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OK guys... my turn to be rated!

I'm applying to Dartmouth, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Brown, Yale (uber reach)

2.9 High School GPA at Stuyvesant High School NYC
3.55 College GPA (WAS 3.925 but brought down by three pre med courses taking in one semester but I'm a French Literature major now)at third tier college
1430 SATs
740 SAT II average
one AP English Language - 4
poet published in school mag/ online, student mentor, student senator, soon to be editor of political magazine, band in high school nothing great
work 16 hours a week
taking 19 credits now
Recs should be good
Moving essays
URM - African American

I sorta have explanations for doing poorly in high school... father has cancer, i was depressed, abusive mother... also Stuyvesant is a very difficult school

What do you guys think?

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 02:46 pm: Edit

In my opinion, ALL of these schools are UBER reaches for you. First, they all take relatively small numbers of transfers and accept mainly top students from other comparable institutions.

Here are the transfer acceptance rates for last year for the schools on your list:

Dartmouth - received 329 transfer applications, accepted 29
Wesleyan -received 370 transfer apps, accepted 59
Georgetown- received 1489 transfer apps, accepted 387
Brown - 705 transfer apps received, 112 accepted
Yale - 881 transfer apps received, 30 accepted


Your college GPA - especially at a third tier school - is going to make it very difficult for you to transfer to these schools. Your SAT scores won't count as much for a transfer --- if anything, your scores will just raise questions about why you're still not working up to your full potential even at a third tier school. While explanations about doing poorly in school can sometimes work for high school applicants, colleges don't really like to hear excuses from transfers - they want transfers who have already proven they are capable of doing the work in spite of any problems they may have. This is especially true for the schools on your list.

This doesn't mean you shouldn't try for one or two of these schools, but you need to include some other options if you really have your heart set on transferring. Instead of trying to go from third tier to the top 10% of schools in the country, why not shoot for some schools in the lower half of the first tier or upper second tier? There are many good schools in that category.

By Danqa (Danqa) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 02:56 pm: Edit

So you think they will think I'm lazy? You think it's the college GPA that is the largest problem?

I really don't want to go to a school in the second tier. I honestly think I can do better than that, considering my background. I know you don't know me, so I can see why you would say that. In any case, thank you for your honest opinion.

By Shahab (Shahab) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 06:39 pm: Edit

I think your college performance is going to raise serious flags with them. ANd yeah, I think the college GPA is the largest problem. What i would say is go through your current college, pick up some EC leadership positions, do very very well, and look to these for grad school. Most schools dont look as much at minoriy status for transfers. I think that they look much more on how you have done and in what.

By Danqa (Danqa) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 06:52 pm: Edit

I doubt it matters much, but I had a 3.925 GPA until last semester, when I took Calculus, Physics and Biology all together, along with French (I got an A+ in French though). I was also working around 12 hours per week. I got a C in Calculus, B- in Physics, B in Biology. For some reason I thought I wanted to be pre-med and I tried to cram a lot of courses in at once since I didn't start the premed track freshman year. Obviously it was a mistake and I'm pretty sure I want to be a French major now and either continue to receive my PhD or go to law school. I guess I'm not that strong in math/science - I'm not sure if they'll consider that. What do you think will raise the flags? Doing well and then suddenly dropping? Again, thanks for your help. I really cannot stay at Hunter. If I don't get into Dartmouth (decisions go out April 15) I will apply to some state schools that have later application deadlines. I just don't have the time right now, with work and school, to go through the application process again.

To Shahab: If they were to consider minority status, would it help me much?

By Shahab (Shahab) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 08:23 pm: Edit

read my previous post. i dont think it will, not at this stage of the game. i think you could have done slightly better as far as your aspirations went in high school. however, unless you have a 3.75+ gpa, its pretty hard to make a jump of that caliber. and that downard trend in grades is a huge flag for admissions imo. regardless of it being pre med or no, you showed that there are limits to your potential by receiving lower grades in your science courses. and thats a mistake as far as college admissions go. go ahead and try, heck i would, but you are far from a sure thing. again i reccommend (if you dont get in) toughing it through your current college, turn it around, become a campus leader, and aim high for grad school.

By Danqa (Danqa) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 08:43 pm: Edit

I meant to say, if the URM status had the same weight in transfer admissions as it does in freshman admissions, how much would it improve my chances?

High school I tottally •••••• up. If I were to be rejected based on those grades I'd be fine with it because I really didn't do my work. But I don't think my college grades are indicative of the work I put in, since I was working, I have to commute quite a ways to school, which takes a lot of time, and also since I took the three courses together. I'm not trying to argue with you - I probably am screwed- I guess I just want someone to understand where I'm coming from... I don't think I'm as poor a student as my grades would indicate... I know someone said they don't care about mitigating factors, but I feel they have made it harder for me to succeed. Oh well.

I knew I wasn't a sure thing, I guess I just wanted to know exactly how much of a long shot I was.

Again, thank you for taking the time to answer me.

By Mjl86 (Mjl86) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 08:53 pm: Edit

shabab

calibur, not "caliber."

lol

I know you probably hate me now, but I think you are too hard on Danga.

Good luck and always aim high

By Thedad (Thedad) on Sunday, March 07, 2004 - 11:34 pm: Edit

In what language are you advising someone to use "calibur" instead of "caliber"? Certainly not English.

By Voigtrob (Voigtrob) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 12:08 am: Edit

GameCube language.

Ahhhhh Soul Calibur, how you have corrupted us.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 01:32 pm: Edit

Danga - Mj is right: there's nothing wrong with aiming high...but you need to have a realistic back up plan.

Again, avoid making excuses about your college grades - the schools you are looking at look for transfers who can hit the ground running - making excuses raises red flags for transfers.

If you want to try for some of the schools on your list, I'd say Wesleyan and Georgetown are possible bets BUT I'd suggest you not try to transfer until your junior year (apply next year).
That way you'll have four solid semesters of college grades to prove that you have completely turned around. I'd also suggest that you look carefully at the General Ed or Core requirements for any schools you are considering and make sure that your schedule next year fulfills those requirements as closely as possible.

Also, I really would suggest you look carefully at some schools in the lower first tier. There are many wonderful schools that accept larger numbers of transfer students where you'd have an excellent change of acceptance.

Here are a few suggestions:
Instead of Georgetown, consider George Washington or American.
Instead of Yale, consider Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.
Instead of Dartmouth, look at Dickinson in Pennsylvania which has excellent language programs.
Other realistic possibilities assuming you keep your grades up: Skidmore, Boston U, Boston College, Tulane.

By Bluangel2me (Bluangel2me) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 03:37 pm: Edit

What is wrong with a 3.55 in college? I'd say that's pretty good, I've seen some people post around 3.5 for their HIGH SCHOOL gpa, and they get better reviews than that!

By Thedad (Thedad) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 04:26 pm: Edit

People with a 3.5 in high school aren't generally getting in to Dartmouth, Wesleyan, Georgetown, Yale and Brown. A 3.5 at what's called a third-tier school simply isn't going to be impressive to schools like that...and impressive is what you need to tranfer.

By Danqa (Danqa) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 07:32 pm: Edit

Carolyn:

I'm applying for junior status. I've completed three semesters at Hunter so far.

By Carolyn (Carolyn) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 08:39 pm: Edit

Thedad stole the words right out of my mouth. A 3.55 GPA in college is fine for transferring to many schools but probably not for the highly selective schools on Danga's list.

Danga, Hunter is a good school - when you said third tier I was thinking someplace like Adelphi (LOL).
You really would have an excellent chance at many of the schools I mentioned and perhaps a shot at Wesleyan or Georgetown as well. Just remember, they accept very, very few transfers so have a back up unless you're fine with staying at Hunter.

Good luck!!!!

By Danqa (Danqa) on Monday, March 08, 2004 - 10:35 pm: Edit

Thanks! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.