Retaking Classes to improve GPA and transfer?

Transfer Students
1

Hey everyone! I was hoping I could get some advice from one of you guys.

I’m currently at a CC in Maryland and have a GPA of 3.6, and I want to transfer to either American or UMD. But the issue here is that I previously attended a CC in VA in 2014 and had horrible grades that fall semester after HS. 1 W, 1 D, and 3 F’s. I know, they’re embarrassing, but they happened because I had to work two jobs after enrolling because my husband had lost his job and we had an infant, so I had to take on a second job in order to support our family and pay bills. Unfortunately, midway through the semester, my second job began to become inflexible with my schedule and I was no longer able to attend school, resulting in failing grades. The next fall semester in 2015, I only took one course because I was paying out of state tuition and they revoked my financial aid due to my grades in the previous fall semester, and not improving them by not taking any classes during the spring semester.

Fast forward to the summer of 2016, I moved back to MD and enrolled into a new CC in my home state. I have a 3.6 GPA with only one C and a W from a summer class that I had to drop because it was a bit too fast paced (it was chem). I wanted to transfer to UMD or American but my previous GPA from the CC in VA is bringing my overall cumulative GPA down tremendously. I contacted the CC in VA and they stated that an academic renewal was only possible if I hadn’t attended the school for more than 5 or more years. Is there any way to bring my GPA up? I was thinking that if I retook the classes at the previous CC, I might be able to increase my GPA, but I don’t know if it’s a good idea or if it will work? Those 4 f’s would be quite expensive for me to retake…

Any advice?

2

Are you going to complete an AA or AS degree? Does your major have a formal articulation agreement for any college or university? Why only UMD or AU? Do you need commuting distance? Could Towson work?

Since you can’t do academic renewal until you have been out of that CC for five years, I don’t see any good reason at all for you to re enroll there as an OOS student to re-take those classes. It would make more sense for you to take the equivalent classes where you are (or at another MDCC where you would have in-state but not in-county rates).

Go sit down with the transfer advisor at your CC and get some help with your transfer plans. They usually are really good at helping students like you soet everything out.

Wishing you all the best!

3

I’m completing a general studies- STEM degree and my CC has agreements with local 4 year universities, but UMD and AU have really good pre-med programs. I’m trying to get into med school eventually. Commuting is not much of a problem for me, I’d just prefer it. Would the equivalent classes be able to replace those previous F’s?

4

Oh and thank you for the advice btw!!!

5

Just keep in mind that down the line when you’re applying to transfer, not all institutions will honor your replaced grades. Some, like Rutgers, will add back the grades you did poorly in and give you a worse GPA. Example, I had a 3.76 when I applied, but they added back classes from over 5 years ago and gave me a 2.44.