So this guy completely bummed up his college GPA in Korea(around 2.2) and he said he has studied architecture simply because his grades weren’t good enough.
He asked me: I want to go to USA to study business, get a job, and live here. (Wow so full of unlikely dream!) Is it possible?
Anyway…he wants to transfer to US college and now he’s a junior in the second semester. I told him it’s virtually impossible due to his grade and standing and that he might want to go to graduate school in US, but he’s being very stubborn.
He must be really oblivious to the reality, but I don’t want my fellow potential int.student to make horrible mistakes. At least I want to say something other than “Pal, you completely brought this yourself. Give it up and live with your mistakes”
What can he do at this point?
If he has $60,000 per year SOME school will take him. Can he pay?
Of course, his other dreams (get a job/live here) are a whole other story.
Actually, there should be some low selectivity schools that will admit transfer students down to 2.0 college GPA, if the required frosh/soph courses have been taken (e.g. non-impacted CSUs). However, matching up the already-taken courses at a school outside the US, where the curriculum may be significantly different, may be the main issue at such schools.
He wants to know if he CAN get in somewhere, putting aside money problem.
Sure, start with full pay in a Community College…
http://www.calstate.edu/sas/impactionsearch/ will show which CSU campuses are not impacted, and where his intended major is not impacted. A 2.0 GPA should be sufficient for admission, if the needed course work is completed. The needed course work, as described at https://secure.csumentor.edu/planning/transfer/upper_div.asp and http://www.assist.org , is the more likely problem. He may have to attend an open admission community college to complete such course work before applying to transfer.
For a non-California resident, a California community college will probably be around $26,000 per year, while a CSU will probably be around $35,000 per year, including living and other expenses as well as tuition and books.
Of course, getting the needed visas, particularly for working, is another problem.
Will it be hard to get in?
Actually, forgot that the nonresident GPA minimum is 2.4, not 2.0, for CSU. So going to CC and doing well enough there would be needed to get into a CSU.
hmmm…are CCs in California only available options for him?
I am sorry, I wish I could research on my own but I don’t know where to start. Should I just google: colleges that accept 2.0 GPA transfer?
Yes. There are a lot of non-selective colleges that will take him and his money. Which area does he want to go? That would narrow it down geographically…
For any state, you can look at the list of state universities. Take a look at the non-flagship ones to see which are the least selective, and see if they state that a 2.0 GPA will get a non-resident admitted. However, they likely have course requirements – someone who is already a junior should have already completed the prerequisites to declare a major immediately or after one semester. This may require attending a community college first to make up any missing prerequisites.
For example, here are some less selective state universities:
http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=14847
http://portal.utpa.edu/utpa_main/dsa_home/admissions_home/admissions_apply/apply_transfer
http://www.pvamu.edu/undergraduate-admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission/
http://www.admissions.msstate.edu/transfer/requirements.php
A lot of state colleges, particularly in the less popular parts of the country would consider him; here are just a few examples
University of Wyoming
Montana State University
Iowa State (requires 2.3 but maybe your friend could squeak by with a 2.2)
Idaho State (requires 2.25)
Then there are many privates that would be happy to take his money – University of Denver (a fairly respected private, actually) lists that only 2.0 is required of international transfers
Oh good, thank you.
I will update after seeing what s/he says
If he’s willing to start over for most of his classes (as architecture won’t transfer toward a business program except for electives) and has the money, yes, quite a few universities will take him.
Beside the universities above: Ball State, Penn State Erie, UWF, Bowling Green, Towson; MN private colleges have been aggresively recruiting transfers, even providing scholarships - for someone with a 2.2, there are quite a few good choices: Augsburg, Gustavus Adolphus, Hamline, and St Thomas.
He coud even try Cal State Monterey Bay or Appalachian State (App is a great school and their transfer average is much higher, but they may like your friend’s $$ and see that he’ll basically be a freshman, especially if he applies “undecided” and tries to apply for a business major once he’s completed calculus, micro and macro econ, statistics, intro to business, English, and other freshman requirements.)
Basically if he is full pay there are hundreds of school to choose from either 2 or 4 year schools all over the USA. It’s more difficult in Ca but it is doable. He just have to decide where he wants to live. That is more important. And by switching major, he basically has to start over from freshman as a transfer.