Hello,
I have recently decided to go to college after highschool instead of joining the Army first. I am a junior in highschool with around a 2.0 gpa. My mindset on going into the Military after highschool has made my grades fall apart as all I cared about was graduating. However, now I want to go to college and Penn State main campus. My question is can I go to CC for my 2 years then transfer directly to Penn State Main Campus? My interests are a degree in International Politics so can I do my 2 years at Bucks Community College, then to Penn State University Park pursuing a degree in International Politics right away? Thanks.
That would be a good strategy of your heart is really set on going to PSU Main. Also work hard to bring up your grades in your senior year and then try for top grades at Bucks. I know some students who did this and did get into PSU Main. BCCC has a good track record there. But you should talk to your school guidance counselor about it, and attend the fall college fair at BCCC to get more info before you make up your mind.
Actually, your best bet would be to apply to one of the branch campuses. Your GPA is low but some branch campuses accept low GPAs - Greater Allegheny, Brandywine, Beaver…
Most of the transfers to University Park come from branch campuses, not community colleges. It doesn’t mean it can’t be done, just that it’s much harder.
If you make it into, say, Greater Allegheny or Brandywine, you’re automtically guaranteed a spot in University Park, provided you maintain your GPA. You don’t even need to apply or “transfer”. It’s automatic.
From a community college, you’ll need to apply, and you’ll be picked once the “2+2” students will have been accomodated.
What classes are you currently taking? Have you started working on your schedule for next year (your 12th grade results won’t count, but your course choice will).
Have you been studying for the SAT or the ACT? If not, start now. Register with Question of the Day (it’s free), use khan academy materials (also free) or number2 dot com for practice (also free).
Also, start working very hard to bring your grades up, since Penn State only consider grades 9th-11th - meaning it’s your last semester to make things right.
I’m actually taking 3 AP classes next year. AP American Lit, AP Psychology (if that counts), and AP American Government
Do your teachers think you can handle the 3 APs? In any case, that’s an ambitious choice and I command you for it!
Is there a way for you to get straight A’s this semester in whatever classes you’re taking?
Penn State weighs GPA more than SAT scores, but they do factor those scores in, essentially GPA X SAT score. So if you practice a lot and get a lot of practice tests done, you can hope to get a “GPA X SAT” score sufficient to get you into Greater Allegheny (they even have a dorm so, even if it wouldn’t be exactly like “the college experience”, it’d be different from community college near home) or another not-so-selective branch. However, keep BCCC on the table: an advantage is that they can’t turn you down, so you always have this option.
Actually, its not automatic that one can transfer from a Penn State regional campus, such as Greater Allegheny, to the University Park campus. Its all depends on the major - some have strict controls such as GPA overall and GPA in the major. However, its a great option because you can get your gen eds done in a way that might not work as smoothly with a CC.
@MomofM No, that’s not true. You can get to main campus after 2 years as long as you have maintained a 2.0 or higher in your first two years at a branch. The process is automatic in that you don’t have to apply to transition. You DO have to apply to your major and some majors have higher GPA requirements than others. So a 2.0 may not get you into the major you want - but you can transition to main campus in a different major. Some majors have higher entrance requirements, but if you don’t meet them, then you just need to change your major or take classes to bring your GPA up, perhaps moving into a 5 year graduation process rather than a 4. But anyone with a 2.0 or higher at a branch campus can transition to main campus.