Trying to transfer, but GPA isn't great

Transfer Students
1

<p>So to summarize... I started a degree in computer science over 10 years ago. I started out decently enough, maintained an average 3.3 gpa for my first four years. I didn't graduate in 4 years though because I kept taking courses outside of my curriculum (mostly I think because I wasn't sure that I wanted to be doing computer science). The senior level courses ended up being very challenging, and many of them I would withdraw from so that I wouldn't fail. In addition to this, I began going only part time to school, and commuting a great distance because I was starting a job. My grades suffered, and my ending GPA (still 3 classes away from the degree) was ~2.7</p>

<p>Well, now its been almost 5 years since I've been in school, but I want to go back. I would really like to do either pre-med or registered nursing, as my bachelor degree, however I would like to transfer to a school that is closer to where I currently reside. My issue however is that my previous GPA is too low in my opinion to even be accepted into a competitive program like the ones I want to join. </p>

<p>Does anyone have any suggestions as to what may be a direction to go? Re-taking courses at my old school to make a higher GPA and put off transferring for a while? Stick with my old school and try to 'catch up' from a 2.7 to something that is respectable for a pre-med student? Something else that I haven't thought of?</p>

<p>I appreciate any advice, thank you.</p>

2

<p>It’s hard to say without defining or even better, naming the colleges in question (your old college and your new target colleges). We have no clue what you mean by a competitive program…what is the average GPA for transfer students, are these schools that look at grade trends and life experience, etc.</p>

<p>In either case, you probably need to spend at least 1 year taking classes almost anywhere to show that you can A) have a new track record of excellent grades and B) that you can handle the coursework for a pre-med/nursing/bio major by taking and acing some of these related science classes.</p>

<p>They say that where you finish your pre-med matters less than what your GPA ends up being… I think one question you need to figure out is what your best case scenario GPA can be after finishing your degree and if <em>med schools</em> allow for grade trends and/or grade forgiveness in med-school apps or if you are stuck with your entire transcript history and MUST go back and retake those poor grades first at the original college in order to clear them. </p>

<p>I think once you figure out how med-school/nursing apps are handled (and target specific colleges because they are probably different) you may have a clearer idea of what path to take.</p>