Desperate or Motivated?

[lesset01]

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Hello all!

I am from Olathe, Kansas (a suburb south of the Kansas City area) and ICO is going to be hosting a Graduate schools fair booth at Kansas State University two weeks from now in Manhattan, Kansas which is just over 100 miles away. I emailed ICO to ask who was going to be there, and one of their admissions people is going to be running the booth. My question is, would I look desperate or motivated to drive more than 100 miles to a grad school fair to see ICO when I don't even go to K-State? (I go to The University of Kansas) I know I will probably only get to talk to the admissions person for a little while, but the hour and half drive each way is worth it to me. I would give my left leg and first three children to go to ICO.

My other question is: how would it look on my app if I don't have a degree, but I do have over 130 credit hours accumulated? I changed majors to genetics with two sems left of computer science because I didn't want to be a cube monkey for the rest of my life. (no offense to other CS majors 😉 ) Would that make it look worse that I didn't have a degree or would it make it not so bad that I didn't have one? If I get in for fall of 2007, I would be 1.5 semesters away from a genetics degree.

PS. I have been working as an optician for the last 5 years (basically all during undergrad) and right now I'm doubling as an optician and tech for two ICO alumni.

Thank you so much for your input!! Sorry my post was so long.

 

[ericlemonster]

Your concern between looking desperate or motivated shouldn't be a concern. You should be more concerned with all that gas money!

I never spoke with an on campus rep, so I can't really say how much different the information they provide, would differ from looking at the website or calling the school directly. I'm sure you can e-mail/phone ICO admissions, and ask whatever questions you may have. Also, you can request an information packet that shares a lot of information.

I went to interview at ICO this past May, and I could answer some questions you may have. The campus encompasses an entire street block, the staff are extremely friendly and informative, and the dorms seem very, very, very convenient. 🙂

 

[StephanieOD2B]

I think motivated. At best, the person you speak to will be one who interviews you at the school for admissions- he/she may remember you. This might give you a leg up, so to speak. I don't really think that is all that far to travel. If you want to go, I think you should go. I don't think it could hurt. Good Luck!!

 

[cpw]

driving to talk to them can only help you... it shows you're determined and know what you want.

Good luck !!

 

[jefguth]

My other question is: how would it look on my app if I don't have a degree, but I do have over 130 credit hours accumulated? I changed majors to genetics with two sems left of computer science because I didn't want to be a cube monkey for the rest of my life. (no offense to other CS majors 😉 ) Would that make it look worse that I didn't have a degree or would it make it not so bad that I didn't have one? If I get in for fall of 2007, I would be 1.5 semesters away from a genetics degree.

In my opinion, it really doesn't matter if you have a degree of not, as long as you meet the minimum credit hour requirements and have competitive scores and grades then your chances are pretty good. Plenty of people get in without a BS each year, its just that not very many apply until just before graduating.

 

[lesset01]

Thank you all for your help! I really appreciate it. I am nervous about applying because my original plan was to wait until next year so that I would have my degree, but I'm applying now and I feel like I am at a disadvantage. I guess most of that is just in my head.

I'm not worried about the gas money or anything like that. I just want to make sure ICO knows that I am dead serious about getting into their school. I'm applying to UMSL as back up too since it is a lot closer to home than Chicago.

My main problem is that from 2003 to 2005 I had some very very very bad issues with depression. So much that I started having problems with being able to leave my apartment, so I basicaly failed all of my classes for three semesters in a row. Right now, I'm petitioning KU to retroactively withdraw me from those classes with a letter from my PCP stating that the depression was enough to be considered "extenuating circumstances" I am MUCH better now that I've been diagnosed and treated, but back then I had no idea what was happening, it was a different frame of mind altogether. So, of course, my GPA went from a 3.3 to i don't know what now. After the retroactive withdrawal, it should be just under a 3.0 (i had a couple shaky semsesters before I fell into the pit). So I'm super worried that the opt schools aren't going to take me seriously and think that I can cut it in grad school.

How can I express to them how I know that I am ready and well-prepared for professional school? (besides gpa, i mean thru personal statements and the like) Like I said, that is my major issue, and I would hate to see it haunt me through the application process when I have moved past it.

Thanks again! 🙂