I am hoping to transfer to the College of Engineering at Cornell. However, I have two courses with low grades in my freshman year. Other than these two classes, my transcript looks great. I’m currently s sophomore, and my grades have improved, maintaining a 4.0 on my mid-term report with heavy course load. Do I need to attach a statement of explanation in my application? How much negative affect with these two grades have on my chances?
For the reason why I received low grades, I was experiencing a psychological issue during that semester, and sought help from counselors. I was diagnosed as depression and treated with mental illness pills in the last year of high school and my condition worsened in the last few months of my freshman year. However, things have improved from then.
Transferring from another college or within Cornell?
@Renomamma another college
More information: for the two courses that i didn’t do well in, i later took two other classes that are built on the same principles and got decent grades (As). Will this help my case?
I only have some idea of what’s needed for transferring within Cornell. Your situation sounds good to me, yet I have no idea how many transfer students they take and what the criteria are. Sorry.
@Renomamma Thanks for the reply. When you say “sounds good,” are you suggesting the low grades won’t affect much or the explanation will help?
I’m saying when grades trend up to a 4.0 with presumably challenging classes, and a medical reason for the poorer start all sounds promising. But some universities take many transfer students and others take hardly any. I just don’t know how difficult it is to transfer in to engineering. But someone out there does…
@Renomamma ok got it! thanks though!
Does anyone else have any ideas/thoughts/advice?
bump