Transfer for Fall 2014 from UH

Colleges and Universities A-Z Rice University
1

<p>I am a junior at the University of Houston, with about 50 hours left to complete for my bachelor's of science in electrical engineering.</p>

<p>Unfortunately, I have major health problems. I have been forced to take medical withdrawal 3 times during my undergraduate career. This semester, I will be taking medical withdrawal again, for the fourth time, due to complications of a rare autoimmune disease I have. </p>

<p>I ended up in sepsis over spring break from the treatments I received. I am also receiving ongoing treatment. In addition to this, I am having surgery to place a medical device very soon during this semester.</p>

<p>There was nothing I could do to prevent the situation during my undergraduate career. There is only one lab in the US that tests for the disease I have and there are only case reports of it. I am trying my best.</p>

<p>The disease I have is not degenerative, and at some point my health will improve. Because the autoimmune disease does not damage my body, the issue is more of clearing the antibodies out of my body. My neurologist says there is always another treatment available. </p>

<p>I am facing an "enrollment cap" at the University of Houston (and at any public secondary institution in the state of Texas) due to attempting too many hours that do not count towards my degree. I am literally one credit hour away from having to pay out-of-state tuition for the rest of my undergraduate career. This was incurred entirely due to medical withdrawals, and it is not exempt from the laws in the state education code. The only person who can make an exception to this rule is the provost at the University of Houston.</p>

<p>The engineering college at the University of Houston is not very accommodating, even if you have an extreme circumstance. I asked for incompletes one semester because I was in the hospital-admitted for 4 days-during finals week. The dean took no responsibility and left it up to my professors to assign me incompletes-if they wanted to. Basically I was forced to take medical withdrawal because ONE of my professors gave me an F instead. He refused to give me an incomplete because the "final exam was worth 50% of my grade". </p>

<p>Also, I will be on engineering probation-and I also have been in the past-due to medical withdrawal (had nothing to do with my engineering GPA). Because I will be taking medical withdrawal after the drop date, I will receive F's in my engineering courses, even though the grades will (and have been changed in the past) to W's. The policy is (posted on UH's engineering website), once you receive the email at the end of the semester saying you are on engineering probation, you're on it no matter what.</p>

<p>Anyways, I am just sick of my school. I have been screwed over so many times by them. </p>

<p>Rice is my only other local option. I have to stay in Houston because my doctors are there and I need continuous treatment.</p>

<p>Is there anything hope of being able to transfer to Rice, in to the engineering school, with a major of electrical engineering?</p>

<p>GPA: 3.3 (University of Houston)</p>

<p>-Academic Excellence Scholarship-Awarded by UH for notable academic progress
-Golden Key Honor Society-Top 15% rank in UH's class (determined by GPA)
-Shell Drilling and Production Camp Attendee
-Active Society of Women Engineers Member
-(Offered 6 month internship with Intel in California, but had to decline due to health reasons in January 2012)</p>

<p>***I plan on retaking the ACT (or maybe the SAT) before I submit the score to Rice.</p>

<p>***I was admitted to Texas A&M this summer as a transient student to take electrical engineering classes. The admissions counselor in the electrical engineering department said my academic record was strong. Due to my health, I will be unable to take summer courses there.</p>

2

<p>Do you have any ideas as to when you’ll “get better”? It might be worth taking a break from school to focus on your health so that you can then come back and give full attention to your education and then ultimately so that you are healthy enough to hold down a job.</p>

<p>There are some other small universities/colleges in Houston, but I can’t tell you their names or the quality of them, but the small schools may be willing to work with you during your medical emergencies.</p>

<p>I wish you well and the best of luck.</p>

3

<p>I am going to take time off for my health. That is why I am applying for Fall 2014 or maybe even Fall 2015. I already took over a year off. My last semester was Fall 2011, and I returned in Spring 2013.</p>

<p>I have no idea when I will get better. There are only case reports of the disease I have.</p>

<p>I am also applying for disability. I have nothing to lose, although I will probably be denied due to my age, and the fact that I am literate. They will say I can do sedentary work, even though I have so much health issues going on that I really can’t.</p>

<p>There are no other local engineering schools except for UH and Rice. </p>

<p>I have to stay in the Houston area due to my medical problems. It is not a choice.</p>

<p>I refuse to give up on my degree. I hate UH, although I appreciate the friends I have there, and many of the professors.</p>

<p>Do I have any chance at Rice?</p>

4

<p>I think in regards to your chances at Rice, none of us here can begin to formulate a reliable answer. You have a very unique situation.</p>

<p>However, I do think it significantly depends on how you spend your time off from school and what you bring to the table (what you have to contribute) when applying to Rice. Your academic record seems to be spotty at best (due to your health issues). I think that if you can tell Rice that you are “all better now” that it will help strengthen your chances.</p>

<p>You are in a difficult situation. I hope that you are able to make the most of your time off from school. I also hope that you have significant improvement in your health. I can’t imagine what you are going through, but it’s good that there should be improvement and not decline.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

5

<p>I may have to change academic institutions, due to an ongoing situation. I cannot go in to further details.</p>

<p>I start chemotherapy on Monday, due to the autoimmune disease I have.</p>

<p>I barely have a high enough GPA to be eligible to transfer to Rice. I plan on going to Rice tomorrow after my doctor’s appointment.</p>

<p>What advice can you give me on transferring? Would I be better off trying out as a visiting student first? </p>

<p>Who should I talk to?</p>

<p>Would Rice Disability Support Services be a useful place to go, considering my extenuating circumstance?</p>

<p>Please help me. I feel like I am in a really bad position right now.</p>