<p>If you don’t mind the review/self study, you may be able to fulfill some of your Gen Eds for Sauk and/or UIUC with CLEP exams. Check both websites. Sometimes a CLEP score will ease your way through the CC, but won’t count for anything at the 4-year institution leaving a Gen Ed space that must be fulfilled later on.</p>
<p>As far as adding or changing major after transfer goes, check with UIUC and the other universities you are targeting, as their policies may differ from each other (and may differ based on how popular the major is relative to the capacity of the department).</p>
<p>I’ve never heard of the CLEP exams before, but I just did some research on them and that looks like an interesting option. I wouldn’t really want to take that route with my math courses though, as I really do need a firm grounding in math. I might consider an option like that for some of my gen ed electives though, specifically the social sciences and humanities. I don’t know if I’ll have to take that route though. I’ve more or less figured out a schedule for the remainder of my time at Sauk that will allow me to get all of my gen eds done, plus all of the classes I’ll be required to take to transfer my majors.</p>
<p>I spent a little time earlier reworking my plan so that I could get all 3 of the required CIS courses done within another two academic years. It sounds like I’d be best suited to try and have it done before transferring so I can just transfer both of my majors. I’m gonna have a full schedule for the next couple years, along with a couple classes over each summer term, but that’s ok with me. My schooling is the most important thing in the world to me right now, so I’m not opposed to spending a lot of time on it.</p>
<p>Anyone have any thoughts on UIC or NIU for physics? They seem to have somewhat mediocre physics departments as far as the range of course offerings go. Neither one has much of anything in the way of astronomy or astrophysics…and seem very limited as far as condensed matter/particle physics goes too. I’m trying to keep my sights on schools within Illinois for financial purposes.</p>
<p>I took a look at the Illinois Institute of Technology last night too…that looks like a great school! No astronomy department though…this seems to be a problem I’m running into at a lot of prospective schools. They mostly seem to offer just one or two astronomy courses, that are absorbed into the physics program. UIUC is looking more and more appealing for these reasons. They’ve got very strong programs in particle physics and astronomy, which are my two main fields of interest.</p>
<p>Any thoughts on UIC or NIU for physics? Any other schools I should be looking at?</p>
<p>You are correct that CLEP is not the way to go for math. You need the real classes for that so you build up a solid foundation. Better an extra semester or two of math so that it is absolutely solid, than zipping through and having gaps in your knowledge base.</p>
<p>CLEP may be a good way to knock out some random Gen Eds or to skip over a pre-req so that you can get into a higher level (and presumably more interesting) class outside your major. Happykid took a CLEP that fulfilled the humanities graduation requirement at her CC which saved us a few bucks, made space for electives that she wanted, and allowed her to graduate on time. This particular CLEP isn’t accepted for credit at her 4-year which miffs her a bit, but there her Gen Eds are fulfilled by other courses, so it’s all good.</p>
<p>The more I look into it, CLEP sounds like a really good option for some of my electives. I’m meeting with my course counselor tomorrow afternoon, and this is something that I think I’ll mention to him. I’m not considering it an option for any of my more crucial courses, but this could be a good way to open up some time for some of my more important courses.</p>
<p>You will find that astrophysics is not a common option for an undergraduate degree. Rather it is a specialization for a graduate program. The degree otions you need to look into are either physics or astronomy but if you are interested in pursuing astrophysics, then you are better off starting in physics and taking astronomy and astrophysics elective courses.</p>
<p>Also, I know that you have gotten a lot of specific information about which mathematics courses to take from all the other posters, but as transfer student advisor in physics at IIT, I can tell you that it is essential to take the calculus-based physics sequence. The non-calculus based courses won’t count for a physics degree. In most CC’s this is the engineering sequence.</p>
<p>Additionally, you should take vector calculus and differential equations and as much modern physics as your CC has available. These will help you enter at a level that you have a fighting chance to complete the B.S. in 2 years (it will be very challenging). Most students I see who transfer in end up taking an additional 3 years though.</p>
<p>Finally a note about the programs you have listed. You can get a strong degree in physics at UIC, NIU, IIT, as well as the more highly touted UC, NU, and UIUC. most undergraduate physics programs are similar and if you put the effort in, you can get an excellent outcome. Your decision should be made on the basis of your financial situation and your “fit” with the university.</p>
<p>Thanks for your comments!!</p>
<p>After doing more research, I’ve realized that undergrad degrees in astrophysics are somewhat unusual, so I’ve shifted my gears more towards getting a physics degree, as well as possibly a math degree. I haven’t fully decided on a double major yet though.</p>
<p>IIT is one of the schools I’m becoming most interested in though. I couldn’t find much in the way of an astronomy program on the IIT website though. There seem to be a couple different astronomy electives, but that’s about it. This is something that I don’t think should be a huge concern though at this point. How is IIT for particle physics? The field of astroparticle physics is ideally where I’d like to gravitate to at this point…but that all remains to be seen.</p>
<p>As far as the courses go though, my main objective is to get the Engineering Physics sequence, along with the calculus sequence and hopefully differential equations and linear algebra finished at Sauk before I transfer. I may end up having to stay at Sauk for a semester longer than I was hoping…that all remains to be seen. The only physics courses available after Engineering are a two part mechanics sequence, and if I end up having to stay more than two more years I will definitely be taking them. Unfortunately though, Sauk doesn’t have any math courses beyond differential equations and linear algebra, so that’s as far as I’ll be able to take it here. All that said though, I’m not entirely opposed to staying at a university for longer than two more years after getting my associates.</p>
<p>As a high school drop out on financial aid though, am I even going to have a fighting chance to get into a better school like IIT? I’ve basically given up on the thought of UChicago, and after more research I’m not sure that that’s really the route I’d want to go anyway. I think IIT and UIUC are basically going to be my main target schools at this point.</p>
<p>I am also starting to look at UIC and NIU a lot more though too.</p>
<p>Well, I’ve refined my rough academic plan some more, and I’ve figured out a plan that would allow me to get everything done in two more years, even without taking 121 and 122 at the same time. As long as I could take Engineering Physics I and Calculus II as summer courses after next year, I’ll be able to get it all done within two more years.</p>
<p>Now I’ve just gotta find out if they offer Physics courses over the summer. I know they offer math courses over the summer, so I’d imagine taking Calc II over the summer shouldn’t be a problem.</p>
<p>I also realized that I wouldn’t necessarily want to major in Mathematics and Computer Science…and that I’d likely be better off simply majoring in Mathematics. They didn’t have a transfer articulation guide on the UIUC site for a Mathematics major, just math and compsci, and math and actuarial statistics.</p>
<p>I’ve looked at the requirements for a junior year transfer as a math major though, and this would actually simplify my Sauk course load. I wouldn’t have to take the three computer courses I named above, and instead I’d only have to take “MAT 150-Computer Programming for Mathematics and Engineering.” Being able to replace those three computer courses with this one course has freed my plan up quite a bit. Assuming that I can take Engineering Physics I as a summer course, I’ll be able to complete the full Engineering sequence, the full calculus sequence, along with differential equations, the required chemistry and english comp classes, plus all of my geneds…and all within two more years.</p>
<p>A huge plus side is that all of my geneds will transfer to UIUC, if I get accepted there. The geneds I’d take here would cover almost the entire core curriculum at UIUC, aside from three other geneds. One is an advanced composition course that you’re required to take at UIUC…and actually ends up pertaining to your major. I’d be able to use a physics course that I’d like to take anyway to take care of this requirement. There are also two cultural studies classes I’d have to take there, on pertaining to western culture and one pertaining to non-western/US culture. I haven’t been able to find any courses at Sauk that would meet this requirement.</p>
<p>Aside from those…there is one other requirement that I’m rather dreading…the foreign language requirement…eek…UIUC requires two years of college study of a foreign language. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to squeeze a foreign language class into my plans at Sauk, but I’m going to try to get at least a year done here if possible. Any thoughts on a language that would be beneficial towards my majors? I’m thinking Latin could potentially be of benefit, due to Latin terms being fairly widely used in scientific fields…but Sauk unfortunately doesn’t have any Latin courses. They’ve got French, German and Spanish. I did take a Spanish class my freshman year of high school…but didn’t pass it due to basically never being there. Some of the language has stuck though(very little), so I’m thinking that may be the route I go for that.</p>
<p>Aside from those few things though, my time after transfer will be almost entirely devoted to my majors…which is how I want it.</p>
<p>Spanish or French probably has the most general utility, depending on where you go.</p>
<p>French or German may be helpful if doing research in math (graduate level).</p>
<p>IIT has a strong particle and accelerator physics program and we often have students participate in research in those areas.</p>
<p>As for admissions and merit scholarships. Most of it depends on your CC grades, not whether you dropped out of high school or not. If you have excellent grades and are part of the Phi Theta Kappa honorary, you will likely be admitted and with a merit scholarship of some kind.</p>
<p>ucb-Thanks for the tips. Hopefully I’ll be able to figure out a way to squeeze a language course into my schedule, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to or not. I’d love to get at least a year of it out of the way before I transfer though, so I can devote my time to my majors after transfer. We’ll see.</p>
<p>xray-Thanks for the info. Particle physics is one of the areas that interests me most, and I’m actually kinda torn between whether I eventually want to gravitate towards that or astrophysics. Ideally, I’d like to do both though in all reality. I’ve still got plenty of time to figure that out though.</p>
<p>I only see two astronomy courses at IIT…and introductory Astronomy course and an Astrophysics course. Is this all that’s available in that field at IIT? That would be a bit of a drawback to me, but it wouldn’t necessarily prevent me from wanting to go there. Overall, IIT looks like a very good school and I’ve heard great things about it from the research I’ve done on it. I’m hoping to get into Phi Theta Kappa as well after I get some more credits built up. </p>
<p>I posted another thread about this in the admissions section, but I might as well ask here too: How important are extracurricular activities going to be for me when transferring as a junior? I successfully ran a tree trimming business with my brother for about 6 years, until we both got tired of all the physical work and decided to go back to school. I’m also planning on joining the Math Club at here, and I’m trying to get into Americorps, both for the experience that it brings, and the money/scholarships that they offer. With that on my side, should I be worried about looking for more EC’s to get involved in?</p>
<p>Also, can anyone tell me how to quote posts on here? I see the option for it below the quick reply window, but it’s not seeming to work for me.</p>
<p>I don’t think that either UIUC or IIT look at extracurriculars too much from transfer students. More importantly, they look for performance in college level courses and focus on a major. Starting and operating your own business is more than extracurricular, however, and would probably be a plus in your application.</p>
<p>Yes, IIT only has those two courses officially available as we do not have an astronomy major. However, we are developing a relationship with the Adler Planetarium with one graduate student doing her Ph.D. there in astrophysics and we have had an undergraduate work as a summer intern on one of their research projects (VERITAS). we also have an instructor who is an astrophysicist and has supervised undergraduate research in that area.</p>
<p>From everything I’m reading, it sounds like running my own business will be a very good addition to my application.</p>
<p>It’s good to hear that IIT would have some potential options for astronomy/astrophysics study. The more I’m researching IIT, the more I like it. It looks like a great school, with a great campus. The city of Chicago is, of course, second to none in my mind, as well. :)</p>
<p>Well after meeting with my counselor and discussing my situation, we came to the conclusion that my best option would be to try and place out of geometry and intermediate algebra, and start college algebra this spring semester. This would get me right on track, and allow me to finish the full calculus sequence plus differential equations, as well as the full calculus based physics sequence, all within two more academic years.</p>
<p>This means that I’ve got winter break to essentially teach myself geometry and intermediate algebra, and retake the placement test right before next semester starts. What areas should I focus on?</p>
<p>What topics are introduced in intermediate algebra? The SVCC website states that… </p>
<p>“This course assumes familiarity with material in MAT 074. Topics extended to an intermediate level include: real numbers and expressions, equations and inequalities, graphing methods, polynomials and factoring, rational expressions, radicals, quadratic equations, and systems of equations. New topics include: functions and their graphs, radicals and complex numbers, quadratic and rational inequalities, graphs of second degree equations and variation.”</p>
<p>In what ways are the topics expanded? What, specifically, should I be focusing on? What areas would be most crucial for the new topics? I’ll have my work cut out for me, but it’ll be well worth it when I pull it off. Any tips would be much appreciated. :)</p>
<p>My counselor recommended using the Kahn Academy website, which I’ve already used quite a bit the last couple days…there are a lot of great tutorial videos on there. I’ve also bought “Bob Millers Math for the Accuplacer” which is designed for increasing placement test scores, and I bought “Cliffsnotes: Algebra II” which seems to be a very helpful book.</p>
<p>“Expanded” probably means more difficult problems, or applying the concepts to problems where it is less obvious that one would apply them.</p>
<p>Would you be able to get an old final exam for the course in question to see what the expectations for the course are? Or the textbook for the course?</p>
<p>I’m planning on stopping in and seeing my counselor again on tuesday, and I was planning on asking him these questions actually. I’m a member of Trio, so I get most of my books for free. They have a copy of the geometry and algebra II books on hold for me, and I’m going to see if I can get them early to use over winter break. I hadn’t thought about asking for a copy of the final exam though…that’s a good idea. I’ve also been using the links that you posted for me earlier in this thread, and they’ve been very helpful as well. Practice problems are the key with math, and those links have plenty of them, with answers. Thanks again for that!</p>
<p>Would expanded also imply problems with more variables? I’ve only really worked through equations with two variables at this point, will I need to have competence in equations with 3+ variables to place into college algebra?</p>
<p>From what I’ve worked through in my geometry studies the last couple days, it doesn’t seem too difficult so far, but that’s probably a huge deception…lol…I’m sure it’s going to get much more complicated.</p>
<p>I’m confident I can pull this off though. My winter break will basically be spent doing math, but I don’t mind.</p>
<p>Well, I was successful! I placed out of Geometry, Intermediate Algebra AND College Algebra…and placed into Trig…so I ended up placing higher than I was even aiming for. I’m still just going to take college algebra this semester though, because it wouldn’t really benefit me to skip it. It won’t save me any time on the long run, and it would still be very beneficial to take the class I’m sure. This is a huge relief…I’ve spent the entire break studying math like crazy.</p>
<p>What good news! Thanks for checking in to let us all know how things are going!</p>