RETP Georgia Perimeter College last updated: Sept 2015

Transcription

1 FAQS FOR RETP 1. What is RETP? Regents Engineering Transfer Program It is a program established by the Georgia Board of Regents for Georgia Tech (and now by a few other engineering schools) primarily to enable students to major in engineering who could not secure admission in the regular process and for those students who could complete core math/science/humanities courses in junior and state colleges in Georgia and elsewhere. 2. What is the difference between TAG and RETP? TAG is a transfer guarantee for students interested in NON-ENGINEERING majors such as Physics, Math etc. at Georgia Tech and other participating colleges. TAG will no longer be available following the consolidation of Georgia State University with Georgia Perimeter College on January 12, RETP is a transfer program ONLY for those students who are interested in ENGINEERING majors at Georgia Tech (College of Engineering). Please note, this does NOT include Computer Science, Architecture, or other non-engineering majors. 3. When can I fill in the application for joining GPC RETP program? There is no deadline but we recommend you turn in the application after completing MATH1111 and exiting all Learning Support classes. You also need to setup an appointment with an engineering faculty advisor to get a plan of coursework when you turn in the application. 4. Who are engineering faculty advisors at GPC? Dr. Anant Honkan, Clarkston CH3271 [email protected] Dr. Lei Gu, Dunwoody NE 2512 [email protected] Mrs. Taylor Shapero, Clarkston CH3261 [email protected] 5. Where do I find the application to enroll in GPC-RETP program? It is linked from the RETP webpage of GPC. Go to GPC homepage and search for RETP or click on the link below: 6. Why is the list of courses Georgia Tech shows on their website for RETP students different from the one shown on GPC RETP webpage? The list shown on Georgia Tech s website ( is a minimum requirement as a transfer student. GPC requires additional coursework to be eligible for our RETP transfer recommendation. Thus, there are institutional (GPC) requirements and transfer institution (Georgia Tech) requirements for RETP. BOTH must be satisfied to be eligible for RETP transfer.

2 7. Can I apply as a regular transfer after I enrolled in GPC-RETP? Yes, you may apply to Tech as regular transfer student any time when you satisfy their qualifications. 8. If I do not get admission as a regular transfer student can I come back and continue RETP coursework and apply to Georgia Tech as an RETP student? YES. You are never penalized for re-applying to If anything, it shows how interested you are in being a student there. 9. Can I retake courses to improve my GPA? If you have a C in any course then repeating it and getting a new grade makes no difference to However if you have a D or F then you have to get a C or better. Your GPA must be 3.00 in Math/Science and 3.00 overall. ALL collegiate level courses are taken into account (repeated or not) to determine your GPA. 10. Is it possible the GPA requirement changes between when I start(ed) RETP at GPC and when I apply to Georgia Tech? This is possible since Georgia Tech reviews those criteria on a regular basis because of intense competition for admission in the School of Engineering. Aim for the highest you can get! 11. What are the advantages to beginning your engineering studies at GPC? Ability to transfer easily to Georgia Tech with a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher Fewer students in each class at GPC More personalized attention Courses taught by experienced professors Additional resources for under-represented groups Availability of an AS degree, not just in engineering, but in any of four other disciplines Additional advantages include the following: Tutoring and academic support in math through programs like Math, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Meeting Georgia Tech advisors in the engineering field of choice before transfer Early advisement at Georgia Tech before transfer 12. When do I apply to Georgia Tech for admission to engineering school? You need to apply one semester before you complete the coursework. The current deadlines are: September 15 for spring, January 15 for summer, and March 1 for fall term. Make sure you check the box stating you are applying through RETP in your transfer application.

3 13. After I apply, can I delay transferring to Georgia Tech? No. Georgia Tech states that: applications and offers of admission are specific to the term for which the application was submitted. To instead be considered for admission in a future term it will be necessary to submit a new application for that term. 14. Can I take GPC online courses to satisfy Georgia Tech RETP course requirements? We recommend you take all classes on campus, not online. There are several courses that you are not allowed to take online to qualify to transfer. Here is what a note on the transfer equivalency page of Georgia Tech says: Currently, on-line versions of all Lab Science courses, International Affairs, Psychology, Economics and courses equivalent to HIST 2111 and HIST 2112 are not eligible for transfer credit consideration. In most cases mathematics are not eligible for consideration unless sufficient documentation is provided to show the course exams are proctored. If you are interested in taking the on-line versions of mathematics courses that meet this requirement, or have questions regarding this policy, please contact the Registrar's Office for more information. Other questions on how classes are evaluated for transfer are answered on this site as well. 15. Can I change my major after I transfer? You need to be confident about your major before you get to You must stay in a specific major for at least 1 semester, before a request could be considered. Transfer to a different popular major such as ME or EE is not generally granted. 16. Do I need to have a second Chemistry course? CHEM 1212 and 1212L are optional for some majors at However, as part of RETP, we require you to complete both CHEM 1211 and 1212 with their lab components. Again, you must complete the RETP requirements at both GPC and Georgia Tech to transfer through RETP. 17. How many credits can I transfer to Georgia Tech? Is there a limit? All collegiate level courses stated in areas A through F are acceptable for transfer. The average number of transfer credits by GPC students to Georgia Tech is 85 credit hours as of Fall You have to complete all coursework required for graduation in a specific field of engineering at 18. Are there any restrictions on which classes I can take in my last semester at GPC? Often, yes! We re glad you asked. In the semester before you transfer for to Georgia Tech, you must have already successfully completed all or all but 1-2 of Georgia Tech s RETP requirements (that is, the requirements listed here:

4 For example, let s look at two possible schedules for a student planning to major in Electrical Engineering. If you are applying to start at Georgia Tech in Spring, and the Fall term is your last at GPC, you might sign up for the following courses: Option 1 (this is an acceptable schedule Fall schedule when applying for Spring) Differential Equations Electrical Circuits Linear Algebra Computing Fundamentals for Engineers Option 2 (this is NOT an acceptable Fall schedule when applying for Spring) Differential Equations Electrical Circuits Linear Algebra Physics II & L Only 1-2 of Georgia Tech s required RETP courses can be in progress in the semester before transfer. Please note: Option 2 is an acceptable Spring term schedule if you are applying for Fall term admissions, but not if you are applying for Summer term admissions. 19. Should I take Dynamics or Electrical Circuits? We recommend all students take Dynamics unless you intend to major in Electrical Engineering or Computer Engineering. Computer Engineering and Electrical Engineering students should take Electrical Circuits. 20. When do I need to decide on my major for Georgia Tech? It s a good idea to try to decide this early on in your studies at GPC. However, so long as you have completed all RETP requirements from both Georgia Tech and GPC, you can delay your final major selection until you submit your transfer application to Please note that Georgia Tech has divided the requirements by major. Check the major admission requirements to make sure you satisfy those requirements listed. 21. Is Precalculus or College Algebra counted in my math/science GPA for Georgia Tech? No. While you have to pass or be exempt from these classes, only collegiate level math courses (Calculus I and higher) count towards your math/science GPA. 22. Do all science classes count towards my math/science GPA? Only lab sciences count towards the math/science GPA. For example, you could take a biochemistry course, but because it does not have a lab component, it will not count towards your math/science grade. The lab sciences that do count include those that are transferrable to

5 23. What are my options if my GPA is just below the cutoff? Because of the competitiveness at Georgia Tech, exceptions to GPA requirements cannot be made. You may transfer to Georgia State University s main campus in downtown Atlanta and pursue a Bachelor s degree in science, computer science, math, or another field. If you would like to continue your studies in engineering, other University System of Georgia schools offering Bachelor s degrees in engineering include: Kennesaw State University (formerly Southern Polytechnic State University), University of Georgia, and Georgia Southern University. 24. Do AP classes count in my GPA calculations? If an eligible course is listed on your GPC transcript with a letter grade (A, B, C, D, or F) associated with it, it will count towards your GPA calculations for RETP. 25. My AP credits are listed with an S rather than a letter grade. Is that okay? Yes, because GPC has given you credit, Georgia Tech will honor that credit for an AP that you ve received at GPC. Because there is no A-F letter grade associated with it, the S will not be counted in your GPA calculations. 26. What classes count towards my cumulative GPA? All collegiate level courses with grades A-F or WF that are transferrable to Georgia Tech are counted in your cumulative GPA (excluding repeats of courses previous passed). 27. How many RETP courses must I take a GPC in order to be eligible to transfer to Georgia Tech through RETP from GPC? We require you spend at least 1 semester at GPC and take at least 15 RETP credits at GPC (9 of these credits must be in engineering, math and/or science RETP requirements). Other situations may be evaluated at the discretion of the department or dean. 28. I am a returning student with some credit that is over 10 years old. Can I still use that credit? Credit for course work completed 10 or more years ago may require a petition to the registrar to be considered. 29. I am a returning student and didn t do so well when I tried college for the first time and so I have a low GPA from that. Since returning to school, I ve done well, but my GPA is still low due to the past. Is RETP a possibility for me? This is judged on a case-by-case basis by If you prove to your GPC RETP advisers that you re a very strong student now, we will try to help you, but again, this decision is up to