OP that I emailed each of the professors in the major classes that I needed and each said that there was nothing that they could do. I spoke with my advisor who instructed me to take them all next semester, which would still mean I couldn’t apply to the undergrad business school until spring 2016. Do you think its worth it to extend out my academic career, or to go home and perhaps consider other business schools? Thanks for your input! </p>
<p>@philadelphia001, Can you try going to the registrar to see if seats opened up? I realize that you can probably see how many seats there are today, if you look on the on-line registration. Before abandoning the school, try the in-person approach. </p>
<p>Go to the registrar first, IN PERSON, see what to they can add you in your major if there are additional seats, or seats in a larger lecture. </p>
<p>Then go IN PERSON, to the professors. I know you emailed, but sometimes in-person, if you are ever so polite, you can show that you are very worried and would like to attend their class, is a better approach. Explain the situation about transferring in and now feeling you must leave to save the tuition money. I believe that there will be some helpful resolution.</p>
<p>Then go IN PERSON to your advisor. Explain to him/her your worries and concerns, especially about applying to the business school timeframe and the cost of saving the tuition for your major. They should be able to help somehow.</p>
<p>I really think it is a lot to consider now switching schools and may be difficult to do all the applications and logistics, financial aid, etc. Put all your effort TODAY into going to see everyone. Emails probably aren’t that effective. I think you can get something added if you go talk to them. </p>
<p>In the business world, which you want to major, it is often best to see your clients, etc in person. Talking to these various faculty will be a good start to your business career.</p>
<p>You’ve worked hard to plan your undergraduate studies and transfer. That takes a lot of initiative. I know you can use the same initiative to have a good resolution to this. Let us know if you were able to switch courses. Best wishes and Good Luck!</p>
<p>If you go back to CC you will be in the same boat next year. Most schools (as far as I know) require you to attend for two years (60 credits) to earn a degree from the school. You have already earned two years of credit at CC. Most likely, any additional credits earned at CC will not be accepted for use towards a degree at a 4 year college. In essence, returning to CC will save you money (not counting opportunity cost of time) but not time. Based on what you wrote, either path will take the same time. However, do you have another school option to transfer where you will not have the same registration issues? A lot of times, class registration is based on seniority. At my daughter’s school, it is based on number of semesters completed on campus. Not sure how transfers are treaded.</p>
<p>Does your school have a transfer student advisor?</p>
<p>Hard to give advise without all the facts such as debt load. However, if you think you can graduate by only taking one extra semester then it might be worth the extra debt. Can you take courses over the summer to get back on track? Would taking a semester off and applying to another school be an option?</p>
<p>@noname87 I think you’re right as far as CC is concerned, but If I were to return I would be eligible for scholarships to a few prestigious universities which have a connection with my CC. I think the problem is that I know that I probably should leave, seeing as that I won’t be able to attend the business school until 2016 and the business school is the sole reason I am at this current university. Its just hard for me to justify the 40,000 I will be wasting on GE’s. However, I am really enjoying my first taste of independence living 7+ hours from home, and already having a tight-knit social circle formed at this school. Do you think there is a value to the college experience in itself? Its really difficult for me to put a value on this whole thing and having to wait such a long time to head to the business school seems counterintuitive to why I’m here. Errgh! I just dont know… Headed to advising soon to see if they can be of assistance.</p>
<p>The college experience isn’t really all that people make it out to be. You can have the same experience back home really, it doesn’t even take more work to do so. The 40000 dollars is only bad if you won’t be able to afford it with your expected starting salary wherever you intend on working. Going home and starting over would just be like taking a couple steps back and restarting this process all over again.</p>
<p>Only you can put a value on the college experience. I can only suggest that you look at the total cost of the college and how much debt you will have at the end of the day. If you plan on getting an MBA it is critical to minimize your debt. MBA have no FA except loans!</p>
<p>If you are saying that staying at this school will increase your debt by $40,000 over going to the CC and another “prestigious” school with better scholarships then I would say bail out now and cut your loses. Check the scholarships carefully. From what I read, merit aid is usually reserved for incoming Freshman. Your transfer advisor at the CC should be able to give you a realistic view. BTW, where is the $40k coming from? Juniors can only borrow 7,500 in direct loans. Anything else needs a co-signer who also needs to be approved every year. Make sure you have a solid plan to pay for all the years you need.</p>
<p>I understand the need for independence and freedom but to pay that large of a bill to be free 1 year sooner is a poor decision IMHO if that is the only thing you get out of following this path. If you had no other options then it might be a different choice. But you indicate you have other options that can produce the same outcome.</p>
<p>I had a friend that borrow 100K to go to a state school. Of that 40-50K was so she could live on campus rather than commute. After graduation she had to live at home due to the loans. She got freedom for 4 years but now she living at home. She has regrets.</p>
<p>On a side note, you have been at this school for what two weeks and have close knit friends? If that the case, then you have great social skills and will have no issues at whatever school you end up at. I would make the decision based on what path gives the best outcome for cost, debt, education, career opportunities, and grad school opportunities. In your case, the fit and social aspects will probably take care of themselves.</p>
<p>This is beyond shocking - I don’t know of any of the top 25 US News schools that wouldn’t have <strong>some</strong> useful classes to fill a semester for a transfer. It is really hard to imagine at most elite privates since they tend to be flexible with scheduling and prereqs. Maybe some foreign language (useful for emerging international business opportunities) or extra Math (Statistics etc.) or an extra writing course could help the most if there literally is nothing related to your major to take. In particular improving writing is a huge advantage in the long term if you can find a free slot for a rigorous writing course (see <a href=“Why Can't M.B.A. Students Write? - WSJ”>http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703409904576174651780110970</a>). It is very strange that there aren’t at least some accounting classes open since they would at least be marginally related to your degree. In any case using this semester to pick up extra non-business courses so you can get a minor is another possibility that could help a little so you don’t have to think of this semester as totally wasted. Graduating with your business degree and a minor in something else can’t hurt.</p>
<p>Would your current school allow you to defer attendance until spring? You have a pretty good case that you weren’t able to get any required courses for your major and they certainly haven’t been able to help you…</p>
<p>@Sdgal2, that is a great idea. Who would be best to talk to, in order to find this out? </p>
<p>Only thought, is there a way to do that but make sure one can register for the classes early so that @philadelphia001 is sure to get the classes they need in the spring? </p>
<p>I would start with office of admissions, they should be able to take care of it or direct to the proper person. Now that OP is part of the community they should be in on registration from day one. I assume the problem came from a summer acceptance when all other juniors registered last spring.</p>
<p>@philadelphia001 What did USC do about the dropped courses from last spring? Were you able to make those up? Also, why were you not allowed to register earlier if you were accepted late April? Looking at past posts, I assume you are speaking of this school…does this happen with all transfers there?</p>
<p>Still you mentioned that the cost per semester is 22K with no FA. So that means 88K for two years and 22K for the extra semester not counting tuition increase. So you are looking at 110K, Is that in your budget? If it is all loans then you have a problem. Are you planning on a MBA? Unless you are working and your employer pays for it you need to consider that cost.</p>
<p>If 110K is acceptable to you and your parents (meaning that your parents can afford it with you only taking on the direct loans) then find courses outside your major to build your resume. If you personally need to borrow that money with co-signers then you need a reality check.</p>