Community CollegeComputer Science
Self-attested. The author confirmed their identity to us. The content itself is unchecked.Starting conditions
- Institution
- Large State School
- Major
- Computer Science
- GPA band
- 2.5-2.9
- Graduated
- 2019–2021
- Location
- Austin, United States
- Working through school
Limited exposure to the destination field at the start.
The sequence7 steps
- Coursework11 mo
Completed the transfer-track math and CS sequence
Community college
Completed the transfer-track math and CS sequence. This took 11 months and was harder than expected.
Evidence for this step - Job1 yr 9 mo
Worked part time to cover tuition
Start this earlier than feels necessary.
- Project7 mo
Built and shipped a portfolio project
Built and shipped a portfolio project. This took 7 months and was slower than expected.
- Networking1 yr
Met with the transfer advisor every term
Met with the transfer advisor every term. This took 12 months and was slower than expected.
Evidence for this step - Application6 mo
Transfer application cycle
- Setback2 moPivotal
Waitlisted at first-choice school
Waitlisted at first-choice school. This took 2 months and was slower than expected.
Obstacle
The plan stalled here, and it was not obvious it would recover.
How it was resolved
Asked the people who rejected me what the specific disqualifier was, then fixed exactly that instead of everything at once.
Start this earlier than feels necessary.
- Transfer2 mo
Enrolled as a junior transfer
Enrolled as a junior transfer. This took 2 months and was slower than expected.
Start this earlier than feels necessary.
Outcome
Transferred to a top-25 CS program
Reflection
Would repeat
- Starting the outreach earlier than felt comfortable.
Would skip
- The first application cycle, which I entered underprepared.
Biggest obstacle
Underestimating how long the prerequisite work would take alongside everything else.
What was luck
- One person answered a cold email who did not have to.
Estimated cost: Roughly $9,000 across the whole transition.