<p>Hey I am a freshman at Penn CAS this year, looking to transfer to either Wash U or NU for fall of 09. Just wondering if I would have a really good chance at these schools
First Semester Classes- Spanish 3, Intro Soc, Jazz History, Astronomy
GPA:3.93
Next Semester classes-Econ 001, Spanish 4, Psych, History class
if I can keep my gpa around a 3.8 overall, what would my chances be ?</p>
<p>OMG!
Transferring out of Penn... to NU/WASH U Gasp!!</p>
<p>:p</p>
<p>Jk, it's probably a smart decision if you like those schools.
I think your chances are really good. A 3.93 GPA is impressive and shows you have a strong work ethic.</p>
<p>You're obviously going to be highly competitive considering the strong GPA and considering the fact that you are coming from the University of Pennsylvania. But NOTHING is a guarantee - esp. with the top schools in the transfer process. If you don't have some pretty decent reasons for transferring out of Penn then you're just another name in quite a large applicant pool. Anyhow, if you decide to go through with it, wish you luck.</p>
<p>wow...i should have taken those classes.</p>
<p>I wonder what are your reasons for transferring?</p>
<p>
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wow...i should have taken those classes.
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</p>
<p>Lol@no one else mentioning</p>
<p>Yeah, your GPA is high, but that's meaningless in itself because your schedule just seems not that rigorous at all.</p>
<p>But coming from Penn can't hurt. I'm wondering why you want to transfer out of Penn though. I'm kind of in a similar situation, with another Ivy.</p>
<p>Yea I mean they dont sound hard and I'm not going to say they are extremely difficult but the class averages in Soc and Astr are around 85%. My astr class has a difficulty rating of 2.8 of 4 which is higher then the university average of like 2.3. And any foreign language isnt really all that easy. I mean will the schedule actually look extremely easy to an admissions person or just to other students who may not have actually taken any of these actual classes? And next semester I am taking classes which are more "traditionally" difficult (econ etc).
As far as reasons for transferring out I really just dont like it here. Seems like 75% of kids are from east coast prep schools, very self segregated which is a big deal to me, and I just dont like the social scene overall and I dont want to pay this amount of money not to enjoy myself. I visited my friend at NU and loved it there. I know I would have to come up with some better reasons for an essay but I have some time to think about that.</p>
<p>Well, Astronomy is viewed as the universal science gut class in general. If you really want to show the adcoms just how hardcore you are - that your first term wasn't a mistake - then I'd go all out with CS/Math/Chem/Physics classes and the like. Or just Literature/Hum classes that look rigorous.</p>
<p>Northwestern is quite generous with transfers anyways though, so you might be in luck. Don't go to Wash U though lol (Wash U seems like a very hard environment to hack it...IMO...)</p>
<p>I mean i have no interest in chem/phys/bio I dont see the point of taking them unless I'm going into that type of field. I dont see the point in taking a class just because it looks hard... I just took things I was actually interested in, its not like I was searching for easy classes. I took classes with highly rated professors in classes that sounded interesting. I'm doing the same this next semester, just with econ, an history class on urban development, psych, and next level of spanish. Do other people think that this looks like I'm just trying to take easy classes?
I wouldnt exactly say I'm "hacking" it. I got into Penn as a freshman and have gotten almost all A's...In astronomy only 30% of students can get an A so I still have to do better then 70% of a class(where SAT average is 2150) which I did. So while obviously it is known as the easiest science(besides geology) to fulfill requirements, not everyone taking it CAN do well.</p>
<p>People take only 4 classes per semester at Penn? ;)</p>
<p>There will be some adjustment for you at Northwestern because the normal load is 4 classes <em>per quarter</em>. Good luck!!!</p>
<p>Good luck, write a strong essay!</p>
<p>Northwestern is typically viewed as a very transfer friendly school =)</p>
<p>I'd be shocked if you don't get in.</p>
<p>You people are so discouraging. She will definitely get into both Northwestern and WashU as well as Emory. The average transfer GPA for Emory and WashU are both a 3.5-3.6, as long as you have a 3.5+ and good essays and fair amount of involvement so that you look like you'll be an asset to their university, you should get in. I know people who got into Emory from UM with 3.3-3.4. Colleges are hurting now and looking for revenue, so they are prone to take students with good not stellar credentials.</p>
<p>You're in. Although for some transfer schools, they suggest taking a diverse range of classes (as in science/math/hum/ss/fl). Depending on your major/school you apply to you may want to consider this. </p>
<p>Your best bet is to research the dept/program you will be transferring to and write a good essay!</p>
<p>Delete, repeat post.</p>
<p>look at what courses a freshman at NU/WashU is presumed to take. Understand what values their lower division curriculum encompasses. (for your particular college and major.) Create your Upenn schedule to reflect these values you've found prevalent in NU/WashU curriculum. You need to do research on the programs of school you'd like to attend, not just on the social scene. Once you have completed adequate research, base your reasons for transferring essay on this...not the misery of your current school. Write about the distinct academic utilites you've found intriguing at NU/WashU while doing your research. Don't bicker about your old school. Stay positive and keep a sharp perspective on the future when you write your essays. If you feel a story or experience is required to show personality and ethic, make sure to apply inductive writing techniques to bring the essay from the specific -your story- to the general -why this school is a good fit.</p>
<p>Personally I think you'll have no trouble with the transfer. Be smart about it though, try to take more intensive courses -- the purpose of college is to begin a concentration. Astronomy, sociology, psych, Spanish, and the like are all disciplines that can be learned outside of the class (obviously only at the introductory level). Calculus, chemistry, economics and other such disciplines cannot really be learned leisurely compared to the aforementioned and would require instruction...this is what you should employ your 45k tuition towards.</p>
<p>I will be shocked if you don't get in. The preceding is just some general advice. I am confident in you.</p>
<p>BruinsJEW, I was rejected from WashU and accepted to Cornell with a 3.93 and strong all around app. I have a feeling it had something to do with having a ton of financial need, sending in a fee waiver request where the counselor wrote my EFC (only a few hundred $), and having no SAT scores, but other than that had a very strong app. I don't care anymore because Cornell was my first choice and it saved me having to put a deposit on WashU while waiting, but would have been some nice piece of mind while waiting on Cornell.</p>
<p>I'm a little shocked knowing my cousin's boyfriend got into WashU with a 3.5+ (def. not upper 3.x; i.e 3.8) from a SUNY, SUNY Binghamton.</p>
<p>WUSTL transfer admissions seem to be a bit arbitrary at times, as someone mentioned before a lot of kids get in with ho-hum records and those with stellar scores get denied. I think it has a lot to do with showing a true interest in the school and tailoring your essays to be unique to WUSTL. My record wasn't stellar by any means but it was as good if not better than a lot of people that got in from CC. I got denied but I sent my application as a last-minute decision when I found out they did rolling admissions; the fact that I just wasn't really interested in the school at all was probably pretty obvious. I wouldn't have gone there anyways had I been admitted but in hindsight it was pretty stupid to think I would get in without showing any real interest in the school.</p>
<p>I would be surprised if you didn't get in but I would make sure to at least pretend to have a solid reason for why WUSTL, specifically, fits your needs. Good luck man.</p>