<p>I have been thinking of dropping out of U of A and making arrangements with the banks that have my loans to get on limited repayment plans and to apply to a different university. I never failed a class or even got a D, but I have a 2.33 gpa. Supposing that I want to retake the 26 credits I’ve taken over the last year at a different university. There will be a gap in time between my community college credits over a year ago now and my application to this new university… lets say colorado state or nau in theory. And I’m applying to pre-engineering will admissions at this new school be able to find out about my mediocre performance at U of A if I don’t submit transcripts from U of A, should I submit my transcripts from U of A if I don’t want the credits to transfer? Is it too late and will I be blacklisted from competitive degrees for life?</p>
<p>The rules of the application process are clear. Tell all regarding your academic history. To do otherwise is unwise, and can get get you into major difficulties should your college discover your past history. Given modern technology it wouldn’t be very hard to figure out that the information you provide is incomplete.</p>
<p>Fogcity your reply makes a lot of sense. I am more afraid of looking dishonest than simply mediocre. But in engineering mediocre won’t get me a job. Hence I want to have a better gpa. Do you fogcity, or any one reading this thread have any experience, or know anything about getting a second chance in the university system, obviously not all schools would offer one but do any? Any input is appreciated.</p>
<p>The american education system is a system of “second” and “third” and even “fourth” chances. There are always ways to make up for lost time, wrong choices, etc. There are community colleges, extended night education programs for adults etc. There are second tier state universities with good engineering programs. I know of several people (some in computer science) who ended up in their eventual field by redoing their degrees, and restarting their eduction. What distinguishes these people from others is their motivation and hard work.</p>
<p>Tough one because people make mistakes, but computers tend not to forgive. </p>
<p>Sure the “right” answer is always be open and honest, and as fogcity wrote, in the modern world more and more schools are connected to allow for easy transfer of credits, but sometimes its too easy an answer. </p>
<p>Lots of people have gaps, so this is nothing alarming. And some schools do really odd things with transferring credits whether you want them to or not. The first step I would take is to call a few prospects and ask (you don’t have to use your own name). Tell them the situation and see what they suggest. Also its doubtful (not impossible) that UofA has links to UMass Amherst for example, so if the answers you get from direct conversations with perspective schools are very negative then you will have an answer. Note most likely on the application form it will state that failing to provide complete information can lead to bad things, so be aware.</p>
<p>I found myself “locked out,” at one time. My choice was industry for awhile. Then after I had some great industry recommendations, I re-took my entrance exams first using a professional exam study service and blew the test out of the water. The combination of work, recommendations and high exams scores offset my earlier mistake and I was accepted everywhere I applied. </p>
<p>Finally this is where cc’s can really help. Find one affiliated with your school of choice and straight A a few semesters there before applying. There are even some with fixed transfer arrangements such that if you 3.5 two yrs at the cc, then you’re automatically accepted at a local four year school.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>thank you lou costello and fogcity for your replies. Lou costello, or anyone who read his post, what exactly do you mean when you say industry? Industry as in go back into the workforce and get something like a supervisor reference and work out an arrangement with the admissions committee to actually look at references you might have? I’m not exactly sure what you mean.</p>
<p>I dunno 25 credits sounds like a lot. I had a b average and realised it was not enough to really do anything-law school, top jobs need a or b+, so i just have to work a little to get to the same spot. In your case a 2.33 is like c, so if your willing to do all those years over, which i wasn’t-hate school and always had.</p>
<p>Might want to do a legal name on religious grounds of course change so no one can find out that you use to go to u of a, might even consider change of appearance, cut hair or dye it or something.</p>
<p>If your wiling to do 4 years over and read all those gay books, andwaste all your time in school god bless you, I know I couldn’t or I would have dropped out, legal name change and reapplied to another top school. Who cares what university or others think, they only care about themselfs, they dont give a sh-t about you, your family, your life, your future or your problems. Your #1 goal in life is to look out for jessean and jessean family. Just dont go blabing what you did and you will be fine</p>
<p>If you worked hard enough and still got the same kind of grades, then you should change major. Maybe engineering is not for you. I know some people they think they will be good engineer because they are handy, but being an engineer, that is not enough.</p>
<p>Before I get into the thank yous, I believe I have legitimate reason for my academic mediocrity… and that it warrants special consideration by the university system, and future employers.To get the point: clinically diagnosed ADD and scoliosis. Now, there may be those of you out there that don’t believe either of these are insurmountable odds with sufficient strength of character and self-discipline, and you may be right, but remember that you may also be wrong.</p>
<p>glennat, i appreciate your original ideas. They seem somewhat extreme, but not out of the question in my mind. It seems that the thing to d if i were to go your proposed route of identity change, would be to follow lou costello’s advice and call around posing as someone else to maybe get a feel for how hard it will be to do what I’m thinking of doing. My name and appearance don’t mean as much to me as my integrity, however.</p>
<p>Doctoradj, i am glad you replied to my thread, it is a more interesting discussion because of your viewpoint, which is the same as that of my advisor. I think it is worthwhile to debate the issue. Beneficial for me, and for those who will read this post in the future. </p>
<p>So, I’m not trying sound self-righteous, or like a forum veteran, but is there anyone out there who agrees with Doctorradj. My hope is to be able to construct a more convincing argument (admittedly in my favor) for second chances in competitive degrees.</p>
<p>1.)Do you believe in the idea of second chances in competitive degrees?</p>
<p>2.)What is the potential harm to the university system, society, and employers?</p>
<p>3.)Is it unfair to students who do not need second chances, wny?</p>
<p>4.)Do you struggle with mental or physical limitations and pursue a competitive degree?</p>
<p>5.)should disability resources expand the scope of their efforts to address situations like mine?</p>
<p>6.)is there the potential for cognitively and physically “un-impaired” students who are simply lazy to fake disability in order to take advantage of the system, and would they actually want to provided the extra time required out of their lives?</p>
<p>These are the issues, let me hear some of your responses, please. Or if you would like to respond Doctorradj, it would help me to hear from someone with your perspective.</p>
<p>glennat, name changes do not change the SSN, and are not hidden documents. Schools can and do run credit checks, especially for financial aid, so it would not help the OP.
PO, why not continue at your current school, increase your GPA, then apply somewhere else.You may still need to take classes over at your transfer school, but you will be able to get into a better school.</p>
<p>Strongly agree with fogcity and others that you have to be honest in your future applications.</p>
<p>But as fogcity said in his second post, the American higher education system is full of second and third and fourth chances. Your current gpa at your current college will be looked at by the colleges you apply to. Whether it’s low enough to be a serious factor in getting into the school of your choice will depend on where you plan on applying.</p>
<p>But after you enroll at a new college, most likely your new college will only use the grades earned at that school to calculate the gpa at that school. The other grades will still be on the transcript as transfer grades, but you’ll have the chance to improve your (local) gpa by starting over.</p>
<p>And lots of students graduate less than stellar gpas, particularly in fields like engineering.</p>
<p>And after you land your first post-graduation job, no one is every likely to ask you about your gpa or rank when you graduated from college. They’re also not likely to ask how many different colleges did you attend. No, they’ll ask (and verify) where did you graduate from? When did you graduate? And possibly, what was your major?</p>
<p>Something must have gone wrong. I posted a few days ago and it did not appear. Sorry if this seems late.</p>
<p>Industry? I was lucky enough to hold a tech position which gave me contact with engineers. But frankly it doesn’t matter that much. What I meant was if you can land a job and receive recommendations from supervisors, managers, presidents whatever, this can go a long way to prove you are serious. Your gpa may make schools question if you work hard, but your recommendations can overcome this. That is what I did. Also I asked my references where they went to school and then applied there. This made their references carry extra weight.</p>
<p>Is engineering right for you? Engineering is a tough field with little forgiveness. Many who try it, after a while discover it’s not the world for them. On a positive note, flame if you must, engineers make great transfers to other majors. Something about the toughness and discipline of the major that gives you a leg up in most other majors. So if you take a shot, and find it’s not for you, keep smiling because wherever you land next will probably be easier.</p>
<p>Are you stuck with your transfer grades? Sorry about this - depends. Where I’m at right now, the answer is yes. It is possible to petition to remove them, but the process is about a year long and success is not guaranteed. Other places, probably give different answers. Again these are great questions to ask the schools of your choice directly. The people in the schools want you to succeed and will give you the answers you seek (and again, you don’t need to provide them your name while asking).</p>
<p>Name change? This is an education you’re seeking, not entrance to a witness protection plan 
so no name change required. </p>
<p>As to all the other questions you raised may I suggest you post them as new forum questions so that they can get some attention. Here I fear they will just get lost.</p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p>Back in the last century, one of my HS classmates flunked out of the engineering program at one of our home-state public Us. Part of it was too much drugs-and-rock-and-roll (it was the mid-70s after all!), and part of it was struggling with until-then undiagnosed dyslexia. He moved home, enrolled in the local CC, and completed the pre-transfer engineering coursework for engineering. After completing his A.S. in pre-engineering, he transferred successfully into another one of hour home-state public Us. There he graduated on time, was hired by a major kitchenware appliance company, and began a successful career. When I saw him at our last HS class reunion, he was still doing engineering design for that kind of company. </p>
<p>You have lots of chances to start over. Get your medical issues sorted out, and get on with your life.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>
<p>The consequences are very high.
[Former</a> Harvard Student Indicted For Falsified Applications, Identity Fraud | The Harvard Crimson](<a href=“http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/2010/5/17/wheeler-harvard-wheelers-applications/]Former”>http://www.thecrimson.harvard.edu/article/2010/5/17/wheeler-harvard-wheelers-applications/)</p>
<p>They’ll also plug your name into this database
[National</a> Student Clearinghouse: Degree verification & enrollment verification](<a href=“http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/]National”>http://www.studentclearinghouse.org/)</p>
<p>Don’t hide it. You’ll do fine.</p>