<p>I’m a “nontraditional” veteran transfer student at the age of 29. Acceptance letters are starting to come in and I was accepted into Michigan Tech’s ChemE program. Madison just sent their acceptance letter today but it’s as a “pre-department transfer student.” I suppose I should be excited about being considered but it’s not exactly where I want to be at my age and the credits I have. I’m curious to know where I fell short or if there wasn’t any room for an outsider like me.</p>
<p>Madison accepted 76 of my credits whereas Mich Tech took in a little over 80 (Calc I-III, Calc based physics I-II, Chem I-II, social science/humanities, etc.) My current GPA is a 4.0 and I do put ALOT of time in studying so I’d like to believe I’d do well no matter where I go. Tuition is a nonissue as being a veteran and residence of WI I will receive in-state tuition for both schools.</p>
<p>I also applied to U-Minnesota and U-Mich Ann Arbor but haven’t heard back yet. Minnesota needs my final transcript after this term so I’m sure I wont’ get a decision from them until June-ish (which I think is ridiculous). The PhD I spoke to at Ann Arbor said if I get it in, it wouldn’t be pre-department because “[they] don’t do that [there].”</p>
<p>The biggest factor in my mind, other than sequencing and time to graduate, is being <em>in</em> a program. I guess I’m looking for some advice at what others would do if they were in my shoes. Would you choose a sure thing? Or take a risk as pre-department and have to reapply with this many credits under your belt (keep in mind none of them are core ChemE so it will be a minimum of 3 years due to the sequence of classes).</p>
<p>What say you?</p>