Will leaving after a semester really hurt my chances?

<p>I currently attend SMU as a freshman and begin the second semester tuesday. My parents are having a very difficult time affording the school and I was planning on leaving to do community college for a year and then try to apply to a UC or California (I'm a california native) school.</p>

<p>However, because I was planning on leaving, I didn't rush while all my friends and apparently nearly everybody in my dorm did. So now here I am, taking 18 credits and trying to find a job, with nobody to hang out with and nothing to do on the weekends since its all frat exclusive. And not to sound super negative but I just really had a culture shock coming from California to a southern school, it's just not the place for me.</p>

<p>So I figured if I went back to California for my spring semester this year, I would be in the same boat, 18 credits and job, but I would also have friends, a car, home cooked meals, etc. This would also save my parents a good amount of money as well.</p>

<p>My problem now lies in that I don't want to look like I just quit out on the school after a semester when I apply for schools junior year. Does anyone know anything about how the UC's or USC, SDSU, etc. feel about people withdrawing after just one semester? I really am at a crossroads and don't want to shoot myself in the foot. </p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

<p>“I was planning on leaving”</p>

<p>Well why did you go back? Did your parents insist that you return? Lots of people leave their colleges and universities after a semester. Don’t worry about that! However,since you have returned to campus, if you are serious about leaving permanently, you have to find out if you still have time to withdraw without owing any tuition, fees, housing, meals, etc. for this semester. Go see your advisor first thing on Monday morning, and find out if you still have time to do that. If you are lucky, you will get all of your money back. If you are unlucky, you will owe for the full semester. Or, it could be somewhere in between.</p>

<p>If it is too late to leave without having to pay for the semester, well then stay. Move yourself into the library, and spend every breathing minute studying so that you can leave there with a 4.0 at the end of the year.</p>

<p>Oh well we can still get our money back, whats kept me from leaving is I don’t know if it is frowned upon by any universities who might think I look like a quitter. At most we will owe a grand or so plus flight back, but that’s not too bad. </p>

<p>I would call the schools I want to transfer to, but they are closed on weekends and my mom wants a decision by tomorrow or else then we start to have problems with getting money back. Stupid to make such a last minute rushed decision, I know.</p>

<p>Watch your credit accumulation. There are limitations to how many credits you can have coming from a 4 year school to be able to apply. I believe it’s something like 80 units.</p>

<p>I need 30-60 for the schools im looking to apply to and currently have 12 transferable and was signed up to take 18 this semester, which i would probably do at a community college instead.</p>

<p>You will not look like a quitter. You will look like someone who chose the wrong college the first time, or whose financial situation changed, or who developed allergies in the new environment, or fill-in-reason here. Truly no one will give a rip if you go home and finish up your pre-transfer courses at your neighborhood CCC. Do remember that you will need to get an official SMU transcript whenever you apply to college, grad school, or for a job that asks for transcripts. Oh and the SMU alumni association might start calling once your class graduates.</p>

<p>Other than that, it’s all good.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

<p>PLEASE, PLEASE DO IT! As long as you complete at least 30 units at a california CC, you’ll be considered a CCC transfer. You’ve only been at SMU for one semester. Don’t even worry about going over the unit limit. You can also do the TAG program once you complete your 60 at a CCC which guarantees your admission to a UC. If you need anymore help, go to the UC transfer forums. Just remember that Spring semester is around the corner and a lot of CCCs already started spring 2013.</p>