Advice: Trying to Earn Bachelors After Academic Disqualification.

[iahuerta]

Hey all,

Tons of great advice here on the site. So about 10 years ago, I unfortunately was academically disqualified after my first year at Cal State Fullerton. Recently I reached out to a counselor and she said that if I fixed 1 class and take gain some more credits then I’d be free to come back next fall.

My dilemma is that I don’t live near that school anymore (roughly 2 hours away).

In my area we have a UC extension, a CSU extension, and a Community College. All are within 5 mins from where I live.

My wife and I are interested in finishing our bachelors but we are trying to weigh the best way to go about this. We’ve been out of school for 10 years so trying to research some options and looking for advice.

- Option #1: commute to Fullerton then request a transfer back to my home town either to a local CSU or UC physical campus.

- Option #2: start up at my community college then transfer to either a CSU/UC campus.

- Option #3: gain credits online then transfer to either a CSU/UC.

- Option #4: go fully online to complete my bachelors.

For me, I want my bachelors to advance my career so I don’t care much about where I get mine, but my wife really wants to do a graduation ceremony.

Has anyone had any experience with earning credits online then transferring to a physical campus? Or would it just be better to get it all done online then focus later on a campus for a Masters?

Any information/advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks!

[MNomadic]

I think an important first question is what kind of degree are you going for? Do you care/need/want a specific major or are you just trying to "check the box" with something in general studies, liberal studies, business administration, etc?

[davewill]

If you don't mind taking a trip to Trenton, NJ, TESU has an in person graduation ceremony, so online doesn't mean no ceremony. However, without knowing want degrees you each want, it's hard to give much in the way of actual advice.

[dfrecore]

I'm not sure why you would want to return to your old school if it's not convenient. Academic disqualification just means you had bad grades (join the club). You can start taking courses virtually anywhere and won't have any problems, so it's not like you're tied to this school. I would move on.

Now, as to where to move on, that depends, as MNomadic and davewill said. We need more information to help you decide.

[jsd]

I essentially flunked out of my first semester at a community (two Fs, a D... and a B -- Hooray!... Then a whole semester of Ws after that). I eventually graduated with a 3.6x for both my AA and my first Bachelors. I could likely do some academic forgiveness at my CC to bump that up, but at this point there's no point. I was on academic probation years later when I decided to come back.

Once you get serious about going back, probation/disqualification means essentially nothing as long as you start doing the work.

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(i also almost went to CSU Fullerton for a Sociology Bachelors, then life got in the way)