College Entrance question

[SuperGroove]

Well...I finally made it into the school I've wanted to go. The University of Colorado in Boulder has accepted me, but not into the college I wanted to get into. The two majors I preferred, were Electrical Engineering and or Computer Science. I did get into College of Arts and Sciences though.

My question is, should I go to this college and major in something I'm not good at(English, Math) and attend because it is the better of the two schools, or should I enroll in a school that isn't as good, but a school that has accepted me in the college of my choice(Engineering and Applied Science)? I'm pretty upset right now and wished I could have done better the last semester of my junior year. With my parents bankruptcy and my brother's illness, it was a pretty bad year and my grades reflected it, bringing my GPA down to borderline level. My parents really want me to go to CU, and I do as well...but I think I'm pooch screwed if I major in something I know I'm not as competent in as say, Computers.

So...could I get ya'll's advice?

Beginning to get that wary feeling again,
Paul

 

[SmiZ]

I would say go to a school you got into that has your program available and then attempt to transfer into the school you really want to be at after you get your grades up.

 

[phatstyl]

yup listen 2 simiz, he knows what hes talkin bout

 

[warcleric]

As long as it isnt a mail order college, the college name will have very little to do with obtaining employment. I mean we arent talking about a choice between JoeBlow University and Harvard right? Sounds more like 2 universities nobody outside your local area knows anything about. Go to school for what you want to go to school for. The only way to be happy in life is to try to get a job doing what you love to do....money has very little to do with happiness, believe it or not.

 

[SuperGroove]

CU is one of the top ranked party schools in the nation. Their engineering department works in cooperation with Lockheed Martin. Their Medical School is ranked pretty decently, and I know Intel sends representatives to hand pick two students every year from computer related majors.

I'm just worried that I might not be able to hack it my freshman year and that I'll be stuck at CSU for the remaining years.

 

[loup garou]

Yep, Smiz is correct. Take all your basic engineering fundamental courses such as Calc, Chem, Physics, etc. Do well in them, then attempt to transfer after your first or second semester...if you don't do well enough in those classes to be accepted to transfer, I hate to say it, but maybe you should consider a different major. Things only get harder from then on in Engineering. Have fun at CU. Several of my friends go there, and they love it.

Good Luck!

 

[warcleric]

SuperGroove: hahahahahah I think every college I have ever heard anyone tlak about is referred to as "One of the top party schools in the nation". Also major corporations have recruiters go to nearly every decent college to recruit the top students. That is not much of a bonus. All I am trying to tell you is, if you want to be in engineering or CS, go for engineering or CS, dont settle for English just because you perceive the school to be a better one. An English degree wont get you hired as an engineer no matter where the degree is from.

 

[vi edit]

Supergroove, Please, please, please don't take this the wrong way, but you may want to look at something. You said in your first post that you weren't good in English and Math. Have you looked at a State School's engineering and CS programs? Most of them that I have looked at have at least 4 semesters of advanced math classes.

Engineering more or less requires math for you to do your job. Is it that you don't like math, or that it just doesn't "click" right with you?

Like I said, please don't take this the wrong way. I'm just trying to point something out.

 

[SuperGroove]

vi_edit,

Well I say I'm not good at math and english...but really English has always been my strongest subject. Math, I've always passed with a average grade(B+). My SAT scores showed that I was better at english as well. I scored 610 on the Verbal and 520 on the Math section. I was sick during the test...so maybe I could've done better, but hell..who cares now I guess. What's done is done. I know engineering requires more advanced math skills...but I know my way around computers and enjoy them thoroughly. I know I can get by in math.

I guess I could check out the other schools, such as CSU...but is there a way I could take English as my major the first year...and switch to the college of engineering and applied sciences maybe my second year and still graduate within 4 years? I don't want to be the guy who has stuck around for 7 years still undecided about his major.


and I don't take any offense at all...I really appreciate your advice though. I appreciate everyone's advice. So then...I'm still stuck as to what I'd major in...

 

[joburnet]

Don't try to transfer from another college, I had to do that and it set my graduation back a semester, real pain in the ass. Just go to the college you want to go to and major in General Studies. If you do well then there is no reason you won't be able to transfer into engineering.

 

[ajskydiver]

"My question is, should I go to this college and major in something I'm not good at(English, Math)"

Are you sure you want any Engineering major?
You're gonna need Math..and lots of it.

 

[Scrapster]

Don't transfer. Here's what you gotta do. You already got accepted to the university of colorado. STAY THERE. Take all the classes that are required to get into the CS or Engin. program. You probably applied through 'early entrance'. You don't need that. All you need to do during your first 2 years is take the pre-major requirements and do well in them. Apply to the department at the end of your sophomore year, and you will get in.

 

[SuperGroove]

I can hack math...just I'm not exceptional like everyone believes I should be(am I the only asian who isn't stellar at math and is actually pretty good at english?!). I'd be willing to go through 4 years of math so that I could be put in a position after college where I'd be better suited towards a decent job that I could possibly enjoy.

 

[loup garou]

I don't know if all these people who are saying "don't transfer!" are saying it because of my advice.

I'm saying, as Scrapster has, that you should take your core math and science courses necessary for a degree in EE or CS at CU's College of Arts and Sciences, then do an interdivisional transfer to the School of Engineering. An interdivisional transfer is no big deal, I've moved through three schools here at Tulane without anyone from a Dean to an advisor down to a secretary batting an eye. And my GPA is far from stellar.

 

[Azraele]

I would go with the school that had the programs you want in it. If you chose the other school and took courses in 1. things you're not good at and 2. hold no interest for you, you're just asking for trouble in the long run. Go with the school that has the most to offer you so that you can get a job doing what you like and excel in.

Aslo, do your homework. Research both schools thoroughly and make sure of courses etc.

Finally, sleep on it and go with your gut. Make sure you're comfortable with yout decision, and you'll be happier and better off in the long run.

 

[SuperGroove]

Alrighty then...I'm content Thanks for your support guys. I'm going to CU...taking all the classes required for CS...and I'll do the interdivisional transfer. But as azraele pointed out...I'm gonna go with my gut feeling...


it telsl me I need to go to the school surrounded by the best restaraunts

 

[gunf1ghter]

Congrats on getting in to CU... it's a great school, I spent my soph year there, and liked CO so much I have never left.

You can work your way up from the arts and sciences school into the school of engineering but you will have to pull a great GPA for at least 2-3 semesters and then must re-apply.

CU is a fun school, and you will probably greatly enjoy going to school there, just be warned that a party school can have a double edge.

 

[chess9]

Lead with your heart. Your head will follow IF your heart is strong.

 

[josphstalinator]

520 in the math section is pretty horrible

if you plan on attending CU and are aiming for a transfer you'll prolly need to at least get a 3.0 in your technical classes (calculus I-III, differential equations, physics)

did you take the ap calc test? maybe you didnt even take calc

one thing you should know is to succeed in college youll need to be very motivated. dont expect to d|ck around like you may have done in high school and still get B+'s

i didnt do jack shiz in high school and i got 740 math on the sat I, 710 math IIC satII, 750 chem satII, gpa was like 3.8 unweighted and i had basically all ap classes. and in college? ive been on academic probation twice and my gpa is 2.1 and i attribute it all to lazyness. i might have been able to bs my way into good grades in high school but in college, well if you dont go to class and dont bother to complete your hw, well your screwed. engineering is tough

if you wanna be an engineer i suggest you take it slow. take classes that you might be overqualified for just to maintain a high gpa. dont take calc if your not ready for it, cause a C or D will basically screw you if you try to transfer into engineering

 

[SuperGroove]

<< 520 in the math section is pretty horrible >>



Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm pretty sure you'll never become a motivational speaker. &quot;So...you got an F on the test, son? I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disown you&quot;



<< did you take the ap calc test? maybe you didnt even take calc >>



Well because of my pretty horrible math, and because of the horrible school that I transferred from before coming to my current school, I was not eligible to take calculus.




<< i didnt do jack shiz in high school and i got 740 math on the sat I, 710 math IIC satII, 750 chem satII, gpa was like 3.8 unweighted and i had basically all ap classes. and in college? ive been on academic probation twice and my gpa is 2.1 and i attribute it all to lazyness. i might have been able to bs my way into good grades in high school but in college, well if you dont go to class and dont bother to complete your hw, well your screwed. engineering is tough

if you wanna be an engineer i suggest you take it slow. take classes that you might be overqualified for just to maintain a high gpa. dont take calc if your not ready for it, cause a C or D will basically screw you if you try to transfer into engineering >>



You sound like one of those people who are extremely gifted, yet extremely spoiled. It almost sounds as if you don't want me to get into college, because it's too elite for my feeble mind. Then again...your whole post rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe your message has subliminal messages that I can't deciper. Thanks for the help anyways...all you're telling me to do is work hard and that I don't have a shot at engineering. My parents can do that for me.

 

[Mule]

<< Thanks for the vote of confidence. I'm pretty sure you'll never become a motivational speaker. &quot;So...you got an F on the test, son? I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to disown you&quot; >>


The point wasn't to put you down, but tell you as it is. You asked for advice and you recieved it. And I totally agree, a 520 for your math score is low if you're looking towards an engineering degree. You'll be taking LOTS of math in college in persuit of an engineering degree and it will be much harder then what you had in high school. Many people I know like working with computers and like engineering, but they had to switch majors because they couldn't handle the math and technical courses.

 

[Comp10]

Don't worry about your &quot;low&quot; math score if what your majoring in requires alot of math. When I was in high school I was extremely bad at math (never took the SAT, but lets just say I was lucky to pass my alegbra classes). However, once I got into college and realized that I was going to have to be good at math for my intended major, math suddenly became my best subject and I would ace almost every test. Never let people tell you that you arn't &quot;gifted&quot; with math ability, the key is you need to be motivated and put in the time to study and you will do fine in any math course.

 

[Duckers]

. Thanks for the help anyways...all you're telling me to do is work hard and that I don't have a shot at engineering

Lol, I could not stop laughing when I read what you said.

SuperGroove, In this life those who succeed are not the ones who got the highest SAT scores, but the ones who worked harder. Work hard and you will succeed. Keep in mind though, that if you want to be an engineer you better start improving your math skills.

That's like saying that you want to be a pilot but you are afraid to fly.

 

[SuperGroove]

<< if you wanna be an engineer i suggest you take it slow. take classes that you might be overqualified for just to maintain a high gpa. dont take calc if your not ready for it, cause a C or D will basically screw you if you try to transfer into engineering >>



This is the only advice he gave me...dunno if he was thinking about the long term(job). The rest of his post was to boost his high scores.

Duckers,

what was so funny about that? He's telling me to work hard...as if I've never learned the concept of working hard. Besides...he's not the only person telling me to work hard..meh...


bleh.

 

[Duckers]

Because that's a contradiction. If you work hard you can be good at anything.