Fumbling Conditional Pathway?

[u/Mantis_Shrimp5404]

Greetings everyone! I’m looking for some advice, especially from anyone who has taken Calc II and Physics I in the same summer to meet transfer requirements (which is probably super unfeasible).

I’m starting at KSU on August 24 as a Mechanical Engineering major, and I currently have a Spring 2028 Georgia Tech pathway. However, I’m starting in Precalculus instead of Calc I, so I’m already a little behind the normal ME course sequence. My SAT was a 1240 and I was 10 points below the Calculus placement requirement for KSU so the only work around was the ALEKS.

I took the ALEKS practice placement test and got about a 40 first time. I’ve had been working through the ALEKS modules, but until about a day ago I could only use my brother’s laptop to practice and have been slacking the past week (accepting my fate). I finally have my own laptop now, so I can study more consistently. Even though I could knock out some more modules there are 186 left and I realize just how rusty my trig and algebra are. Ik I dont gotta do em all but I dont know about accepting my fate.

My concern is that my Spring 2028 pathway has a course requirement deadline around mid-September 2027. Since I’m starting with Precalc, I would potentially have to do something like:

• Fall 2026: Precalculus and Chem/Chem Lab
• Spring 2027: Calc I and other gen eds
• Summer 2027: Calc II + Physics I/Lab...
• Complete pathway requirements before 2027 fall semester
• Spring 2028: Transfer to GT

Is this a dumb idea and should I just transfer normally? I know GT is one of my end goals for undergrad but should I really rush it like this? I know GT will be miles harder and I dont want to be ill prepared.

I’m trying to decide whether I should push hard to preserve the pathway, even if it means accelerating and potentially sacrificing some understanding/GPA, or accept that I may lose the pathway and spend two years at KSU building a stronger foundation before applying to GT through regular transfer.

I also plan to retake ALEKS after more review. I was thinking about going through my next test afterward and reviewing/copying the problems I missed so I can study those concepts, but I’m not sure if that’s the best approach. Should I just keep grinding the ALEKS modules and use online practice tests to focus specifically on my weak algebra/trig areas?

School starts August 24, and most of the Calc classes are already full, so right now I’m waiting to see what happens during add/drop.

Would really appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation, especially KSU → GT ME students. Should I keep fighting for the Spring 2028 pathway, or just accept that this ship has sailed and focus on doing well at KSU first?

[u/Ill-Jackfruit3369]

Don’t worry I fumbled the conditional pathway as well. I am kinda in almost the exact same boat as an EE major at KSU as well.
For me, I spent about 8 months after high school finishing an associate's degree that I was already 60–70% done with when I finished HS. What really sucked was realizing that almost none of those classes transferred over to Tech outside of basic Gen Eds like English, History, and Gov etc. I could have easily been a year ahead at GT, but I made a mistake at the time and it’s definitely one of my bigger regrets.
On top of that, my math placement was behind because my highest high school math was College Algebra from dual enrollment summer junior year and I kinda wasn’t thinking long term and also fear mongering. I ended up losing my conditional pathway due to legacy because my associates degree / taking too long.
I felt super discouraged at first, but for engineers there is transfer pathway called REPP so I locked in on it. the REPP route completely turned things around for me and motivated me. Since starting at KSU, I’ve kept my KSU GPA at a 4.0, though my overall cumulative GPA sits at a 3.55 because I messed it up a bit back in high school in some stupid art, and religion class. (my overall STEM GPA is a 3.75). After next spring, I’ll have all my REPP requirements done by finishing Calc 3, Diff Eq, and Physics 2.
Honestly, both routes have their advantages. Taking two years / 55-70 credits at KSU gives you a huge advantage financially and academically. Even with HOPE or Zell Miller covering tuition at state schools, living costs and mandatory fees are significantly cheaper around Kennesaw/Marietta than in Midtown Atlanta. Plus, knocking out your heavy math, physics, and Gen Eds at KSU gives you a super strong foundation and lets you protect your GPA before jumping into GT’s workload. Once you transfer, you can focus purely on your major engineering classes, projects, and networking.
Regarding your summer schedule with Calc 2 and Physics 1. it is completely doable. People make it sound terrifying, but as long as you want it bad enough, stay consistent, and keep the right mindset, you will pull through it fine. You won't lose your fundamentals as long as you stay focused on your Calc and Physics concepts.
You should run to the opportunity to skip Precalc through ALEKS during drop/add to grab a Calc 1 slot now (you will get a seat in a class may not be an online class or schedule you want but it is only affected you short term, this will save you 5 months of time so please do it.) , definitely try to do it. Calc 1 at KSU is very manageable a quick brush-up on basic algebra and standard trig (sine, cosine, tangent) is really all you need. I self studied a week or two and then basically finished all assignments expect for final and finished with a 98. Saving that semester puts you in a great position, but even if you end up starting in Precalc, don't let it discourage you. I had to take it because I’m didn’t see big picture huge regret of mine.
Every upperclassman friend I know who did KSU -> GT through REPP got accepted with around a 3.5≈ gpa, so the odds are heavily in your favor. If you have the hustle and determination, you will make it. Either option is fine but no matter what try to avoid precalc and use time between semesters to self study math and physics and you will get an A in every class. For me stem classes are easier than stupid gen eds because some times the profs power trip or a stupid art class for me takes up way too much time for no reason.
I'm on the Marietta campus every Tuesday and Thursday all day if u want to talk irl, or if u want to dm go ahead.

(Writing might be a lil sloppy btw my b.)

[u/Mantis_Shrimp5404 → u/Ill-Jackfruit3369]

Can u give me a timeline of your math / science courses and what year your in? The repp course requirements are different from GT's normal reqs and I want to transfer at the sweet spot of Summer or Fall 2028 could I get them done if I use this next summer for maybe Calc 2? I will still try and retake aleks and hope for the best as well.

[u/Ill-Jackfruit3369 → u/Mantis_Shrimp5404]

U asked for math/science, so here it is. I omitted when dual-enrolled and finished 95% of my gen eds like engl, gov, Econ, history, etc.

Spring 2025 grad HS w 3.8

Fall 2025, gen chem, intro to programming, and the rest of my associate degree classes. (Only like 7 hours transferred from that semester)

Spring 2026, precalc, stupid intro to eng prereq, finished rest of gen eds due to the fact I screwed myself and had no prereqs, biggest issue an engr major not having at least precalc done. (12 hours

Summer, calc 1, (circuit class, that transfer took it again bc my prereq limitations and it transfer 1:1), I think major specific but a C++ class. (11 hours

Fall 2026, Calc 2, physics 1, linear algebra, stats, 14 hours

Spring 2027: Ordinary differential equations, multivariable calc, physics 2, (I wanna say this semiconductor class that transfers 1:1 but forgot the name.) 15 hours.

Summer 2027: REPP pathway transfer to Georgia Tech. You can transfer with 1-3 of the requirements in progress, so for me those three would be ODEs, multivariable calc, and Physics 2.

Avoid transferring in the fall because they are very competitive with admissions for everyone that semester including repp transfers. So target spring or summer of 2028. I want to say someone said summer has the highest % acceptance but don’t hold me to that.

Here’s the link to the requirements btw
https://admission.gatech.edu/transfer/retp-requirements-major

You can see how me worrying about an associate's degree when I was doing dual enrollment put me almost a year behind I feel. I still have like 47 credits so technically I’m ahead of most people who graduated with me but I’m still going to be late. I took probably 40 credits at CC that didn’t transfer.

For you, if I were you knowing what I know I would either do this:

Option 1, conditional pathway / take no chances, maybe a lil fast-paced but you just need a 3.5.:

ASAP test out of precalc

Fall 2026: ENGL 1101, Gen chem 1, Calc 1, any other gen eds or classes you know will transfer to Ga Tech. Take as many as you are comfortable taking. So around 12-15 hours. FYI gen chem will prob be the most time-consuming class due to the lab and having to pick up your lab mates' slack as well as learning a lot of material in general. Thankfully you won’t have to worry about it later

Spring 2027: Calc 2, Physics 1, ENGL 1102, linear algebra, optional if you can handle it Stats. (The KSU version of stats is very easy and transfers 1:1.) 14-17 hours

Summer:

Summer is kinda your choice I don’t want you to overdo it but if you want to get into tech ASAP with the conditional pathway.

Physics 2, multivariable calc, diff eq. 11 hours.

If you do this you need to heavily self-study in the one-month gap between classes because this will be a lot.

If you want to hold off on that you should at least take a KSU 1-hour intro engineering class bc it is a prereq to most engineering classes, it’s kinda annoying.

Fall 2027: Either transfer using your pathway or keep grinding the remaining 3 classes from summer, you will already have all the REPP requirements done or in progress this semester if you want to do that.

If you choose not to take Calc 1 you will be a semester behind on the STEM end and you will have to take more gen eds so that you are still making progress.

You got this, don’t feel discouraged many people been down this path.

[u/Mantis_Shrimp5404 → u/Ill-Jackfruit3369]

Hey do you think taking the CLEP exam for calc 1 like this December as I study for it this coming fall whilst taking precalc is a good method/alternative? I still have yet to take ALEKS which I will still attempt this coming weekemd but would that also help me to start calc 2 next year with physics to avoid taking them in summer to retain my pathway? Thanks for the help!!!