Transferring but no Gen Ed Credits

Student Lounge College Life
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<p>I haven't looked much into the transferring process, but I'm afraid to because what was once a blessing is now (potentially) a fallback.</p>

<p>I got into my current university with a nice scholarship (+ financial aid = I pay nothing) as well as an honors designation which EXEMPTS ME FROM ALL GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS - aka what everybody typically spends their first ~2 years in college working towards. This designation is reserved for the top incoming freshman at my university and is used to sell the university to us: it affords us extra time to customize our education, allowing us flexible areas of study, and the ability to study across fields without being hassled or having to add years to our college career. Case in point: I am currently easily double majoring and have a minor, and can still graduate in a total of 3 years. </p>

<p>Since there are no G.E. requirements, I literally jumped straight into my majors' requirements. I'm already 2/3rds of the way done with one major and almost half with my second major. If I didn't know what I want to major in, I'd basically be taking random classes, whatever interests me, etc. I have no guideline except the path to fulfill my major/degree requirements. Again: no gen ed's. Great, woo, awesome.</p>

<p>Except now I potentially want to transfer. This "honor" I have been afforded at my first university obviously will not be transferred to any other university, because they likely "just don't do that." So when I go to transfer, I will be subject to University B's requirements including general education requirements... for which I have no credits to transfer to fulfill. In other words, University B is going to require that I took basic math, basic English, all that crap everyone else does. But since I didn't take that at my current school, I have nothing to fill in those requirements like a typical other transfer student would.</p>

<p>Would my case ever be taken into special consideration, or am I officially most likely screwed, with the idea being that if I transfer, I'll be entering the university theoretically as a freshman. Well, maybe not a freshman, but a lopsided transfer, who has done some of his higher coursework but not the basic, GE courses...?</p>

<p>I just hope this honor hasn't turned into a trap that was meant to keep me there and discourage me from transferring. I don't want to have to "start over" or postpone continuing my higher coursework, or spend more than 3 more years in school.</p>

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<p>I’m hardly an expert here, but I would hazard a guess that very few, if any universities would honor your gened waiver. That was a special honor at the university you are currently attending. Most schools have a pretty extensive gened core that is REQUIRED for graduation. Incomplete gened core = not graduating. It would also likely be rather difficult to transfer just about anywhere without having a single gened course completed, regardless of the fact that you have upper level coursework completed. It would definitely extend your undergrad by a considerable amount. Students are typically supposed to get those things out of the way early, so that they aren’t distracted by geneds later on when they’re in upper level courses in their major. </p>

<p>Your best bet would be to email an admissions adviser at the schools you wish to transfer to.</p>

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<p>What is wrong with just completing your bachelor’s degree(s) at your current school?</p>

<p>If you transfer to a school with few or no breadth requirements, or breadth requirements which include many covered by your major(s) and minor(s), then the breadth requirements may not be that much of an issue. For example, a math major would not have to worry about any kind of math breadth requirement.</p>

<p>Go through your target schools’ degree requirements to see whether they have a lot of breadth requirements that you will not have already fulfilled.</p>

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<p>I agree with ucbalumnus. There’s no real point in your transferring. You might as well receive a degree from your current school and attend graduate school at the school you want to transfer too. Unless, you’re getting a huge chuck of scholarship from this other school also, it seems like a waste of time and money to for you. </p>

<p>You’re 2/3rds done? Why tack of on 60 credits of misc. courses? It sounds like you’ve been doing pretty amazing so far. </p>

<p>On the other hand, ask if the other school will take an AA degree from the special circumstance, instead of making you start all over again.</p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

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<p>Reasons for considering transferring:</p>

<p>-Unsure if financial aid will be as much this year since I’m a continuing student and not a new incoming freshman. Home financial situation has remained the same, but that doesn’t mean my school’s aid will. If I lose my $25,000 in aid, I’m kinda screwed. </p>

<p>-Desire to relocate nationally: would rather do it now for greater access to relevant internships and career prospects early on. Unlike other incoming sophomores who probably aren’t taking many major-relevant courses, I’m already taking 300- and 400- level courses in my majors alongside seniors who are preparing to graduate, so my coursework matches what would be expected of an undergrad who’s further along in his educational career. </p>

<p>Point one is the greater factor, though. You guys are right, I am doing amazing, I’m super-happy with my school, I love what I’m doing and I’m doing it well. Provided the financial aid doesn’t get yanked, I should be able to stay here and graduate a year earlier than I should’ve so I can quickly look into relocating.</p>

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<p>Has there been any indication that your financial aid will be reduced, or does your school have a reputation for cutting financial aid to continuing students, or is your school running into its own financial problems that could result in less money for financial aid?</p>

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<p>School is doing the opposite of running into financial problems, I can guarantee that haha. I guess I’m just thinking worse-case-scenario, as there have been no particular indications of a reduction in aid thus far, but we will see.</p>