Uh oh.. tranferring chances?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I just finished my first year of college and it's really been a load of crap.
I go to a two-year college (and you can google my location to see what school), and it's one of those local 'everyone is basically accepted' type schools. I was originally accepted to one of top schools in the southeast, but I had to go to here because my brother is handicap and my parents needed me to take care of him. I don't understand why I was even made to take the placement exam for this school because I submitted valid test scores and where high enough to exempt it. But I didn't realize this till this past semester. So, I got stuck in Learning Support because I took the placement exam with my cousin and we goofed off probably cause we didn't really understand what it was for. Learning Support doesn't count towards your degree and towards your GPA either. I can only tell you that my past grades are a reflection of my laziness. I have no excuses, and I know my grades are horrible and I know why. So, please be gentle. These are my grades for the last two semesters: </p>

<p>FALL 07:
Golf - F
Spanish I - F (didn't take it in h.s.)
Learning Support Reading II - B+ (retook exam and out of Reading LS)
Learning Support Math I - B+
Managing Goals and Career Success - A- </p>

<p>SPRING 08:
World Civilization I - C+
US History I - F
Intro. to Microeconomics - Dropped
Learning Support Math II - F</p>

<p>The only credit hours for transfer I've earned are 3 from the World Civ. class. </p>

<p>Even if I die in the process, I AM bringing my GPA up. I've already got a dorm room on campus and ect. in order for me to be able to focus on maintaining my GPA. I have finally got all the classes I need to make up and be able to actually start doing something productive. These are my classes for my next semester and what I will have in the spring, all of which are required classes: </p>

<p>FALL 08:
Art Appreciation (to bring up GPA, recommended by advisor)
Composition I
American Literature I
Learning Support Math II
Health (to help bring up GPA, recommended by advisor)
Intro. to Biology + Lab I </p>

<p>SPRING 09:
Composition II
College Algebra
Intro. to Biology + Lab II
French I
World Civ. II</p>

<p>I've been researching schools to apply for transfer for the Fall 2009 semester and most of the ones I'm considering all have the requirement of completing the core academic courses of my degree, which is College Algebra, Intro to Biology I & II, and Composition I & II and at least 30 hours, with a GPA of 2.5 or higher. I should have this covered by the end of this coming school year (08-09). Then I plan on taking summer semester to get some other classes, or in other words catch up with a foreign lang./intro. class and be halfway caught up with my HS graduating class. All of my classes will transfer from my current institution. I also am going to take the SAT and SAT II subject tests this fall sometime, just because I want to see how well I would do and as back up, even though my ACT score is quite good. </p>

<p>Could anyone tell me my chances of getting into my choices if I maintained atleast a 3.2 GPA or higher this next year or if I'm on the right track? And do you think my first years performance would hold me back even if I did bring up my GPA to a high average? </p>

<p>CHOICES
University of Georgia
Emory University
Texas A&M University
University of South Carolina
University of Mississippi
Clemson University </p>

<p>Chances? THANK YOU! Any TIPS ON WHAT TO DO WILL HELP GREATLY!!!!!!</p>

<p>P.S. I'm a Philosphy major also, if that helps.. : )</p>

2

<p>Um... You're going to need a REALLY good excuse for those grades, otherwise you aren't going anywhere. Hell, you probably won't even graduate. I hate to be so blunt about it, but it's true.</p>

3

<p>I disagree with Particle_Man. I think if you settle down and make your classes a priority, you'll do just fine.</p>

<p>Where you transfer will have to depend on what happens your sophomore year... and potentially a year after that of more community college to get a solid track record going.</p>

<p>If you get straight As your sophomore and sophomore+ year... then some moderately competitive colleges will be reasonable. If you find that you have wildly fluctuating grades, your options will shrink very fast. Bottom line is that you did mess up your freshman year, you will explain that in your transfer application, but you better back it all up with some <em>consistant</em> coursework - no back slipping.</p>

<p>If you do find that you are still all over the map with grades next year, then start planning to transfer to a local state school that has minimal requirements (for example, here in California, many of the state schools only require a 2.0 GPA). Depending on what you want to do with life, having a degree may or may not make a difference for future career and success... but it is probably worth the effort to get serious about college.</p>

<p>Also consider going to school next fall <em>part time</em>. In the long run... a year or two of part time school and getting GREAT grades and then sliding into fulltime and keeping up those grades would be a much better (and potentially safer) route... vs. going fulltime and bombing again. You college path is already taking a bit of a side road because of the bad grades, so don't be afraid to explore other approaches if it yields better GPA results! I do hope you have gotten over the goofing off and low personal expectations - if not - take a semester or two off first and go back when you do feel ready. You're better of slowing down and doing it right than rushing in and doing poorly again.</p>

<p>Your advisor seems to be steering you to the right mix of classes -- but the advisor may not have suggested part time status, which is something to <em>seriously</em> consider.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>Annika</p>

4

<p>As far as competitive (i.e. Top 50) schools are concerned, your acceptance is unfortunately inconceivable given your GPA will not likely surpass 3.0. Annika's advice is sound and expresses noble sentiment, but your only chances for success lie in large public schools.</p>

5

<p>Ugeorgia is a public school in your state, correct? And you go to Middle Georgia College? Check their website (I couldn't find anything) or talk to an advisor for transfer agreements. If they have one, try to figure out what the terms are. If not, you may still have a chance because it's public. But you'll have to get your grades up A LOT. </p>

<p>As far as the other ones. At this point Emory's a no-go. Sorry. :(. So might be the other ones, though they're public, they're out of state. </p>

<p>You might also want to look into academic restart, or just flat out going to a different community college and starting over. You'd sacrifice a year of coursework, but with four Fs it might be worth it. If you didn't get credit for the LS classes and all the classes you failed, you might not have that many transferable credits anyway. </p>

<p>Work hard, never give up. Colleges love upward trends, and if you can really turn it around you'll have a chance at a lot of great universities. Best of luck. It's never too late.</p>

6

<p>Talk about being thankful to God and all the Angels in Heaven, but as of lunch time today, I have officially been re-accepted to the private college I got into in the first place. I don't even know how, by who, how, how, or how, (lol) but I got in based on my performance at my current school. I recieved a post card type thing in the mail that said "Let me know if you need help on your decision, Diana" (my admissions counselor/God-sent Angel) and a number to call to make my deposit for Fall 2008, and a shirt. I called right away, and I talked to my admissions counselor and I have been exempt from all Learning Support and they are giving me the equivalent classes to match that of the schedule I already signed up for at my current school, on top of letting me stay in the upperclassmen dorms even though I don't actually have the credits. </p>

<p>Thanks to everyones words of advice and guidance on this subject. I have DEFINATELY learned my lesson about school work and how hard it is to make something from absolutely nothing. I can't wait to start fresh at a new school and get on the right track. :) :) :) August just can't get here quick enough!!!!!</p>

7

<p>What private school are you talking about?</p>