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Sat 20 Mar, 2004 03:34 pm
I graduated from high school May 30th, 2000. My first year out of grade school I attended the Ohio State University and royally screwed up. I never intended to be a Buckeye, but at my Father's request (more like his ultimatum) I succumbed and registered. A fellow Buckeye, going through the same motions as I, decided that he would drop-out and transfer to another University. Lo and behold, his GPA (like mine) did not meet the minimum requirements (2.00). I too had sucky scores with a GPA to low to transfer ANYWHERE (let alone mention in this forum, YIKES)! Since I was faced with the same dilemma, I asked his advice. He then told me not to report OSU, attend a Community College, and then transfer those credits to whatever school my little heart desired. He said that it wasn't necessary since those credits were not transferable anyways. So I did it! Now, I have recently relocated and attend a Community College. This is my last semester; I will be receiving an Associates of Arts in Liberal Arts this coming May. Now, more than ever, I want to go to school. I want that Bachelors and Juris Doctor of Law, but I still have yet to report OSU to the new schools I have applied to. I have been admitted to three so far, but there is one school that is giving me the blues.
This is where it gets deep:
I asked an advisor of one of the Universities I previously applied to if it was it absolutely necessary for ALL schools to be reported and she replied, "Absolutely!" Even if those credits won't transfer?? "Yes ma'am." So what happens if I miss just one school? "You will be dismissed from the University upon the discovery that you failed to list all your credits, transferable or otherwise." But, what if I just CANNOT report this school . . . Miss, I may NEVER be able to go to this university because I simply cannot bring that GPA up. "I'm sorry, but that's our policy. And yes, you just may not be eligible to attend our University." NOT EVEN with the 3.85 I have here at Community College. "Not even . . ." I left her with a resounding DAMMMMNNNNN, sulking slowly back to my car.
Questions:
1. WHAT DO I DO?!?
2. Should I leave OSU off the list anyways, unbeknownest to her and the rest of the staff (BTW she doesn't know my name)?
3. What are my chances of getting away with this?
4. Is this policy the same with every school? If so, I haven't seen to much information addressing this particular scenario (in catalogs nor online).
5. Should I give up, and look forward to working mediocre jobs to make ends meet because my college career has been compromised?
6. Is there a way out of this hell????????
7. Is there anyone, ANYONE, out there who has done the same stupid thing I did? How did you deal with it? Did you keep that nasty little GPA a secret? If so, did you get away with it?
8. Help me!!!!!
When answering either of these questions, please put the number you are answering next to your response. Thanks to all those that reply. Your help is greatly appreciated!
Don't leave OSU off your list. After all, if you are caught, it's a lie of omission. Want to be kicked out of your dream school for violating their ethical code? This will also, very likely, prevent you from being admitted as an attorney, even if you have otherwise perfect grades and pass the Bar. There is an ethics portion of being a lawyer and I am not just talking about the ethics exam.
So, what to do?
Own up to it. 'Fess up! And tell them how you were young, you were immature, you did not take school seriously and you didn't buckle down. But also tell them about how the bad grades were a wake-up call, and how you realized you had to work hard, and you did. See, here, good grade, good grade, and here's another good grade, because I knew I couldn't just coast.
Personal tale: I had a lousy first year of college and failed Chemistry. It didn't matter when I told this to Law Schools - they were a lot more interested in what I had done after my first year. When they saw I really did get serious (Dean's List, that kind of thing), the Chem. grade was nowhere near as important as I'd been worrying. Yes, I got into Law School. Yes, I got through Law School. Yes, I passed the Bar. Yes, I practiced as a lawyer (I'm currently retired from practice and do other things).
By keeping in OSU, it's also possible you won't get into a so-called "better" Law School, and may have to settle for a safer school. Don't worry if this happens - just study your tail off and if your first year grades are good, you should be able to transfer. This is what happened to a friend from Law School. We were at Widener and he wanted to go to, I think it was Univ. of Illinois (I'm not sure; this was 20 years ago). So, he studied like a nut and got the best Property grade in the class. Sure enough, he got his wish and was able to transfer.
Best of luck to you.
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