Can I "start over" as a Freshman in college, w/o claiming previous college credit hours??

I'm currently a Sophomore in college, with a not-so-pretty transcript. I finally grew up, decided what I want to do with my life, and am now serious about school again. I want to apply to a State University (20k students) as a new freshman, saying I never attended college before. This is so I can actually be accepted, since my high school transcript is FABULOUS and my college transcript is HORRID. The reason is because I plan to attend graduate school, which cannot happen with my current college transcript. I'm wondering if someone (Admissions or Financial Aid Office) would research and/or find out about my previous college career. I don't want to start over at a tiny community college because I'm going on 23 years old, and also hope to be accepted into a Sorority, something which also cannot happen with my current transcript, or being that much older than others recruiting. If anyone has ANY knowledge on any of the above, I would be very grateful, Thanks!!

You need to list your college, even if your grades were not stellar. Your GPA will start again at the college you transfer to. I suggest you provide an explanation as to why your grades suffered, and that you have corrected problems you had in the past. If you do not get accepted at the state universities, improving your grades at community college is a good way to show that you are capable of doing better.

Best wishes.

your age puts you more into the category of late bloomer and non-traditional...meet with a college admissions officer and get their advice on applying...the proof is in the pudding...if you can get admitted and can do very well than your previous record 'won't count ' as severely as you think. lies can catch up with you and then what do you do..all can be wasted.

As someone who grew up after doing the same thing, I'm pretty sure the answer is no.

What is your status at your current college? Are you on academic probation? Maybe the best thing would be to take over all or most of the classes you failed. Some universities will ignore the low grade, counting the new grade as your grade. It also replaces the failed grade in your GPA.

You can't undo the past, but you can move on and fix your mistakes. And remember, you're going to get older no matter what you do with your time.

I dont see why not. I dont know the legal aspects of it, or any of the rules, but as long as you dont send your old transcripts to the new college, you should be fine. I would really recommend takine enough credits at community college and transfer in for a few reasons. Its easier to transfer into schools, and your Highschool transcript represents what you did almost 6 years ago. Colleges are more apt to take a student with straight a's out of highschool and one with straight a's 6 years out of highschool, you know what I mean?

One semester in CC wont kill you.

It's great you've come to terms with your previous academic difficulties and are ready to move forward. I understand the impulse not to declare your present academic record. However, the big risk is this: Universities can reverse your admission and remove any credit you have achieved if you've misrepresented anything on your application. If they have reason to think you might have gone elsewhere, they can always ask that institution and will probably find out.

While I don't think there is a nationwide database of students through which the new school could find out that you had in fact been a student before, the most likely way they would find out is via financial aid. Usually one is allocated a specific number of quarters of aid, and there will be a database that indicates you've already used up a year and a half (or whatever it is now).

I would not be so sure that you won't get into graduate school with your early flawed record. If it were medical school, that might be an issue. But graduate schools in other areas understand that people change, that they gain intellectual strength and focus. What will really matter is what you do in your major; you can explain the rest.

P.S. 23 is really not very old in the scheme of things.

I'm pretty sure you have to include your previous college when you apply somewhere.

However, you should check with your university about grade or term forgiveness. Many schools will let you erase a class or even an entire semester from your record once if you plead your case and fill out lots of paperwork. It's not erased from your transcript, but it's not factored into your GPA.

Graduate schools usually allow you to include three GPA: your cumulative GPA, your upper-level GPA (only your last 60 hours), and your major GPA (only classes for your major) and take all three into consideration. SO many people get into college and just want to party their first year. Grad schools understand this.

Panhellenic sororities usually have a cut-off GPA of 2.0, meaning you can't rush without a 2.0 GPA; however, many sororities have their own GPA requirements. My sorority won't take anyone with less than a 3.0 high school GPA or a 2.5 college GPA. Also, you don't HAVE to mention your age during recruitment. If you look young, they don't have to know how old you are until you've pledged. Local sororities, if your campus has any, may be more willing to ignore a less-than-stellar GPA.

Hope that helps!