Extreme circumstances In Transferring

QuickInquiry
Sat, 20 Dec 2025 00:45:09 +0000

Alright, a bit to dump here, its a big story so here it goes:

First gen, urm, immigrant.

Ended highschool with 3.92 GPA, 4.83 W (all As except for AP chem when I was also taking AP Physics E&M at the same time, got an A in the last one). Admitted to state school honors college.

Become 18 years old. I never noticed my parents reveal to me (since I was now an adult) that they both lost their jobs for some time, (including temporarily off of health insurance, thank God me and my 5 siblings did not get sick).

To downsize, we move away from state school campus. Commute of 30 min becomes 1 hour 30 mins minimum, 2+ hours with traffic).

I am forced (despite what I would like otherwise) to commute that to and back from campus everyday. I need a car, so I take up part time weekend work (~15 hours, split sat and sun). Part time work will also cover partly for school, but my dad takes up most of it.

To this point, my parents basically exhausted all their funds to move, and their credit was tied up in the new home.

First semester is kinda fine, just calc 3 to be concerned about. Joined some technical clubs and had some decent technical work done.

Some exhaustion builds up so my performance so not so great as semester continues. I am the oldest of my 5 siblings so I come after school to teach them (mainly the two younger ones) before I do my homework while parents work (not everyday, but many days). Also cook, do laundry and groceries.

Car blows head gasket some time late November in middle of highway, could pull to side of road but had to brake greatly, so I had (still do, tho less common) backpain for a while. Also car is blown, so it needs to go in for a new engine. Will take a bunch of shifts to help pay it off with my dad, who also helps me with it. Take the train instead which while available, is inflexible.

Blow up on some first semester finals, not enough to fail any courses, but Calc 3 ends up with a C. Some other classes are As and Bs. Overall GPA is 3.1. Continue to work over Winter break and save up so that helps.

Have worked some technical internships (2) since freshman year, including a fuel cell startup (part time) on campus and working for a fortune 500 defense company over the summer. Alongside 3 other part time jobs. Currently on my 6th job in 3rd semester (fall 2025).

Improved GPA to 3.5 by Spring semester completion. Joined a lab on campus involving materials discovery.

Car has another issue, electrical. Needs to get a new harness especially since emissions test is upcoming. Need to work even more shifts to cover it.

Took 19 credits in order to take an MSE course so I can use the campus nanofab next semester as a course, on top of everything else…

Want to transfer to top schools with MSE minor so I can work on it alongside ECE degree and continue materials research. MSE department at state school is small and I want a school with a dedicated materials minor and better resources.

IDK where to go from here. I have a 3.6 now, but that is while I have consistently worked minimum 10 hours a week and commute ~15 hours a week, alongside house chores and teaching my siblings. I have the ECs and the experiences as well, but do you think admissions will recognize this? I did work to the best my abilities, but honestly there was nothing else I could do.

Also, yes, I do not get as much sleep as I should. I take caffeine pills.