<p>Has anyone done it? I’m currently at the U of MN-TC and my college experience has been a little out of the ordinary. I went to a college after my sophomore year of high school (<a href=“http://www.simons-rock.edu%5B/url%5D”>www.simons-rock.edu</a>). After receiving my AA, I transferred to the U of MN-TC. I was wondering if any of you parents, or anyone, has heard of anyone restarting their college career? I wouldn’t really be losing time because I am considered a junior but I am only 18. </p>
<p>I have a good friend who got an undergraduate degree from MIT in nuclear engineering. After Three Mile Island, she quit nuclear engineering and went to UCLA to study electrical engineering–she had to start as a sophomore. It can be done!</p>
<p>Okay folks…this could take a while…here goes (I’ll try not to make it sound like a “here’s my stats” kinda thing…I’m just trying to share my background so I can get some more info/help):
During my high school frosh and sophomore years, I took the AP courses that were offered for my classes, was in the bands, the French club, was in the church’s youth groups, went on missions trips, etc.
After my sophomore year of high school, I went to Simon’s Rock College of Bard, and although I absolutely adored it (very involved in the community)…they did not have strong research opportunities, thus I transfered to the U of MN-TC (home state, thus cheap tuition).<br>
I currently have a great job in one of the research labs at the U, but I find the science lectures way too big (400+ students per class). My chemistry professor did not speak English well, and talking to students who have taken upper level science courses, that doesn’t seem as though it will change (the size and the frequency of professors/instructors that are hard to understand). I’m tired of not getting one on one attention and thus I’ve been thinking about transferring again.<br>
Currently, I’m considered a second semester junior, but honestly I haven’t learned a thing at the U of MN. It’s hard to really get involved when you’re just a number. By the way, I am trying to go the premed track. I just want to be prepared for the MCATs and med school and have the grades to get into med school. </p>
<p>Basically this brings me to the reason why I want to just start all over…with a clean slate. I think it has been especially hard for me to get used to the U of M (~51,000 students!!!) because I came in as a transfer. To a lot of schools, transfers are nobodies…it’s hard to make friends b/c by junior year, everyone has their own little niches. I want to make connections w/friends, w/professors like a normal freshman can do. Now that I know the ropes of college, I think I’d feel more prepared to go to college. I think I was a little young when I started college classes, and now that I’m a junior, I know what it feels like when crunch time comes along…I will be receiving a French degree. However, I won’t be prepared for the next step: med school. </p>
<p>Does this help? Sorry if it sounds like I’m crying a river for myself…I dont’ mean to. I also hope that it doesn’t come off as though I am saying the U is a bad school…but it just may not be the right fit for me?</p>
<p>Yet another Minnesotan here. It sounds like a liberal arts school with excellent science programs is the route you should take. Your college experience is pretty unique, and liberal arts schools do look more carefully at individual applications. If your grades and test scores are good, and you have a logical story about your choices and current interests (and I think you do), I would think your best chance would be to transfer in as a sophmore or junior, and load up on the pre-med courses you need. </p>
<p>I suppose you could start over, given your age, but I would see if you could get an appointment at Macalester or Carleton or St. Olaf just to discuss the issues you present here. Though there are great schools for you all over the country, those three, plus Lawrence and Grinnell, would be excellent options in our region. University of Chicago might be another school to look into.</p>
<p>I think that this board would be very interested in what you find out.</p>
<p>i think it would be better just to transfer and keep your junior status - you’ll get a better pick at college courses and whatnot… just change your major if that’s what you want to do, or dual major… that’d be better than starting from scratch.</p>
<p>reidm’s advice sounds good, but if you go in as anything other than a freshman you will need to get involved quickly in some activity to meet people or you could have the same problems you have now finding friends. What is the biggest issue for you? The overall size of the school, the large class sizes and lack of contact with professors, the feeling that you are not learning, or the not finding friends? Perhaps they are equal; I don’t know. But with a D that has done some things younger than normal, I have learned that you better check what problems can arise if you start over. Contacting the place you think you will change over to is a must before taking any action. The other thing that comes to mind is financial aid - I don’t know much about it, but if you receive any, future eligibility should be checked out and considered.</p>
<p>usmomink brings up a good issue as transfer students anywhere have tougher social integration than entering first-years. I think moving to a small LAC environment will take care of much of that, but her advice regarding getting involved in organizations and activities is a good. All the schools I referenced are schools with welcoming social cultures, but you will need to reach out to roommates, classmates etc.</p>