I spent a semester at a top 20 LAC where I did very poorly (2.2 GPA) as I had personal circumstances affecting my experience there. After realizing I completely made the wrong decision, I withdrew.
To give more context, I am a foster youth, so in having no parental support at the time of applying and deciding, I found myself at a school that was clearly wrong from the start.
I have since reapplied to 10 schools as a freshman applicant (I don’t have enough credits to be a transfer at these schools). Of course I may hear good news from a school I’m happy with, I want to consider other outcomes.
If I were to go to an in state public school for a year and take 3 classes the summer before, would it be looked down upon that I am applying to transfer again to more selective schools? If anyone has insight into whether this would play negatively in the transfer application process or professionally (I hope to go to graduate school), I would greatly appreciate it.
Have you checked that all 10 of them still allow you to apply as a frosh applicant? Some colleges require a minimum number of credits to apply as a transfer, but disqualify applicants from applying as frosh for a smaller number of credits enrolled in college after high school graduation.
A 2.2 college GPA will be a significant hindrance in gaining transfer admission to even moderately selective colleges. Another thread you made at http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/college-essays/2112915-potential-essay-on-foster-care.html lists a number of super-selective colleges and Rutgers, which makes for a list of probably-unrealistic reaches with one that is probably “merely” a reach.
I am aware that a certain number of credits places one in the transfer category, but I have already checked and the schools I have applied to consider me to be a freshman.
I am aware that I am at a disadvantage in this application round and potentially a future one due to my college gpa that semester, but question is largely if the act of transferring twice will be looked down upon by transfer admissions and graduate schools for the future.
If I did go to said public institution that I’m not entirely happy with, I would take classes the summer before and take an extra class in the fall, which would mean I’d have 8 courses from that school and only 3 from the one I started at by the end of next fall.
Yes, you can enroll at StateU, work to raise your GPA, then apply to transfer to a better-fit institution. You have a clear story to tell, so don’t worry about how it might look.
What will you do if the only place you are admitted this round is StateU and if later transfer applications fail? Do you have a plan, and sufficient focus, to get through a degree program at StateU so that you can move into post-college life?
There is the possibility that you do not get admitted to Rutgers (the presumed public institution that you are not entirely happy with) or any other school on your list. In that case, would your plan be to attend a community college and try to do better there to improve your transfer possibilities?
If I am only admitted to StateU, it is a perfectly viable option and actually has a unique minor I’m very interested in. In terms of fit, it’s large so I’d have no concern of finding the right friend group.
I am jumping the gun most definitely, as I still have a number of schools to hear back from, but these responses are definitely giving me a better idea of what my options would be if I attended this school.
Also I don’t necessarily mean Rutgers. I applied to multiple public institutions that I am considering. The former thread was written at a very different time, as I was still unsure of if I was considering my first school as an option.
What’s your budget? If you apply as a transfer you likely won’t get much aid. You may want to find an affordable option and just focus on getting your degree.
I actually heard back from one of the public schools I applied to last night and the feeling of joy that overcame me is making me realize that I need to first wait to hear back from all the schools, but also to not go into something with an “escape plan” in mind. I have no idea where I will end up and in turn if I will like it there, so it is most definitely wrong for me to plan to transfer, especially this early on.
I appreciate everyone’s insight and help, but I’m definitely going to take things one step at a time, from here on out.