Transferring and Transcripts

Hi, I have some questions regarding transcripts on applications. So, I started my freshman year of college at Iowa State and I loved it but then had to transfer so I transferred to a community college. Long story short, I did not do my best at Iowa and ended with a 2.9 for the semester and then I transferred. I am now at a community college doing better (I project I will have about a 3.7 by the time I start applying) and I am planning on transferring the fall of 2020. However, I am concerned with how it will look on a transcript to see a 2.9 at a 4 yr university and then a 3.7 at a community college. I feel as if that would make them wonder why I am doing so much better. So, do I HAVE to put my Iowa state GPA on applications? If so, is there somewhere on an application where I can put why I did so bad? I am worried because I want to apply to a few tough schools and I do not want them to view me as a weak candidate.

You have a terrific GPA at your CC! If you also have good letters of recommendation you have a fair chance at admission pretty much anywhere.

So please stop worrying about your grades from ISU. Yes, you will have to send official copies of your ISU transcript to every place that you apply to, but the truth is that lots of people have records even uglier than yours. (After all, 2.9 is a B- average.) Many students struggle at their first college, then move on to another place where they are more successful.

Every college requires you to list all prior colleges attended. There is a national database tracking attendance so any school you apply to can check and will find Iowa State. People are rescinded for failing to list all colleges attended. It’s not a chance I’d advise taking.