Getting back into my original major

August 22, 2015 10:44 PM

I always wanted to be an engineer so I chose computer science because I was in love with it and wanted to know more about data structures; After being accepted into the programs at a school close to home I worked really hard but during my second semester I had a really bad family emergency that put a dent in my education and got me to perform really poorly and soon I was dismissed for 1 full semester upon returning I went to talk to the director of engineering since my advisor recommended I go see them but she wouldn't let me continue in engineering and told me I needed to find a major outside of engineering but I don't like other majors I like engineering upon hearing this it made me loose hope about education but I went to the dean she told me to complete my summer education and upon completing them and getting to the GPA required by the computer science department she's see the next step for. What should I do?

Should I switch schools or wait until my grades post and go see her and hope for the best.

posted by dolilmao to Education (6 answers total)

Follow the steps that she asked, then ask for re-entry into the engineering program. Then, ask for help to craft an eloquent, honest letter that details your extenuating circumstances and why you should re-enter the program. Engineering programs can be the most harsh when it comes to re-entry, so consider another field with similar technical rigor as a backup. It looks like the end of the world to you, but breathe - this is another day in the life of battling undergraduate education 2k15.

Source: writing way too many appeal letters for my own extenuating circumstances, I don't even flinch anymore
posted by yueliang at 10:52 PM on August 22, 2015 [7 favorites]

Also, you should look into your school's course drop policy. At my school, you could retroactively withdraw from a previous semester's courses if you had a provable reason that would significantly impact you, such as a diagnosis of depression or a close family member was in a mejor accident etc. It's worth looking into, since it would also negate the hit to your GPA in the long run.
posted by Qberting at 1:39 AM on August 23, 2015 [3 favorites]

If you are at a highly competitive (I.e. top 20 in U.S.) you should change schools. Some of those programs are not ideal for attaining an average job after graduating, but are great prep for graduate school. You could also consider community college for a bit to boost your gpa. Can you drop your failed semester retroactively? Can you retake those classes to boost your gpa?
posted by Kalmya at 2:23 AM on August 23, 2015 [1 favorite]

It is not that common for Computer Science to be within the Engineering school. Consider transferring to a school where it is part of the "School of Arts and Sciences" (for example), which tends to do less gatekeeping than Engineering schools do.

If your GPA is quite bad, so that transferring to another 4 year school is not an option, than as Kalmya suggests, attending community college to retake some courses and boost your GPA may be your best plan.
posted by hydropsyche at 3:56 AM on August 23, 2015 [2 favorites]

I went though a CS program that was housed with the math department. You could see if there is a similar program at a school in your area that you could transfer to if CS is your dream. Honestly unless you are dead set on a PhD track it probably doesn't matter all that much. I have friends who had a similar degree in the engineering school and years later we're doing the same job.
posted by deathpanels at 5:12 AM on August 23, 2015

Building on yueliang's response, I'd suggest asking for someone to help look over and edit any written communication you send to the head of the program or to the dean. The run-on style in this question (and your previous) suggests to the reader a sort of breathless panic (and overall carelessness) that isn't going to do you any favors in convincing the head of an engineering program that you're serious about your education.

Make sure you don't sound like you're prone to making excuses, lest you give the impression you'll be making more of them when you next stumble. Emphasize that the family circumstances were a once-in-a-lifetime sort of occurrence, and that your biggest mistake was to think you could continue to excel with your studies while dealing with the emergency. Don't use language that shifts the blame away from yourself ("family emergency that...got me to perform really poorly"). And make sure to point toward your successes from your first semester -- your mastery of the material -- not the mere fact that you "worked really hard."
posted by nobody at 6:33 AM on August 23, 2015 [16 favorites]