Second Chances?

Applying to College
1

Hi all,

I just registered on the forum today. I always end up here whenever I search something on Google. Gotten a lot of good advice in the past so I figure I should just join the community already…

I’m from Trinidad and Tobago and a first-gen applicant. I have a problem which I’m very nervous about: I attended the University of the West Indies for only one year with a major in Economics, but it was too late before I’d realized that UWI was not the place for me and Economics wasn’t the major for me either (I’m obviously a fine arts student). My grades suffered so badly that I was ‘required to withdraw’. I’ve never experienced academic failure like this before. I graduated valedictorian in 2008 and was the head prefect of my school (I guess that’s like student council president).

Needless to say, I did not enjoy my time at UWI at all and it greatly reflected in my school performance. I’ve always wanted to attend school in NY. Always seemed like it was the right fit for my personality. I love photography and won a national competition in 2007. I have great plans of attending Bard but I’m so scared of my UWI record. Not sure what my GPA is since Trinidad does not place a lot of emphasis on it. I’d say I’ve been a pretty good student with a lot of extra-curricular behind me.

Can someone please tell me how badly I’ve messed up my chances of getting into Bard or any of my choices and whether second chances are considered? I’m so worried.

My apologies for the essay ^ Many thanks in advance.

2

Because you have been enrolled in a college you will be considered a transfer student (since it is too soon for you to be considered for a fresh start, assuming Bard offers that). Contacting Bard for more specific information with relation to your situation is probably the best route, but what I would recommend in your situation is to enroll in a community college, in NY if possible, and then transfer after you have brought your grades up to the level you are historically capable of. Then when you transfer, you can discuss in your essay what your experience at UWI taught you, and how you have turned that into something positive in terms of your academic and professional goals.

There may be a chance that Bard could accept you as a transfer now, without community college, but you’d have to research their requirements or contact them to be sure. Unfortunately, being forced to withdraw and having a low GPA will likely mean you don’t meet the requirements for transfer, which is why the community college route will probably be a very viable option for you. Good luck!