Screwed up bad- need to transfer

MyUsernameIsPoor · 09-18-2012, 10:02 PM

New to the site, so hi.

Basically I screwed up my whole Junior year. Partied too much, drank too much, smoked too much and failed. When I say fail, I mean I passed 2 classes the whole year. Pretty big fail.

Anyways, I'm back at home, working to make the money to go back to school and taking classes at my local Community College. The classes will transfer to any UC, and I would assume that they would get approved off of most private schools.

I know little and less about what to do because...well I never thought I'd be this stupid.

My previous school will take me back, but, frankly I don't really want to go back. My friends, while great, are partiers and I could see myself doing the same thing again. And, frankly, everyone I know is going to move on and graduate, so it's not like I'm going to be able to see them all again and hang out with them while I finish.

Basically, I'm looking for information about options.

Are there schools that will take my credits and ignore the GPA?

Hell, when I apply, do I give them my college grades or do I use my high school grades and SAT scores?

Can I find a school overseas that would take me as an independent study-abroad student?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Man, I feel stupid for having to make this thread.

emprex · 09-18-2012, 10:11 PM

I'm no expert on this but if you transfer to any UC, they will want to see all your grades from any prior CC/University. UC's don't take SAT or high school grades into consideration. I know some may ask like UCB depending on the major but I don't think it's a deciding factor.

I don't think it is possible to take credits and ignore the GPA. Your best bet IMO is to bust your ass for 2 years at community college getting as close to a 4.0 as possible, do some volunteer work/extra curriculars and eventually transfer to a university. This would show that you turned it around and got your priorities in order.

I don't know how going back to your old school would work. My thought process is that it would be a bad idea because your GPA must be very low and you would be trying to dig yourself out of a hole even by getting good grades (assuming you got a ton of F's).

Some others will chime in and know more than me.

MyUsernameIsPoor · 09-18-2012, 10:14 PM

@emprex:

Ya, that's my fear regarding the GPA. I'm wondering if I have two different universities, if my GPA can show up different for grad school applications. As in schools would see

old school: crap GPA
new school: nice, respectable GPA

My old school will take me back with a year of good grades at a CC.

edit:

I realize that going to a UC for two years is a possibility, but from my point of view, it's not an option. I have two years University classes (including a decent number of upper-divisions), and I simply don't want to throw that away. That's a lot of time, money, and effort to let go to waste. And, frankly, I don't want to graduate at 25 if possible.

emprex · 09-18-2012, 10:18 PM

I think that is exactly how it works. They'll see both GPAs. Also if you transfer from a CC to a UC for example, your GPA starts over. So you can have your old school GPA, CC GPA, and UC GPA.

If you go back after one year, will you pick up where you left off? As in your old GPA? If so I think just doing a second year at CC would be a better idea.

happymomof1 · 09-19-2012, 09:19 PM

You will need to send your old bad transcript and your new good one. The good news for you is that generally speaking, newer grades count more than older ones. It also is perfectly OK to take copies of all your transcripts with you when you pay a visit to the Transfer Admissions Office. The folk there will be able to tell you what to do.

Jay9649 · 09-19-2012, 10:47 PM

They don't care about your HS record.

MyUsernameIsPoor · 09-20-2012, 08:02 PM

@happymomof1:

Perhaps I was unclear, I don't have a good transcript yet. I only have the poor one. I messed up my Junior year of college and I want to transfer to another school.

@Jay:

That's unfortunate. What kind of school, if any would take someone who now has ~2.0 GPA? I'm wondering if my old school, Saint Louis University, would have a Jesuit connection program. I was accepted into Regis, and I liked the school (don't think they'll offer me money this time around...).

I also have a decent amount of money from working summer firefighting, is it possible to go to a respected school overseas as an unaffiliated/independent student?

horticuldstation · 09-21-2012, 01:22 AM

I don't really have anything helpful to say but I want to wish you good luck. I know how it feels to screw up a semester really badly

happymomof1 · 09-23-2012, 09:25 PM

By new good transcript, I meant the (presumably) good grades from the CC you are currently attending.

Even though you don't want to go back to your original university, that may be your best bet in the long run. Once you have fulfilled their requirements for re-admission, go ahead an apply there. As you have stated, your old pals will be gone by the time you would get back, so it should be much easier to stay out of trouble.