The school I currently attend does not offer my major, psychology. I have other interests outside psychology, like music and performing arts and my school does offer these. But if I change majors I will loose my financial aid. So the only option I have is to finish my general education and transfer to a university. Most people can finish their GE in 2-3 years. But I have been in and out of school, and been to three different schools so I am defiantly way past that limit. I always look for an easy way out by working and internships etc.
After sitting down with a counselor and discussing my goals, we came up with a game plan that will get me through my GE and set me up to transfer to a university as a psychology major. It is not going to be an easy road, nor a short one. The good part is, I know what I have to do, and I know how to get there.
My dream university has been The University of California in San Diego. I decided that my senior year of high school. I spent a lot of time my senior year looking at websites about colleges and found UCSD to have what I am looking for in a school, programs that interest me, opportunities to take advantage of, and a location close to my desired working place.
Here is what my transferring to UCSD as a psychology major entitles:
English Communication
Engl 103 Advanced Composition & Critical Thinking
Mathematical Concepts
Math 121 Pre-Calculus 1
Math 122 Pre-Calculus 2
Math 171 Calculus: First Course
Math 172 Calculus: Second Course
Math 173 Calculus: Third Course
Social and Behavioral Sciences
I think I need one more course in this area, but I do not have anything listed right now =/
Physical and Biological Sciences
Chem 142 Pre-General Chemistry
Chem 101 General Chemistry 1
Bio 111 General Biology
Bio 101 General Biology
Anat 125 Human Anatomy
Micro 101 Microbiology
These classes UCSD requires for transfer:
Cmpsc 204 Introduction to Programming
Cmpsc 213 Programming with Visual Basic
In addition to these classes, I have taken
Obviously I take more than one class at a time, so in theory the quickest I can transfer is 5 semesters, because of the math classes. Math and I have an interesting history.
I did really well in math my whole life. My freshman year of high school, I was placed in Algebra 1 with a bunch of sophomores. I was doing fine in that class. In fact, I frequently finished my work early in class so I would read. My teacher once approached me and asked me why I wasn't doing my work. I told him I was finished, and had checked my work so I was going to read the rest of the class period. He told me "I don't want you doing any class work not relating to math. I don't care if you are claiming to count the pages. If you are through with your work, you keep rechecking it until the end of the class." I soon transferred out of his class, but I was not transferred to another Algebra class. I was transferred to Pre-Algebra. Even more, the teacher refused to transfer my old grade, so I basically started from scratch in the middle of the semester. I had a hard time explaining my consent "C-D" grade even though I was keeping up with the work.
My sophomore year I took Algebra I again.
My junior year I took Geometry.
My senior year I started off in Algebra 2. I had a very difficult teacher. When someone asked a question, she actually laughed and would say "You're kidding right?" (I am not making that up, my sister can confirm this). In October of that school year, I had a band trip to Reno that left on a Friday, a test day in her class. I let the teacher know ahead of time about this. She had me retake the test on the next Monday during class. I had a had time trying to pay attention to the lecture, taking notes and take a test. (I completed 3/10 problems). I dropped math that year, because I already had enough credits to graduate. The second semester I was told I needed one more semester of math to gather enough 'math credits' to graduate. The only class I could take was 'integrated math,' which was basically 6th grade math. I had the highest grade in the class with a 104%.
Because I did not complete Algebra 2 in high school, I needed to take it in college. Math 90 is not a transferable class. At this point, I moved to San Diego for the first time and Math 90 did not quite line up with the curriculum at San Diego Mesa College. So I took (and passed) their equivalent, College and Matrix Algebra.
All of this took place a long time ago. I learned everything leading up to Math 121 Pre-Calculus. But because it was so long ago, I have forgotten most of the information. I learned it, just a long time ago.
This summer, I have spent time every day studying and relearning math starting with Algebra 1. I want to get through this so badly, I'm working so hard to teach myself, and I really hope I can keep going when it gets harder. In addition to Algebra 1, I have workbooks for Algebra 2, and college algebra and calculus.
School starts up in a month or so here. I am signed up for Cmpsc 204 and Engl 103. I am having problems adding Math 121, so as soon as I can (hopefully Monday) I am going to see a counselor to see what I can do about that. I am just really excited to think I'll be done with my English requirements this year. A big step closer to UCSD.
I do not know what classes I need at UCSD for my degree in psychology, but I am not concerned with that at this time. Just need to focus on my job, and for the next month, studying, then school when it starts up.
I do have other plans this year but I will let on about them as they happen. I have this time in my life I can focus on me, what God wants me to do, school and my job, and for that I am truly thankful.
Until next time...
xxx
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