GPA at 2.0 but need to transfer to hunter or city college?

Question

i've gone through some major academic and personal issues for which i've sought counseling services at my current 4 year public college. i've been prescribed medication for the depression i've been going through since earlier this year. i need to get out of the current school i'm at. can anyone tell me if a 2.0 and legitimate documentation for said difficulties will be enough to get in into transfer admissions even on probation? thanks

Answer 1

I think you will need to go back to your old school and retake some of the classes that brought your GPA down. Colleges are very competitive these days so I don't think that excuses will work, whether they are legitimate or not. I would recommend making an appointment with a academic adviser and bringing copies of your transcripts and flat out ask them if you have a chance of getting in. Sometimes you can also apply to school as a non degree seeking student and if you get good grades they will accept you as a full student. Talk to someone at Hunter before you apply, and see what your options are. Hunter may only be a CUNY but it is a competive CUNY.

Answer 2

You have two issues to deal with:

- The first is the 2.0 GPA. Hunter, as one example, requires transfer students to have at least a 2.3 GPA when they apply. But for City College? In most circumstances, you only need a 2.0 (we're talking liberal arts, right? Because their requirements for other programs are higher.) So you do qualify to apply to City, which is great news. But...

- The second issue - I think you're saying you're on academic probation. Whether or not a college will accept a student who is on probation from another school, that varies by the school. You'll have to ask Hunter and City. If they won't accept you right now, they'd usually want you to do at least one semester, at a college, and show a marked improvement in your grades before they'd admit you. But again, call Hunter and City, and speak to a transfer admissions counsellor. They can advise you on what you need to do to prepare yourself to transfer.

If you can't stand staying at your current school - and that's a reasonable choice, from what I can tell from what you wrote - and Hunter or City won't allow you to enroll while on academic probation, then you have these options:
- Enroll in courses at Hunter or City (the one you prefer) via continuing education. Do well in those courses, and then apply for admission.
- Enroll in courses at a community college or some other university, do well in them, and then apply to Hunter and City for admission.

So speak to Hunter and City - especially to City, where your GPA does allow you to transfer in - about whether or not you can transfer while on academic probation from your current institution. If not, take one of the options, above, for a semester, and then apply.

When you do apply, use the essays to explain the reasons why you got poor grades, and what has changed. In other words, what's changed that means you aren't the same student now as you were then. Also tell them why their university is a good fit for you - again reinforcing the fact that you will do better there than you did at your current university.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Your situation is somewhat unique. When transferring you may have to meet the freshman entrance standards. Not all of your classes will transfer so you may have to repeat some courses. Contact the admissions office of the city college for details. You may want to consider taking some time off to resolve the personal issues you are dealing with before going back. Best wishes and may God bless you in your endeavors.