So due to some extenuating circumstances, I was forced to graduate high school and needed to get all my credits second semester of junior year. Didn’t know I was graduating till jan 10 so most of my top choices were closed and I haven’t tested SAT/ACT. So I am going to this regionally ranked private university that is not that selective and doesn’t require testing. Now I have 16 hours a semester to fill for freshman year so I can transfer. My major is compsci. I was wondering: should I put off taking cs courses till I transfer or take some intro courses freshman year? Which would be best to increase transfer chances.
I have two options basically for my schedule:
1st semester
calc 3
physics 1
compsci 1
chem 1
2nd semester:
linear algebra
phys 2
compsci 2
chem 2
Applying as a transfer will make it MUCH MUCH harder for you to get into these universities. There is perhaps a tenth of the number of places for transfers than for freshmen.
At Public universities there’s priority for the students from community colleges they have agreements with and most transfer numbers come from there.
Also as a transfer you will get ZERO merit aid from your OOS public universities (reserved for freshmen) and of course no need based aid (reserved for state residents). So before you enroll at the private university, ask your parents whether they have a college fund for you and how much they can afford per year.
What AP exams have you taken or do you plan to take?
Finally, your schedule is totally lopsided. You will likely have to take a freshman interdisciplinary seminar and something like art or foreign language on top one math and one science class.
I know it is harder to apply as transfer. I know CC get priority. I don’t need financial aid because the reason I had to graduate early was to get a full scholarship from my country to any US university I desiree (I’m international).
AP Exams
WHAP
APHUG
APCSA
AP Calc BC
AP Psych
APush
AP Physics 1
For the lopsided schedule, I have met my foreign language credit already, and I can take my art classes next year. Freshman seminar is a one credit course that I’m already fitting in my schedule and didn’t feel the need to mention it. The only mistake I realize is forgetting my English requirement. Anyway, my question remains: Should I take compsci (my major course) at my current university (their cs department is not recognized at all). Or take an extra science in lieu of it and get my compsci education started at my transfer? Also, I might be able to overload and get an extra space for one more course, would you recommend that? My sister who already goes to this university got a 4.0 her freshman year without trying at all so I’m not too worried about workload. Intro to compsci 1 would be an easy A because I have taken multiple non credit courses in compsci in high school and I’m pretty knowledgeable of all parts of their cs 101 syllabus.
Explaining the situation before the second post would have helped… it matters since it totally changes things. Will the scholarship transfer with you? Is the university in one of the states where the flagships from your list are?
What if you don’t get into any of those, would you be OK staying at this college?
I’d take a non intro CS class then (one appropriate to your level of knowledge and skills) even if you start from scratch at the new university.
I meant the typical interdisciplinary seminar most freshmen most take (not the 1-credit methodology seminar). Is that not required? Some universities will require religion or philosophy from freshmen, too.
Most US colleges wouldn’t allow the schedule you propose, with no gen eds.
Why are you taking calculus, physics, chemistry, and biology in one version of the schedule?
@MYOS1634 Scholarship will transfer anywhere except Community College. I reside in NC so nc state and chapel hill. If I don’t get in anywhere I’ll be ok because one university in the US is better than having to move back to my country; it’s just that I had high aspirations for myself and this was the original I was applying to for next year as first year applicant but things got changed :/. For the seminars, there are only two I have to do that I’ll be able to fit in with my 4 main courses.
They don’t ask for a cs course in their transfer plan so maybe do this?
eng 1
calc 3ji
phys 1
a GenEd
and seminars
@bopper I did look and I was thinking of taking bio because MIT requires all undergrad students to have a year of physics, semester of chem, and semester of bio so I was thinking of getting it done at my school so I can take more cs courses there if I end up there you know?
Mit will want its version of the courses since they don’t match exactly the typical 2 semester sequence (cover more, more in-depth).
However the odds of transferring to MIT or USC are miniscule.
What do the 2 years of the 4-year plan in cs at the college you’ll be attending look like? Please list.
@MYOS1634 slim doesn’t equal 0 so I’m still going to apply. Anyway, I can’t seem to find a four year plan for my major on their website; just the required courses for graduation
@MYOS1634 searched all those terms on googlea and college website and nothing came up. I’m going to email the head of the cs department for a generic 4 year plan.