Personal Advice For the Comeback Kid

College Search & Lists Community Colleges
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<p>I want to keep this as succinct as possible because it makes reading and issuing advice much easier.</p>

<p>Here is my story as brief as can be. **This part simply provides better insight into my current situation but CAN be skipped<a href=“Once%20again,%20skip%20down%20to%20%22CONTINUED%22%20if%20you%20are%20not%20interested%20in%20the%20back%20story.”>/B</a>.</p>

<p>I am 23 years old and live in North Carolina. I have always been a rather cerebral person in life but until recently I have always hated school. Growing up I always was bored with in the classroom despite the fact that I really enjoyed learning. I hung around people who were “class clowns” and that is what I saw myself as despite my entire family and others always telling me how much potential I had. It had always been more thrilling to me to skip class and cause mayhem rather than sit in the classroom and focus on “boring stuff.” Hanging around underachievers and negative people continued from about 4th grade all the way up to a few years of being in and out of community college with the same awful habits. </p>

<p>Over the past couple years of my life, I have really focused on eliminating dejection and negativity from my life. I have dropped a lot of friends who were really very determined to go nowhere at all. Getting out in the work force and turning this way and that, only to realize that none of that interested me, really got me thinking about how enjoyable being in school is in reality. I have never appreciated so much what a place of education truly is. What is interesting is that this change of lifestyle and attitude has happened simultaneously with an interest paradigm shift.</p>

<p>I wrote and read a lot growing up, mostly fiction and philosophy. Those were always my interests. The real world seemed quite mundane to me and never lit a fire in my heart/mind. However, because of how much I enjoyed philosophy and thinking of existence on the largest scale the human mind can conceive I found my way to Astronomy. Astronomy and its majestic wonders led me eventually to Physics, which in-turn led me to Mathematics. Now, I enjoy Physics and Mathematics more than I ever was into writing and Philosophy. I have really taken to Math and Science across the board. Prior to my new found motivation, I had allowed my GPA to sink to a measly 2.0. Two semesters of a 4.0 has raised that to a 2.8. Before I apply for a transfer, I really hope to achieve between a 3.2 - 3.5 cumulative. My college professors all tell me that I have real potential for Math and Science, which is good because I really want to be a Theoretical Astrophysicist/Cosmologist. At this point I really want to get into the best university in the state of North Carolina to study Astro/Theoretical Physics. </p>

<p>**CONTINUED<a href=“Start%20here%20if%20back%20story%20was%20skipped…”>/B</a></p>

<p>I had a 2.0 GPA when I was enrolled in the Associate in Arts program at my community college. From the point of finding my motivation, changing my attitude, and really actually giving an effort, I have taken 6 classes. Here are the classes and grades:</p>

<p>Summer 2013 - Semester GPA: 4.0

  1. English 111 - A
  2. English 112 - A
  3. College Algebra - A</p>

<p>Changed degree plan from Associate in Arts to Associate in Science.</p>

<p>Fall 2013 - Semester GPA: 4.0

  1. Biology 111- A
  2. Statistics - A
  3. Precalculus- A</p>

<p>NOW THE ADVICE.
These are the classes I am hoping to take before I finish my Associates in Science degree and start applying to colleges in Spring 2015:
*-NEED TO TAKE
@- Want to take</p>

<p>*Trigonometry
*Chemistry 151
*Chinese 101
*American History 131
*General Anthropology 210
*Chemistry 152
*Calculus 1
*British Literature
*Physics 251
*Calculus 2
*Chinese 102
@Astronomy</p>

<p>So here are the only two ways I arrange it…</p>

<p>Option 1
Spring 2014 - 18 Credit Hours:

  1. Trigonometry
  2. Chemistry 151
  3. Chinese 101
  4. General Anthropology 210
  5. American History 131 (Online)</p>

<p>Summer 2014 - 11 Credit Hours:

  1. Calculus 1
  2. Chemistry 152
  3. British Literature</p>

<p>Fall 2014 - 16 Credit Hours

  1. Calculus 2
  2. Physics 251
  3. Chinese 102
  4. Astronomy</p>

<p>OR</p>

<p>Option 2</p>

<p>Spring 2014 - 15 Credit Hours:

  1. Trigonometry
  2. Chemistry 151
  3. Chinese 101
  4. General Anthropology 210</p>

<p>Summer 2014 - 11 Credit Hours:

  1. Calculus 1
  2. Chemistry 152
  3. American History 131</p>

<p>Fall 2014 - 15 Credit Hours

  1. Calculus 2
  2. Physics 251
  3. Chinese 102
  4. British Literature</p>

<p>So really the dilemma comes down to whether or not 18 credit hours of THAT particular course load in “Option 1” is feasible. I know it seems like I am almost splitting hairs with how similar the two options are but I REALLY want to stay on the same trend of getting semester 4.0’s. The reason being that I am in the process of pulling my GPA up from a 2.0 (currently at a 2.8) and want to get it somewhere between 3.2-3.5 (about as high as is possible for me to go with my past on my transcript). My desire to do this is because Astro/Theoretical Physics is competitive and I really want to transfer to the best university in the state of North Carolina that I can to hopefully cause a somewhat “chain reaction” that will help me get into the best graduate school I can after that. </p>

<p>So the question is:
While working less than 10 hours a week and doing around 10 volunteer hours a week, is getting another 4.0 while taking the 18 credit hours in “Option 1” feasible?</p>

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<p>Damn, I have to say we come from similar situations. Was never inspired by the lousy public school system and couldnt live to my full academic potential because I was never able to go at my own pace. Graduated highschool with ~2.2 GPA. Got a 96/99 on the ASVAB test the military issues to potential enlistees. Realized I may be too smart for the marines and tried my hand at my local CC. I have maintained a 4.0 GPA and finishing up the calculus series as of this semester. I do not consider myself smart; I have a legitimate interest in science and the goings on in the universe and I think that is how I have done so well in college. I despise people that call me smart, it totally dismisses the hard work and dedication I have to what I am doing in my academics. 18 units is definitively doable. I am currently finishing up 22 units (with As across the board): Calc 2, physics, Chem1, stats, and Linear Algebra. I am also working a part time job tutoring. I say this because I want to emphasize that pulling off a schedule like this has little to do with “smarts” and more to do with studying smart and having a real interest in what you are studying. To maintain my sanity I have made friends with those who also share common interests and do well in school.</p>

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<p>In the end, only you can know if you are ready for the challenge of 18 units. Utilize “ratemyprofessor.com” so you dont end up with one of those professors who pride themselves on how many they can make fail their class. Since you expressed an interest in
Astronomy and Theoretical Physics, try reading some Carl Sagan (pale blue dot) and Neil Tyson over this winter break. There books will only motivate you to excel in college and value mathematics. I wish the best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>Thanks! I really appreciate the advice. I currently have read Michio Kaku and Brian Greene. I am also reading some more interesting books on Calculus but taking it slowly because I haven’t taken the Calculus classes yet. I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself to rush the math because I am enjoying the current pace right now and I’ll have plenty of opportunities to speed it up in the semi-near future. </p>

<p>I pretty much feel the same way you do about everything you said. The only slight difference is that I don’t get mad when someone calls me smart but instead I just stopped caring about that factor altogether. Everyone wants to think they are the smartest or they say things like, “Oh he/she is so smart!” To me, even the most rigorous concepts can be understood by anyone. You just have to be interested and have the will to put your human consciousness to the grindstone. A good mental work ethic and determination to do what you mentally love goes way further than whatever a “high IQ” really means, in my opinion at least. I stopped caring about the battle to prove who is the smartest in the room. I want to work with this stuff because in makes my brain feel good to work with these concepts, the same way working out makes the body feel good and CERTAIN workouts make the body feel optimal. This stuff is just the most enjoyable mental workout for me. :slight_smile: </p>

<p>Lately I am leaning towards taking the 18 credit hours. Thanks again for your help!</p>