Wants to Transfer and Can't Return to Present Institution -- Help Needed!

Transfer Students
1

<p>The dilemma that I have is complicated and ANY advice would be GREATLY appreciated.</p>

<p>A Little Bit About Me:
I recently finished my first year at William & Mary, but during second semester, I unfortunately became very sick and had to medically withdraw. So, as of right now, I only have one semester's worth of grades. </p>

<p>The Heart of the Problem:
Although a great institution, William & Mary is not the school for me, and so I have decided that I definitely want to transfer to another university. This past year, I submitted a transfer application to Georgetown's SFS but was wait-listed and then rejected. I personally believe the reason for this was because of my high school grades, which weren't very stellar. Now the main problem is that because of my medical withdrawal, W&M won't allow me to come back to school next fall; they want me to take more time off.</p>

<p>Possible Solution For the Fall:
Now because I can't go back to W&M this fall, want to transfer, and feel that I need more grades to create a stronger application, I was wondering if going to community college this fall would be a good idea? Ultimately, I would like to go to Georgetown's SFS, but at this point, I would be more than happy with Rice, Emory, GW, or wherever else. I'm just worried that community college won't be looked at favorably because it is not as rigorous as W&M. But at the same time, if I take 5-6 classes, get all As, work 20+ hours a week, in addition to the strong first-semester grades that I have at a prestigious school, I would think that this would be looked at in a positive light? In all honesty, I don't have much of a choice other than to go to community college, although I could apply as a visiting student to some DC schools. The problem with that is it's very expensive...</p>

<p>Spring Semester 2012 Plan:
After going to community college and doing well, I was planning on not returning to W&M and doing some type of impressive internship/abroad thing through American University in Washington, D.C. Essentially, I'm treating this year as somewhat of a gap year. When I apply to schools, I will apply as a sophomore, not a junior, because I don't have grades for spring 2011 (because of the medical withdrawal) and spring 2012 (due to some activity/internship/abroad thing that I could do). </p>

<p>Does anyone have any advice or feel that this is a good plan? ANY ideas/thoughts are MUCH appreciated!</p>

2

<p>Why didn’t you like William & Mary? Then I’ll answer.</p>

3

<p>Lack of a diverse student body, Williamsburg isn’t much of a city, academics were lacking in that I wanted a more interdisciplinary major. Not the most intellectual place, either.</p>

4

<p>“Now the main problem is that because of my medical withdrawal, W&M won’t allow me to come back to school next fall; they want me to take more time off.”</p>

<p>You need to run any plans for studying anywhere past your medical advisor(s). That W&M is insisting that you take the fall term off would indicate to me that your health problem is quite serious. </p>

<p>IF AND ONLY IF you get medical clearance, go to community college part time. Do not try to take 5 or 6 classes and work 20+ hours a week! Community college classes can indeed be as demanding and time-consuming as courses at 4-year institutions. Do not underestimate the workload. It might be wiser to spread those 6 courses over two semesters, and find a local internship where you can work for both semesters.</p>