<p>I am currently a freshman at the University of Miami in the biomedical engineering department looking to transfer for the Fall of 2008.</p>
<p>From Ohio, biracial (American/Indian)</p>
<p>My high school stats are:
GPA UW-4.37
GPA W-3.98
ACT-30
Rank-1, Valedictorian
IB Diploma
Good EC's and volunteer work</p>
<p>College stats:
GPA first semester- 3.94
Provost's Honor Roll</p>
<p>Involved in the Biomedical Society, Surfrider, Green Peace and Project Lead Serve</p>
<p>I think my reasons for transferring essay is pretty strong and my college recommendation should be pretty good</p>
<p>The colleges I'm apply to are:
University of Virginia
Case Western Reserve University
Boston University
Northwestern University
Vanderbilt University
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>
<p>My top 3 picks out of those schools are UVa, CRWU, and UW-M...I think those are the most realistic</p>
<p>My good friend goes to med school at da U - you're HS stuff is pretty good (except ACT, which is flat - did you take SAT?) </p>
<p>Since there really isn't much more you could've done in terms of grades at Stanford/Hecht, you should have a decent shot to get into these schools (UVA and NW will probably be the hardest for the transfer).</p>
<p>If you get UVA, I'd take it over all the others. What are your aspirations? MD, PhD, or job?</p>
<p>My roommate was seriously considering doing his PhD (Materials Science/BME) at UVA - it is an all-around solid school. But remember, most of these places will be a big change from Coral Gables.</p>
<p>Yeah I absolutely loved UVa when I went and visited it last year although I didn't think UVa would be the hardest to transfer in to...I was wait listed last year so I don't know if that will help or not but I was also looking at their transfer rates for engineering and the acceptance rate floated around 40-50%. But I guess we'll see.</p>
<p>I did take the SAT but it was nowhere up to par with my ACT.</p>
<p>And I am planning on going for my PhD after graduate school which is why I was to be at an institution that will really prepare me well for my field and also have ample research opportunity.</p>
<p>And the change from Coral Gables won't bother me, I'm from Ohio originally...I can handle boring haha</p>
<p>While I really like UMs campus, I understand where you are coming from. Plus, getting A's there is actually pretty tough in the long-run but you won't be given the benefit of the doubt b/c there is a lack of prestige.</p>
<p>My roommate went to Princeton and graduated with a 3.0 and got into a couple PhD programs (UVA, JHU). If you go to a place like UVA - you probably don't want to fall below 3.3-3.5. Since I assume these GPAs seem low for someone used to 3.9+, you'll see only as time progresses and your classes get harder.</p>
<p>NW is a great school as well. If you got waitlisted last year, I think you have a better chance since you haven't faltered in your grades (many students have a tough time performing well during the transition from HS to college)</p>
<p>Well I actually got wait listed at UVa, I've never applied to any of the other schools before but I can see NW and VU to be especially hard to transfer in too.</p>
<p>And I obviously understand maintaining a 3.9+ GPA will be difficult/ near to impossible as the years progress but as long as I am learning valuable information about my field I'll be fine with it.</p>
<p>Hey, i dont know your chances but i have a question. UM was my favorite school then i got rejected, so yeah im not going there next year. Im really considering trying to transfer there after a year at another school. What are your reasons for wanting to transfer? I'd love to hear an opinion that isnt "UM is the best school in the world you have to go!" so i can make a good decision ha.</p>
<p>jill08-
I'm not leaving UM because it's a bad school, in fact, it's done a lot of great things recently to improve its status as an academic institution. the president, donna shalala, has brought in some great new deans, the new business dean was the assistant dean at Wharton (can't get better than that haha) and the new engineering dean came from Rensselaer, but there is only so much someone new can do within 4 or 5 years you know?
For me however, I just didn't feel the engineering department was up to par with where I wanted to be. I got into my top schools last year, Columbia, Carnegie and Michigan and UM was never my top choice, in fact it was my last but I was offered a HUGE scholarship and I didn't want to put my parents in the position of taking out loans and having to pay them off for years.
In addition I am seriously considering switching into chemical engineering, a field which UM doesn't have.
But overall UM is a good school, it's just not a fit for everyone.
What is your intended major?</p>
<p>I want to major in advertising in the communications school. there aren't many schools that offer it but UM does. I visited last summer, which is now a waste of money i guess ha, and i loved the campus. So now i have to spend a year at another school majoring in general communications. but hopefully if i work hard i can pull off getting in as a transfer. im kind of scared to have to start all over again somewhere new when everyone else in my grade already has friends from the year before.</p>
<p>Remember, when it comes to loans, you can put them on your name (so your parent's aren't the ones who pay them off, you do after you are employed).</p>
<p>I transferred from out-of-state to UF, and it wasn't easy. Socially, you make most of your friends that first semester in college - I don't think I ever caught up.</p>