Advice or Information for an Academically Dismissed Student

Applying to College
1

Hello,
Note- I am 20 years old as of posting this.

I’m not sure if I’m suppose to post this here or not. Let me start my story.
I was academically dismissed from Philadelphia University last year. As of now, its almost a full year of being out of college. It was all my fault, I tasted freedom for a moment and took it for granted. I didn’t do any of the work given to me, I barely went to classes and when the school reached out to help me, I didn’t take it at all. Honestly, I tried to become independent and do things myself but I realized too late that I very much needed help. When I mean too late, I mean I was already dismissed. After getting kicked, I told my parents and they were not pleased nor were they supportive in the least bit. I fell into depression for about 2 months just sleeping at home and not doing anything with myself.

One day, I got a message from my friend telling me that UPS was hiring. I’m a pretty physical guy and somehow mustered the strength to apply and got the job at the UPS warehouse moving packages. Then I started talking to some of my co-workers and they are some really ambitious people. My supervisor is shooting to run a warehouse one day, one co-worker is planning to go to acting school, another is working 3 jobs to feed his family. What am I doing? Sitting at home and going to a part time job that barely gives me 150 a week? Seeing and talking to these people made me realize that I don’t want to work at some job for the rest of my life, I need something better, I WANT something better. So I am out of the depression and have that passion I use to in High school. I have been working for almost a year and am confident that I can return to college and not repeat what I did.

So I was wondering what I should do. Do I just apply to another college? I missed the deadlines for most colleges in Philadelphia. I don’t want to reapply to Philadelphia University, the atmosphere there isn’t for me. Am I a transfer student or am I starting out fresh? Can I apply for next spring semester for the school deadlines I missed? I can’t exactly find the answers to those questions online. When I do search them, it seems its mostly vague answers that I find. Anything helps!
Do my SAT scores still count after almost 2 years?
Also, when I graduated High school, I had a 3.7 GPA and I scored average on the SAT’s at 1560 (I didn’t study for it). I went to the 2nd best magnet in Philadelphia, Central High. And I went to college for Engineering.

Thank You for any Information!

2

Have you completed your gen Ed requirements? If not, I think the best bet is to go to your nearest community college and work your butt off to do great. Go to the counseling office there, get advice on your best approach. It matters not that you are twenty. You are young, get back into the groove of college before life takes over. Work hard on whatever classes you take, meet the gen Ed requirements, and transfer into a four year university. Anyone can go back to college, you are never too old, but you are young enough in that you probably don’t have kids, bills, and your own home. Get going, start with summer classes at comm college, take what you can.

3

First realize that this situation happens to many students who need that sort of reality check before they take school seriously. You will likely do fine now that you found out what didn’t work. (Go to all classes.) Second realize that you will have to submit your transcript from your previous college to any school you apply to–it is required. You didn’t mention how many units you have so I don’t know what your standing will be but almost assuredly you will be a transfer with a dismissal on your record. In that circumstance, most students will go to community college and prove that they are mature enough and driven enough to complete and pass class. Then you can apply to transfer to a 4 year with some lower division units completed. That is likely your most realistic option if Philidelphia didn’t leave you an opening to rejoin them.

SATs last 5 years, I think.