If any of you would be kind enough to leave a response about my situation, I'd appreciate it.
Well, I am 19 years old and just started my second year at a community college.
My problem is that I decided to major in biology and become a doctor. So I went ahead and took a physics sequence that was intended for biology majors. Now, as I enter my second year, I've had a change of heart. I gained interest in mathematics and chemistry and want to become a chemical engineer. The thing is this major requires a physics sequence targeted towards engineers, meaning that I will have wasted two semesters worth of physical science classes and will have to go an extra year in spite of this.
My questions are... how bad is it going a 3rd year? Does it look terrible? Is it recommended that I pick a major that could meet the 2 year deadline?
Help me:(
2007-09-15 18:18:37 · 10 answers · asked by Axis Flip 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
There is no real "deadline." Sorry about confusion...
2007-09-15 18:29:14 · update #1
I am not sure about the deadline thing, that would vary among the institution. I am almost 2nd year graduate student and I know people who started with me in 2002 that are still working on their undergraduate degrees. I don't think the school complains that much if you are giving them money.
Some people just take their time... others are still finding themselves. You need to do what you gotta do and enjoy yourself. It is hard to get BS/BA in four years unless you are taking at least 5 classes a semester (15 credits).
I spent 4.5 years working on my B.S. in math and physics. I ended up hating it somewhat. Now I am a nuclear engineer now... it is not bad. A part of me wants to go into physics... the stuff I am learning isn't too abstract and stuff. Another part of me says to hell with it all I become an actuary since I know the math and want to make a lot of money.
However, I am just going to stick with this and see where it takes me. Sometimes, you have to take a risk.
FYI. The physics you took was algebra based... physics for engineers is calculus based. From tutoring both sequences I say calculus based is a little easier since you will be able to understand/derive the formulas. Things will make better sense.
2007-09-15 18:26:52 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would recommend that you call a few 4 year schools that would be on the upper end in selectiveness of the kind of places you might want to transfer to. Explain the situation. They might recommend that you could transfer in as a third year engineering student with the biology physics sequence. Often the differences will be small enough that they don't really matter, and as long as the biology sequence was calculus based and covered the same major topics, it is unlikely to be a problem. In any event, taking a third year for a reason like this should not cause serious problems you for when it comes time to transfer.
2007-09-15 19:52:27 · answer #2 · answered by Thomas M 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There is nothing wrong with being at a community college for three years. I was at one for 2 1/2 years. It is quite common. The great benefit of a community college is that it's cheap enough that you can change majors without going broke.
Don't think of the biology-based physics classes as a waste of time. The applications may come in very handy in engineering. Plus, you will find the physics concepts much easier in the calculus-based physics for engineering.
Good luck. And don't let anyone tell you it is wrong to change majors and stay an extra year. It will have no impact on your final degree nor your employability.
2007-09-15 19:40:21 · answer #3 · answered by JM 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all, your studies weren't wasted. You'll graduate with knowledge that others in your new program won't have. That's an advantage.
Second, the extra year isn't negative at all. Over half of college students either decide on or change their majors after they've already taken a full semester of classes. Your extra year is fairly common. Get good grades and work hard toward your new goals, and you'll be fine.
2007-09-15 18:31:56 · answer #4 · answered by Mike G 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could be in community for 5 years and it would make no difference. Just be sure the physics classes you're taking now towards being an engineer transfer to the school you are applying to afterwards. Being at a community college doesn't affect how schools look at your performance. That criteria is in your grades. So you switch majors in the middle of school? Why would a college look at your records and deem you taking extra classes in higher learning classes a negative aspect?
If it takes 4 years to acquire your associates in science, so be it. Good luck
2007-09-15 18:31:17 · answer #5 · answered by james24 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Do not stress over this too much. Having a 3rd year at community college before transferring to the university to finish out your bachelors degree is not considered a bad thing. Besides, most students who go straight to the university after high school to complete a bachelors degree now a day do end up taking a 5th year; that is the norm now! It doesn't matter so much how many semesters you take as it does what your grades are when you are finished.
2007-09-15 18:34:18 · answer #6 · answered by Dorothy K. 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It doesn't look bad at all. A huge number of students change majors, and that can easily have the kind of impact you describe. Furthermore, you have taken two very tough sequences of courses, so it isn't like you were lazy and took 3 years because you were just playing around. If I were an admissions officer at a 4-year school, I'd jump at getting someone like you as a transfer student!
2007-09-15 18:29:17 · answer #7 · answered by neniaf 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No problem at all. It's becoming increasingly common for students to spend three years at community college + 2-3 at university.
I knew a guy who spent several years at community college, then suddenly got accepted to major universities: UC Berkeley and others.
No problem!
2007-09-15 18:27:25 · answer #8 · answered by embroidery fan 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No, as long as you make good grades it doesn't matter how long it takes for you to complete the degree. Employers will see that you excelled in many classes and that's why it took you extra long to graduate.
2007-09-15 18:26:15 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
When you get into the working world, no one will ask you how long it took you to earn your degree.
Trust me.
2007-09-15 19:46:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋