Should I retake my first semester of college?

[gamepad]

My first semester was a 2.2, second semester was a 4.0. I'm working full time right now, but I will go back to community college in 2008.

I want to transfer to UT, but that 2.2 might hold me back. Do you guys think it's worth it to undo that 2.2, or should I just press on?

 

[Juno]

talk to your counselor.

 

[ed21x]

press on. most colleges take an upward trend in the GPA as a good sign, and UT shouldn't be too hard to get into if you have over a 3.0 overall.

 

[gamepad]

Originally posted by: ed21x
press on. most colleges take an upward trend in the GPA as a good sign, and UT shouldn't be too hard to get into if you have over a 3.0 overall.

From what I hear, it's pretty hard to get into even with a 4.0.

 

[DigitalWanksta]

Shoot for the moon and land in the stars

 

[erub]

Originally posted by: gamepad
My first semester was a 2.2, second semester was a 4.0. I'm working full time right now, but I will go back to community college in 2008.

I want to transfer to UT, but that 2.2 might hold me back. Do you guys think it's worth it to undo that 2.2, or should I just press on?

How do you know that retaking the classes will replace the GPA, or at least the way that UT will view them? Or are they just reaveraged? I never retook anything so I don't know. BTW, UT is very hard to get in to as a transfer, you definitely need 3.5+, especially coming from a community college.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: ed21x
press on. most colleges take an upward trend in the GPA as a good sign, and UT shouldn't be too hard to get into if you have over a 3.0 overall.

Dead wrong.

 

[dsity]

it is easier to get into UT from a Community College than transfering from another university. Or straight from high school (if not in the top 10%).

 

[dsity]

Priority consideration
The University gives junior-level community college students first priority over other transfer applicants, including those from four-year institutions

 

[Brutus04]

Press on! Keep the 4.0 momentum going, sounds like you are getting serious....

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: gamepad

Originally posted by: ed21x
press on. most colleges take an upward trend in the GPA as a good sign, and UT shouldn't be too hard to get into if you have over a 3.0 overall.

From what I hear, it's pretty hard to get into even with a 4.0.

we're talking about a 4.0 scale, right? Because how can you get any better?

 

[gamepad]

Assuming I want to begin my junior year at UT, the highest GPA I can accumulate with a 2.2 is ~3.5. I will talk to a counselor eventually, but right now it seems like I have to retake that horrid semester.

 

[Eeezee]

Check with a counselor first to make sure taking the courses would do anything.

At my university they averaged the two grades if you retook a course. If you retook the semester with that system, your GPA for that semester would go from a 2.2 to around a 3.0. If you just completed another 4.0 semester I think you'd see better results.

We also had 3 "grade replacement opportunities" that you could use at anytime throughout your degree that would completely replace the grade of a course. I never used them, but I could see the uses.

 

[txrandom]

Considering about 70% of people gaining admission to tu are automatically accepted due to the top 10% rule. You are going to have a hard time getting in with any GPA.

 

[Wreckem]

It doesnt matter if you retake the courses, the University of Texas calculates GPA based on ALL coursework taken. They do not calculate courses as grade replacements.

And whoever said a 3.0 would get you in is dead wrong. You need over a 3.5 to have a semi decent shot.

I was transfering out of Blinn College(best Juco in the state of texas), with a 3.45 and got denied for Political Science.

75% of the students Texas admits each year are top 10% high school students. Leaving little room for transfers. Transfering to Texas IS EXTREMELY competitive. Also, UTSA students have a higher priority than juco students.


Hell unless you're going into Ag or Ed you need a 3.25 to have a decent shot at A&M. 3.5+ for Engeering, and A&M doesn't admit transfers into its biz school.

 

[magomago]

I dunno I know in Cali if you are in a CC and got a decent GPA you can get in most anywhere. People actually choose CC based on "Admission agreements" with a university. A 3.5 should easily land you in UCLA if you attend a CC that has a special "deal" with UCLA, etc.

 

[gamepad]

Originally posted by: Wreckem
It doesnt matter if you retake the courses, the University of Texas calculates GPA based on ALL coursework taken. They do not calculate courses as grade replacements.

And whoever said a 3.0 would get you in is dead wrong. You need over a 3.5 to have a semi decent shot.

I was transfering out of Blinn College(best Juco in the state of texas), with a 3.45 and got denied for Political Science.

75% of the students Texas admits each year are top 10% high school students. Leaving little room for transfers. Transfering to Texas IS EXTREMELY competitive. Also, UTSA students have a higher priority than juco students.


Hell unless you're going into Ag or Ed you need a 3.25 to have a decent shot at A&M. 3.5+ for Engeering, and A&M doesn't admit transfers into its biz school.

Rats, this does not sound good at all.

 

[beer]

>> Priority consideration
The University gives junior-level community college students first priority over other transfer applicants, including those from four-year institutions <<

>> it is easier to get into UT from a Community College than transfering from another university. Or straight from high school (if not in the top 10%). <<

Sorry, I post maybe once a week now, but this information is dead wrong. I am an 06 alum; I got in at 2002 and have seen dozens of my friends take the path you are trying to take. I don't feel the need to comment on your odds of making it in with a 3.0/3.5 because others have already done that and they are correct that it is extremely tough.

The information above omits the tiny detail that certain UT system schools have 'feeder' preference such as UT San Antonio or Arlington. This only applies to some schools - for example, UT Dallas doesn't qualify as a feeder. When it was 2004 and tons of people I knew from high school tried to get in for their junior year, these feeder schools took most of the slots and people with 3.5s from elsewhere didn't get in.

Without coming off as an asshole, I would consider trying to get into a decent 4 year school like UT Dallas - that will get you a good job - rather than putting all the eggs in the basket of hoping to get into UT. As far as career opportunities go there's a lot in Dallas. The major difference is companies aren't likely to pick you up from UTD and move you elsewhere in the country/world because it isn't a tier 1 school. But getting admitted to a tier 2 school is better than shooting for a tier 1 and missing and being left with an associates' degree when this world really now requires a bachelors' or higher.

The main thing that you lose by going to UT* instead of UT Austin is grad school preference. None of the other UT schools are world-class and that does hurt your chance for getting into a tier 1 masters' program...

PM me if you want more of my opinions, this post is long as it is.

 

[FoBoT]

there are no do overs in college

 

[MovingTarget]

Some colleges have a forgiveness policy where you can have a class "forgiven" after you retake it. It wouldn't show up in your gpa calculation, but you can only do this a certain number of times. Check your school's policies.

 

[gamepad]

I just asked this question to my community college via email:

> I scored a 2.2 GPA in my first semester, and it's hurting my transfer
> options.
>
> If I retake that semester and score a 4.0, will the 2.2 disappear from
> my record?

The response:

Robert,
While it will not disappear from your record, the new grades will replace
the older grades in determining your Grade Point Average, which is what
admissions offices look at in determining transfer acceptance.
Good luck,
Patrick Collins, College Associate

I think I might be able to salvage my GPA after all. I'll make sure to talk to a counselor in person later.

This is good news because I'm dead set on going to UT; it's one of the best schools for MIS majors.

 

[piasabird]

At most colleges if you retake a course if you get an A when you had a D they replace the it with the A and that is counted as one class. GPA Calculations are very complicated. Might want to ask someone in enrollment that actually knows what they are talking about. Sometimes counselors are little more than college students and do not know everything they are suppose to know. The college catalog should explain the calculations for Credit.