2.9 GPA (English Lit Major) Transferring as a rising junior

Transfer Students
1

Hey everyone,

I have completed one half of an undergraduate degree in English Lit. I was attending Loyola Marymount University and had to take a leave of absence due to family issues. I feel like I’m ready to finish my degree now, but that LMU isn’t an ideal fit for me. I would like to attend a LAC on the East Coast ideally, however I’m not sure if it’s foolish to even think about applying to transfer with a cumulative college GPA of 2.9.

On the upside, I know that I can write strong essays when I really focus, and I have an interesting (I’d like to think) personal history as a synth player in a few Los Angeles bands (extracurriculars?)

So, should I give it a shot and apply to any of the following given the information above?
Vassar, Wesleyan, Williams, Amherst, Tufts, Swarthmore.

Or, if you can recommend a school that you think I should look into, I’m open to suggestions.

2

I believe that these school are unobtainable with a 2.9 GPA. Try to finish strong at LMU and apply to good graduate schools. Another option may be some UC schools with more variety.

3

Thanks for posting! Although I was hoping to get a different response, I need a realistic perspective and appreciate the information. That being said, I prefer smaller campuses and student bodies. Also, I’d like to finish undergrad at a school where students are encouraged to think for themselves, where they recognize the privilege of attending university and are eager to participate and work hard.

It could be me, but before I took my leave of absence from LMU I was getting tired of a class dynamic wherein it seemed the straightest path to a good grade was basically regurgitating the professors’ opinions in ones own words in discussion and papers.

To reiterate, it’s very important to me that the culture of the school where I finish undergrad is one that encourages individual thought and discussion. I’ve been told that in upper division classes that will be more the case, even at LMU.

The thing is, I really don’t want to return to LMU (unless it’s the only viable option). I will start thinking about UCs. I know they are great schools but I’m not sure if I would thrive in an environment so grand in scale.

Any more thoughts, opinions, or recommendations?