<p>So, I just received an email from MIT admissions telling me that I have "too much college" to be eligible as a transfer student (they told me to acquire my BA, then to apply to MIT for grad). For those of you who are unaware, by the time that I plan on transferring to a four-year, I will have had around five to six years worth of college under my belt. </p>
<p>A little bit of back story: the vast majority of my college education so far has been completed at community colleges and for the most part, was done for my own personal gain; I have only taken part in two actual degree programs and I can fully explain (with reason) why I did not finish the first. The second degree program is the one that I am currently in. Also, the bulk of my courses in the past have been, well, basically elective courses. I know on paper that does not look good, but:</p>
<p>1-Can I use the admissions essay to explain my past schooling? Or would that be a waste of time. </p>
<p>2-I hear conflicting reports regarding the amount of schooling that one has prior to transferring; i.e., you can have as much community college as you want, but too much university can hurt you. I did not mention to MIT where, what, or why I had (and will have) so much schooling. Since the majority of it is at the CC level, should I still apply as transfer?</p>
<p>3-I am going to talk to my academic advisor sometime next week to see what can be done, but if anyone has any advice, I would appreciate it.</p>
<p>4-Have I basically shoot myself in the foot? Are state schools my only option? </p>
<p>Ugh! Why oh why can't you just start the eff over with a clean slate!?!</p>
<p>i had this problem at another school... i was told no because of too many credits from a community college. sometimes it happens. if you want to go to mit then apply there, and maybe write something about the credit issue on your app.
talk to counselors, and see if anything can be done... seek advice if you need it.
even though it happened to me, i am glad it did... sometimes things happen for a reason... the school i plan on applying to now is great, and i am glad it happened...
i know that is kind of annoying to hear, but it's true.</p>
<p>good luck, and shoot for the big schools, if that is what you want. go for it, and dont settle if you dont have to (but do try to have backups... not borring safetys but cool, good, exciting schools that you would also like to go to).</p>
<p>What they're trying to do is make sure you'll be taking enough classes at their school to graduate there (the requirement at many schools is along the lines of 2 years and a certain number of major classes). As long as you will be doing that and you explain that to the school, I think it shouldn't be a problem.</p>
<p>Thanks silversax; I knew I wasn't the only one in this position. Of course I am going to apply to other schools; I have around ten of them that I am currently looking at. I know that there are other schools that have a similar policy as MIT (in regards to length of past college experience/amount of credits one has accumulated prior to enrolling), it is just that MIT was the one who responded (so far) by telling me that I had too much college to be eligible for transfer. It is not going to stop me from applying, though! </p>
<p>Lumine; When I brought this topic up with MIT, I told them that I planned on transferring in as Sophomore, but no dice. I do not understand why it matters as the vast majority of my courses (that I took in the past) would not transfer to MIT anyways(other schools, maybe). Of course, I will explain all of this within one of admission essays.</p>
<p>you're welcome!... it is annoying how even when your courses dont transfer, and when you will still be able to take upper level requirements they say stuff like that... bleh! but whatever. good luck!</p>
<p>You need to meet with the transfer counselor at your current (or most recent) community college and seek advice on how to structure your application. It will help if you know precisely what your intended major is, and how you can complete it at some (if not exactly all) of the colleges on your list. You are going to have to make a case to the colleges explaining how certain courses that you have taken in the past have prepared you to complete a specific degree program.</p>
<p>Most colleges and universities will not accept more than 60 semester hours (two years) of transfer credits toward a degree. Considering all of the credits you have at this point, you may have to be very specific in your suggestions/petitions for credit.</p>
<p>what i find hypocritical of the too much college to transfer is the fact that to even enter grad school, usually they want some sort of prior education in your prospective masters degree and then when you dont have that you dont qualify for admissions.</p>
<p>and some schools don't even allow you to pursue a second bachelor's degree ie UCLA. so then it's really an issue most schools never address, and in my opinion is bs.</p>
<p>if a dance major at a 4 year school realizes she doesn't want to dance anymore, and wants a more practical major, ie business/econ/engineering, she somehow will be able to get into grad schools for business econ engineering? doubt it'll happen.</p>