<p>Hello All- I am a long time lurker, first time poster attending a decent state (michigan) uni looking to transfer after I complete my year of study abroad. My GPA is a little on the low side: 3.2. I started out my first semester as an engineering student and got a 2.6. I struggled in science and engineering courses but did well in math. Second semester as an economics/international studies major I did better with a 3.5 GPA. In the fall I will be studying abroad in Malaysia, and in the Spring I will be continuing my study abroad in South Africa. </p>
<p>I really enjoy my econ/international studies major. My passion is to travel and I have the intent to proceed into international law. I want to transfer because I want to be in a more cosmopolitan area, with a more diverse and competitive student population, more international opportunities, and a stronger economics program. I am trying to find higher ranked schools with most of those desires that I can gain acceptance into with my somewhat low GPA. </p>
<p>I plan to transfer after my year of studying abroad and with As in my classes from here on out (which would bring me to about a 3.2/3.3. I am very need-based as far as financial aid. I am african-american. In HS i graduated with a 2.7 and 25 on ACT. Below is a list of schools that I am now interested in. It would be great if you could tell me my chances or add schools that seem relevant to my stats/desires. I am also wondering how much the study abroad experience will help my applications.</p>
<p>University of Michigan
University of Maryland
Northeastern University
Boston University
Syracuse University
American University
George Washington University
Rutgers University</p>
<p>I appreciate your patience in reading my post, and would appreciate it more if you could help me out! Thank you. :)</p>
<p>Bobby</p>
<p>why did you choose those schools? seems like a mildly random list. what else are you looking for in a school? no point in transferring if youre gonna like a specific program but hate the location, social life, size, etc.
you should try looking at some smaller schools that offer a more personalized approach to admissions (more likely to look at things beyond the numbers). george washington is ridiculously expensive, just so you know. study abroad should help your application a lot but only if you focus your application in that direction (i.e. you need to “package” yourself as an applicant who struggled to find their academic passion but finally did and now you are doing amazing things with it, etc.). i would also suggest retaking the ACT.</p>
<p>Linababe, that sounds more like what you want in a school. Maybe he doesn’t want a smaller school.</p>
<p>Anyway, I think American is a match. George Washington and University of Michigan would be very difficult to get into. Boston University… maybe a high reach. I don’t know enough about the others, sorry :(</p>
<p>Linababe, thank you for your reply! As I look at my list again, it does appear rather ambiguous. As far as what else I am looking for in a school, I’m pretty open minded. I would prefer a small-mid sized school on or near the east coast with a more stimulating student body. I’m not looking for a huge party school or sports school (although I wouldn’t mind sports haha). </p>
<p>There’s so many schools out there and I’m sort of lost as far as direction. I know my options are somewhat limited bc of my gpa and financial need. University of Michigan is my first choice bc it is instate, great econ program, and great student body but I want some more suitable out of state schools as well.</p>
<p>The focus you provided is great and is exactly what I plan on doing. You’ve just worded it better than I could in the past couple weeks! How much would scoring a few points higher on my ACT impact my decision as a junior status transfer?</p>
<p>CaliG- I’m love American but I am worried the financial burden may be too much. Although, with their 67% transfer acceptance rate I am not hesitant to apply. Nevertheless, thanks for your reply!</p>
<p>@caligulashorse no, i was not saying he should go for a small school (and no, im not looking for a small school), i was merely saying he should try to figure out what he does want. he seemed to appreciate it.</p>
<p>iambobbby - yeah, no problem at all! id definitely try again on the ACT. it cant hurt and you dont have to send it if it doesnt work out. but if youre trying to distinguish yourself as an applicant from your high school self, i would say a higher gpa and higher ACT would be great. ya know what i mean? </p>
<p>umich would probably in reach with your new sense of academic direction, scores, gpa, etc. again, its really about how you package your application. upward trend, focus and direction, higher scores, new achievements. one of those “i floundered, didnt know what i wanted, then i found something i love and now im awesome” kinda stories haha i know that sounds silly but you get what im saying? </p>
<p>other options id think about… emerson? william and mary? any more of the big tens?</p>
<p>RU is a large school with a large campus. Awesome place, tons of fun, cool people. College Ave. is the place to be for living (it is the most desirable), but unfortunately, engineering classes and many math classes will not be on College Ave (this part of the campus is mostly lib. arts studies) and you will have to take a bus to the other parts of campus (which can become very annoying). Definitely check out that school if you are serious about going there… It isn’t necessarily a school to ultimately go to without physically checking out because its NB campus is subdivided into 4 different parts. –> As a transfer, living off-campus may be the way to go, only problem is that housing is hard to get once you hit mid-spring for fall transfering because off campus move in is in June.</p>
<p>Look into Drexel too –> free application, many available scholarships if you apply early (I was offered 15,000 or so without calculating in any fin. aid support) and a great engineering school. Philly is awesome too.</p>