I Failed the FE on my 3rd Attempt. What do I do?
My plan was to finish my BS in CS at UCF by May of 2026. This past attempt (Spring 2026) went completely not as expected for a number of reasons. It’s a shame because I have courses completed up to Systems Software, CS2, Calc 2, Physics 1 with Calc, and Algs in ML. I learned my lesson, it’s okay, and I’m over it now, but I’m just left to make a choice now before the new semester begins. Here are my options:
Option A) Switch to BS in Data Science. By the end of this summer, I already will have maths completed up to Matrix and Linear Algebra. Only caveat is I have to complete Calc 3 (which I was desperately trying to avoid but rn with taking M&LA, I realize maybe I can get through it fine). I like math, and I think I can get good at stats. I can graduate in 4 semesters, that is if they let me take Calc 3 concurrently with Data Science I (calc 3 is prereq for DS1 but DS1 is only offered in Fall /: worst case I can’t take calc 3 same time as DS1, I take DS1 fall of 2027, and my graduation gets delayed to sometime in 2028 instead of end of 2027). I heard DS at UCF is new but I am willing to put my trust in God and luck that everything will turn out fine for me 😭💀❤️
Option B) Finish BS in IT at UCF which I really don’t want to have to do because I’ll need to take a couple of Gen Ed (which is ridiculous because I already have my AA) and a bunch of IT courses. More courses than if I do BS in DS. I can still finish by end of 2027 I just will have two semesters where I’ll probably be taking ~5-6 courses not including the advisor courses. Bleh.
Option C) Transfer to another university but idk how many courses I’d need to retake or what courses will be accepted. I don’t want to put in that much effort. I am already at ~120 credits including my time as a Dual Enrollment student and my AA in communications.
Option D) Complete my BS in CS at Western Governors University online. I have courses completed up to Systems Software so I think the only downside is having to retake CS1 and CS2 and Discrete Structures. The rest is about I think 7 more courses. My research tells me I can finish everything in 6 months for one time price. I already get full aid from FAFSA so I’d probably only need to pay about $600 out of pocket for the leftover. I read that their CS degree is ABET accredited so if I wanted to apply to FAANG, I will be fine?
I really hate that I’ll be in college for longer but also I do love that being UCF gives me the opportunity to pursue networks I can’t get anywhere else. But if I graduate sooner at WGU then I can enter the workforce sooner. Oh, and if I go with Data Science, on top of my CS experience and full-stack projects on my resume, maybe I will be more set up for a good tech role that integrates ML and SWE. I don’t know where we’re all at in the tech world though, if I’m gonna be honest. I just know none of these SWE internships I applied to are responding to me (atp I applied to 50). Maybe I should just attend a $1000 conference or something and pray I could get noticed by Disney or something (atp I’m rambling/going on a side tangent so sorry in advance).
I don’t really have much guidance and whenever I go to advising or experiential learning, they all just point me to Handshake and IT. They don’t seem to know much more. I go to therapy and I still am at a loss, hence turning to Reddit community. Let me know if there’s a better option or if you think my ideas are good ones. I appreciate any thoughts. Thanks
Note this is FE for CS in CECS department.
TLDR - I failed FE for BS in CS at UCF, wanna switch to Data Science because I like math. But don’t want to delay graduation hence not choosing anything like IT or CPE. Thinking of doing WGU online to knock out the rest in 6 months. Idk anything about transferring schools or any other options. Help