This question is for DD best friend. Almost 21 year-old who enrolled directly in a community college post graduation with a regents diploma. It was surely the wrong school for her and that first year her father was undergoing bone-marrow transplant in another city and passed away in the Spring right before exams. Due to lack of guidance, she failed to withdraw in a timely fashion or get a personal leave so all of the grades (failing) were incorporated into GPA. Last year she did better but needless to say her GPA is unacceptable for transfer to another school. I have searched and found that some schools will give academic amnesty after an extended period away from school (3-5 years). I also found one school (Harvard Extension) that will allow you to earn your way in (earn 3 B or better and you are accepted. For first 3 courses however no financial aid). She tells me that despite a petition to the school they indicate their is nothing they can do. I want to advise her but this is out of my expertise and the school is essentially of no help. From a search on the internet it appears that it is your college of origin that would give the amnesty if they offer it. What the heck can a student do to get a second chance! She cannot afford to throw more good money after bad and work opportunities where we live are very limited. This GPA will bog her down wherever she goes. Incidently, she has a summer job (very challenging) at a sleepaway camp and is performing fabulously. She has also worked as a helper in Head Start, a volunteer with animals and a file clerk. Under the right circumstances, I believe she can succeed.
She is facing two different (but interrelated) issues:
The GPA for admissions
The GPA for qualifying for federal financial aid
Has her current CC dismissed her because of her grades, or is it simply that she cannot receive any federal financial aid from them?
In our state, you can attend a directional,four year public university as a non-matriculated student for up to 9 credits…it might be 12. If you do well, you will be accepted as a matriculates student when you apply.
No financial aid, however…but these schools have low tuition costs…and if a student commutes from home, this is a way to get acceoted to a four year university.
She is ok to attend not dismissed. Just gpa is no good for transfer. Prob is the current school is just not a good fit. She is an intelligent kid and many there are remedial. No social experience commuter school. She has s college fund and although small could afford state school I think. I don’t have all the details. The gpa seems like the big problem. That is why I liked the idea of earning your way in to a new school. The old grades then do not go into your new gpa. They are still on a record but could be explained with a letter.
And that is why I’m suggesting a public university that is NOT your state flagship. In many states, some of these schools will allow students to take up today certain number of credits as a non-matriculated student.
HArvard extension is NOT Harvard University. It’s more like a community college. Commuters.
You say she is more capable than other students at her community college. I realize there were some extenuating circumstances…but at this point she hasn’t demonstrated how capable she is. I would suggest completing a two year degree at the CC. Maybe in something where she could get a job. Then work…and go to four year school part time.
I am going to look into that. Many of our state 4 year colleges are excellent. I now understand what you are getting at. Thank you !
This kiddo needs to sit down and have a serious discussion with the transfer advisor at her community college. Right now, she is in a position where she needs to prove thst she is actually capable of doing well in college. If that means another year at the CC…that should be considered.
There are smart kids at every community college for any number of reasons. This kid is not taking remedial courses, so why is that even a concern?
She needs to find out what it will take to be able to transfer to a school withnarticulationnagreements with the community college. If it means another year at the CC…so be it.
I agree with @thumper1 , unless she is taking remedial courses, why is she worried about what someone else is taking (some other kid is probably referring to her as the kid who messed up at the last minute, without knowing her situation). Therefore, she should not be making judgement calls or looking down her nose at anyone because like it or not, they are still in the same boat- students who are not as successful as they could have been.
Right now she needs to stay where she is. While she may not get academic amnesty, her school may have grade replacement. She needs to look up their grade replacement policy. If they offer grade replacement than she just retakes the courses that she failed.
In order to maximize the number of credits that she transfers, she should probably stay an complete the associates. This way she transfers the degree vs transferring credits that the next school may not take.
She shoul look up the articulation agreement that the community college has because they will most likely include private as well as public school and will serve as a guide as to how to structure her remaining course work.
“but at this point she hasn’t demonstrated how capable she is.” That’s key. And it’s about academics, not her short term work. We know remedial (or less determined) students can hold back the pace of a class. But the top students will still prove out. I’m sorry to say this, but no one knows how she would fare in a more competitive academic environment. Think anything else is holding her back? She may need to deal with that.
Also can she talk to someone at the CC about retroactive withdrawal or something?
If she has a Regents diploma, I gather she’s in NYS. Is she at a SUNY or a CUNY cc? Our local 4-year SUNY has a grade replacement policy, but there are a limited number of classes (2 or 3) that can be retaken. I would appeal to her current college for a retroactive withdrawal. Check their policies to see what’s available.
I wouldn’t advise trying to transfer to a 4-year school until she has a solid foundation of cc courses. She’ll likely do better at a 4-year college if she has a few good semesters under her belt. Another advantage of waiting to transfer is that if she graduates from a NYS cc, she has guaranteed admission to a 4-year SUNY. There’s no guarantee she’ll get into her top choice, but she’ll be accepted somewhere. She should go talk to her advisor to learn what her options are.