I am a Texas resident and apparently I though I would end up at a 4 year university that is 5 hours away from where I live. Because of my irresponsibility in visiting the university before orientation and not submitting my housing application on time, I was faced with many disadvantages (nowhere to live with little to no money, feel like I did not fit in, etc.) I felt it was reasonable to withdraw before classes started. Now since I couldn’t reach in time to do the fall semester for anywhere else, i’m only left to start community college in a Flex semester, which means that its like taking courses for 8 weeks at the second half of the regular fall semester. Or maybe (since i’m not sure) apply for the spring semester at my local University(UTSA as an example) or at UT as undeclared major (because i would assume that my major would be full). I was previously accepted to both universities for the fall semester but did not enroll (UT was an automatic acceptance, was not necessarily accepted for my major.) So my question to you at this point is should I go the community college route or go to a 4 year university. I am an engineering major in case this info is necessary.
If I go take the community college route, will it impact my chances when apply to graduate school because i’m definitely wanting to get a M.S or Ph.D
It feels conflicting for someone who worked really hard in high school to get into the top 10% range, did all these extracurricular activities, but i’m left with what I have thanks to my own lack of thinking and being irresponsible.
I used to work in administration at a few different Texas community colleges. While I wasn’t an adviser I did learn a thing or two.
- Before you start at community college find out what the transfer requirements are for the college(s) you hope to transfer to. Some have restrictions regarding how many total/how many within your major/etc.
- Make sure the specific classes you plan to take will transfer to the university and that it will transfer for something useful. For example, you don't want to take 12 hours at a community college only to find out that they will only accept 9 of those hours or that the 12 hours will only count as electives but you only really need 9 elective hours to graduate from the university.
- You mentioned engineering. My husband is an engineer. I would recommend getting core classes that aren't math or science out of the way at the community college. Examples of those might be: government, history, English, foreign language, etc. Save the science and math requirements for the 4 year university. At the university my husband attended the information he learned in those classes required for his major often built on one another so if had taken the intro class somewhere else he might have missed something useful.
Can you ‘save’ your acceptance for Spring and defer?
Perhaps your place at UT (?) is not lost but you may need to go in person.
Talk with someone in admissions. Explain simply 'I was admitted for the fall but didn’t complete my housing application on time and had to withdraw. How can I enroll for Spring?