Guidance for a continuing student

[cookderosa]

Until recently I was a full time student at UC Davis here in California. I transferred in with a very respectable (3.7) GPA and commenced destroying my previous good work (it turns out I absolutely hate materials science). I have since left the school as a senior but with a significantly lowered GPA. My question is this: would testing through whatever classes are needed to finish my bachelors in engineering be a wise way to go and, if so, how do I begin that journey?

Thank you in advance.

in your case, probably not. Here's the skinny- credit by exam is pass/fail, so it won't help your GPA. Now, it also wouldn't hurt it, but since you mentioned it, I thought I'd let you know how testing and GPA work. (Edit to add that you probably can't test out of anything as a replacement, that's typically not allowed. In addition, the more credits you have, the harder it is to move the GPA needle)
Second, if you're 3/4 done, there may not be exam options even available to you. Typically, exam options are at the 100/200 levels- and the big player- CLEP - is targeted at general education classes (but if you're deficient in any of those, I'm sure an exam can be found to help you out there).
Finally, it's up to the program you intend to graduate from as to whether or not you even have the option. For instance, assuming exams exist in the areas you need, you'd have to check with your college to see if they'll allow it. Since we're talking about a STEM field, it's almost always a no....

I'm sorry, I don't think there is a lot we can offer you in this case regarding testing.

Now- you still might have some options, but these are less in my wheelhouse. Perhaps you could transfer again, which would erase your GPA, and start where you left off. Perhaps there is an adjunct field that is better suited toward your talents, maybe even a different format- like distance learning? I wish you the best, but mostly I'll encourage you to finish. One thing I can say, is that if you wait- it's hard to go back, and in a STEM field, credit has an expiration date- degrees are forever!

[Eplov]

As far as returning to UCD, I am locked into the same major (Materials Science) if I return and if I take only two classes a quarter it'll take me another two years to graduate with a degree I don't want to use. I will open up a dialogue with them and see if there are any other options, but that is the answer I got last Spring. STEM courses having a deadline is a good reminder, thank you. I know I have a relatively short amount of time to get this sorted out and I'm hoping I haven't waited too long. As far as general ed I already finished everything I could at the community college level and got my associates in engineering (that's where the 3.7 came from). Given what you've all said I think testing is sadly not an option that will get me where I want to go. I also intend to open a dialogue with Sacramento State, as they have an Elecrical and Electronic Engineering program that sounds very interesting.

Thanks again for all of your valuable input.

[clep3705]

If you had a 1.7 at UCD and a 3.7 at a community college, then your overall GPA is 3.03, assuming 60 hours at the community college and 30 hours at UCD.

Usually a master's in XYZ engineering requires a bachelor's in XYZ engineering. However, there are a limited number of engineering master's degrees that are sort of entry level and not requiring a bachelor's in the same field of engineering. Such programs do require a lot of STEM prerequisites. If you could find a suitable master's program with flexible entry requirements, maybe you would be better off getting a bachelor's degree in whatever you can get the fastest and cheapest. Perhaps a liberal arts type of degree from Excelsior, Charter Oak, or Thomas Edison. Kind of a long shot, but you're in a bit of a pickle so I'm trying to give you options you may not have been aware of.

The advice to submit transcripts to other schools for evaluation is good advice and would also apply to the three schools mentioned in the previous paragraph if you decide to get an expedient generic bachelor's degree.

[sanantone]

I think you need to define "destroyed" and "hate." As Sanantone said, you can't really test out of engineering classes. The first question I have is whether you hate the subject so much that it no longer makes sense to get an engineering degree. If that's the case then you explore what kind of degree would make sense for you. There are degrees that can be tested out of, but engineering isn't one of them.

If the answer is that you do want to finish your engineering degree, then I'm curious how you're going to do better in your courses going forward. Testing and online classes take someone who can self-study very effectively. Can you do that with the classes you have left?

I suggest laying your cards on the table. What kind of engineering were you studying? What majors would work for you going forward? How many units do you have and what kind of GPA? And mostly, what would keep you from finishing at Davis? It's a great school and an excellent choice for most kinds of engineering.

You must have meant CLEP3705.

[clep3705]

I was waiting for that post.

[cookderosa]

As far as returning to UCD, I am locked into the same major (Materials Science) if I return and if I take only two classes a quarter it'll take me another two years to graduate with a degree I don't want to use. I will open up a dialogue with them and see if there are any other options, but that is the answer I got last Spring. STEM courses having a deadline is a good reminder, thank you. I know I have a relatively short amount of time to get this sorted out and I'm hoping I haven't waited too long. As far as general ed I already finished everything I could at the community college level and got my associates in engineering (that's where the 3.7 came from). Given what you've all said I think testing is sadly not an option that will get me where I want to go. I also intend to open a dialogue with Sacramento State, as they have an Elecrical and Electronic Engineering program that sounds very interesting.

Thanks again for all of your valuable input.

I had another few ideas- a little far fetched, but it's all hands on deck. I'm sorry you're in such a tight spot.

What if you started a masters now and completed the 2 classes/quarter alongside of grad work? You know, there are a handful of schools that will let you begin before your undergrad is conferred and the master's could be in a field you're more drawn to- making the chore of finishing up materials science more bearable? It's better than just waiting 2 more years, at least you could get traction.

Option 2, start a second bachelor's. Now, if you looked through the archives, I'm a huge bigmouth about never getting a second BS, however, in your case it makes sense. For example- you could do an entire business degree (or whatever) at TESU right now- while you're still in school at UCD. Testing would be self paced, so you could adjust accordingly.

Now, just as another example, Harvard Extension allows you to start a master's before your undergrad-and it's open enrollment. You need to have your BS before locking into a degree, but you can do that anytime. Let's say you finished your business degree (tested out) before your materials degree, then you could simply enroll in the grad program - even if you were finishing up the original BS.

Don't you have an Extension out there in one of the Universities? I thought there was a big one, anyway, I can't imagine 2 years plowing through a degree you don't even really want. I think there are paths- just keep working this, a solution will be revealed. IMO never never never move back your goal post, only make choices that bring it closer!

Edit to add: I'm 99% sure that if I were in your shoes I'd finish the materials science degree. I'd add to it (second BA/BS), but I wouldn't trade it for a general BS/liberal studies. We're talking about an exceptionally elite major being dumbed down into nothing- think long and hard before taking it off the table.

[cookderosa]

Dept of Labor's OOH "similar occupations" list for materials science: Materials Engineers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

(this copy/paste is kinda strange- but you can visit the link)



OCCUPATION JOB DUTIES ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION Help 2014 MEDIAN PAY Help
Aerospace engineers
Aerospace Engineers
Aerospace engineers design primarily aircraft, spacecraft, satellites, and missiles. In addition, they test prototypes to make sure that they function according to design.

Bachelor's degree $105,380
Architectural and engineering managers
Architectural and Engineering Managers
Architectural and engineering managers plan, direct, and coordinate activities in architectural and engineering companies.

Bachelor's degree $130,620
Biomedical engineers
Biomedical Engineers
Biomedical engineers combine engineering principles with medical and biological sciences to design and create equipment, devices, computer systems, and software used in healthcare.

Bachelor's degree $86,950
Chemical engineers
Chemical Engineers
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale manufacturing, plan and test production methods and byproducts treatment, and direct facility operations.

Bachelor's degree $96,940
Chemists and materials scientists
Chemists and Materials Scientists
Chemists and materials scientists study substances at the atomic and molecular levels and the ways in which the substances interact with one another. They use their knowledge to develop new and improved products and to test the quality of manufactured goods.

Bachelor's degree $74,720
Electrical and electronics engineers
Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Electrical engineers design, develop, test, and supervise the manufacturing of electrical equipment, such as electric motors, radar and navigation systems, communications systems, and power generation equipment. Electronics engineers design and develop electronic equipment, such as broadcast and communications systems—from portable music players to global positioning systems (GPSs).

Bachelor's degree $93,260
Mechanical engineers
Mechanical Engineers
Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers design, develop, build, and test mechanical and thermal sensors and devices, including tools, engines, and machines.

Bachelor's degree $83,060
Physicists and astronomers
Physicists and Astronomers
Physicists and astronomers study the ways in which various forms of matter and energy interact. Theoretical physicists and astronomers may study the nature of time or the origin of the universe. Some physicists design and perform experiments with sophisticated equipment such as particle accelerators, electron microscopes, and lasers.

Doctoral or professional degree $109,290
Sales engineers
Sales Engineers
Sales engineers sell complex scientific and technological products or services to businesses. They must have extensive knowledge of the products’ parts and functions and must understand the scientific processes that make these products work.

Bachelor's degree $96,340


A liberal arts degree can't do that.

[davewill]

You must have meant CLEP3705.

I must have. :confused:

[TrailRunr]

Most California public 4-year universities do not allow second bachelor's due to overenrollment and budget pressures. If another BA or higher is conferred, there is no way to complete a BA at UC Davis unless extraordinary circumstances occur.

[cookderosa]

Most California public 4-year universities do not allow second bachelor's due to overenrollment and budget pressures. If another BA or higher is conferred, there is no way to complete a BA at UC Davis unless extraordinary circumstances occur.

a link would be helpful - without one, well..... it's just.... not.

Specifically, does HIS university disallow a second bachelor's degree? If so, let's pull in the proof and then we'll go from there. I can work with proof- I don't have time this morning to look this up myself.