JackD

Right now, i am college student at a community college and i have almost earned my two year degree, so i have to move on soon. The way that i figure it, i have two options.

I have applied UIUC but my chances of getting in are about 50/50, more of less. So one thing that could end up happening is that i get accepted and i go there in the fall. However, this is largely out of my hands at this point. Assuming that does not happen, here are my options.

1. I get rejected from UIUC, which could happen, and i go somewhere else next fall. The problem with this is:
-I really want to go UIUC
-Many other schools in the state will not accept my credits
-A lot of illinois universities are boring.
-I don't know a lot about the other Illinois Universities

2. I could try to raise my GPA this semester, which is almost guaranteed considering how easy my classes are, and apply to transfer to UIUC next January. I have a decent chance of raising it from a 3.1 to a 3.4. In the mean time, i could finish off my last few credits that i need next fall, rather than over the summer. The problems with this idea:

-i am not sure how easy it is to get accepted for a mid-year transfer.
-I hate the school that i go to now

So, my questions are:

1. Assuming that i get rejected from UIUC, which option makes the most sense? Is it better to get to a four year school as fast as possiable or is it ok to move a little slower?

2. How easy is it to transfer mid-year?

carpe_diem1

I think it entirely depends on what you want to do. If you really want to move on to a four year college, and it's UIUC that you REALLY want to go to, I'd say shoot for the transfer. I'm not sure how difficult/easy it is to do so, but if you can maintain gpa and of course, bring it higher, that would help. I don't think this helps much, but nevertheless, think on the positive side- what if you do get accepted to uiuc!

JackD

Too late. They rejected me sometime today. I guess i am not good enough for them.

JackD

I have another option but i don't know if it will work. I could apply at Parkland Community College, which is the community college in Champaign. The only thing that i don't know is, can you transfer to a community college? Mean while, i could probably pull off a 4.0 this semester(my classes are ungodly easy), which would bring my GPA up to a 3.4, as i stated eariler. After that i could probably get accepted to UIUC.

bookmom

JackD--I take it you are in Illinois?? Have you considered applying to the U of IL at Springfield (UIS)? YOu could major in Poli Sci and it is located in the state capital. As the school originally began as a public affairs university (known then as Sangamon State U) it offers several unique-to UIS-campus programs related to government, poli sci, politics, even a Public Affairs Reporting MA in the Communication Dept. Even if you didn't later transfer to the Urbana campus you would sitll have a U of I degree, have to meet same criteria, etc. Lots of possibilities for intenships etc (and many of these lead to permanent positions in the capital city). If you have your 60 hrs (A.A.??) from a state cmmty college, I don't see where you would gain anything by transferring to Parkland--you are ready for the last 2 yrs and you won't get any 300 or 400 level hrs at a CC. Most of the new 'dorms' at UIS are set up like townhouses or there are older school-owned apts on campus.

NJCCstudent

jackD when did you complete your app?

krbarrett77

My guess is he wont be posting more any time soon since he got his answer already.

The earliest they could have looked at his application for fall 2006 was Jan 16th. He was rejected the 26th. That means they decided in ten days. I completed my application on the 26th of Jan, and have not yet heard back. Admissions says end of Feb for all notifications. So, if they decided on his application so quickly, maybe they just weeded out the lower bracket and kept the middle and higher brackets so that they could evaluate them on a larger applicant pool?

I'm sorry to hear he didnt get in though, 3.1 is above most of the minimums for entry. Those minimums are exactly that though: minimums.