A Few Questions About Transferring...

Transfer Students
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<p>This might be alot...</p>

<p>#1: Should I transfer now, or wait until after Sophomore?
I'm currently a freshman in my first semester at a University College. Right now, it looks like I might be getting a 3.7-3.8 gpa for this semester.(Pre-Calc 1 & 2, Eng 102, Music 173, Bio II). I haven't been active in any clubs or major-related activities due to the major adjust of college... Next semester, I'll be taking 6 classes, but only one [Gen. Chem. I] of the premed courses due to pre-reqs for them. Next yr [soph., including a possible summer semester], I plan to take: Gen. Chem. II, Physics 1 & 2, Ochem 1 & 2, and Calc. I. (If I do decide to take a summer semester, it will only include Gen. Chem. II & Calc 1). I ask this because my apps might look a little more qualified after taking those soph. classes.</p>

<p>#2: SAT's?!?!
I took the SAT test in my junior-senior year(s) of highschool. I did horrible on it because I honestly had no motivation and was unsure of what I wanted to accomplish in life. Should I take the test again, along with a few SAT II's? </p>

<p>#3: How do I get involved?
I definitely plan on asking my advisor this, but the college I attend is...lacking. Biochemistry isn't an offered course, yet will be on the new 2015 MCAT. It's a liberal arts, public, somewhat small <5000 college. Science research is very scarce and the student organizations don't contain anything that truly interests me. I know college admissions are big on student leadership and involvement, so what do I do?</p>

<p>#4: Will courses taken as Dual Enrollment from highschool be a downfall on my apps?
The transcript from the DE: Eng 101 (A), Bio I (C), His 101 (WP), Psych 101 (A), Socio 101 (A). Those are from Summer '12 and Fall '12. I took time from Fall '12 to Fall '13 off so I could work a job.</p>

<p>I want to gain acceptance into a college that will prepare me for Med School and have plenty of opportunities for research and involvement, something my current doesn't have. My one dream college would be JHU, which I realize is a high reach for me.. Any suggestions on colleges that I would have a reasonable chance at and receive some aid will be appreciated! Oh, and my major is Biology - PreMed. I would love to major in Psychology and take the premed reqs, but they said it would be "safer" if I chose not to..</p>

2

<p>Public schools, even ones like Berkeley and Michigan don’t really care about SAT/ACT as much about your college work, but private schools certainly will…</p>

<p>Are we talking College Confidential horrible (anything less than 2250), or honestly mediocre scores (<1800)?</p>

<p>But yeah the Ivies, JHU, Vandy, Duke etc. will expect a 2100 at least unless you get some crazy good ECs or letters of reqs. I’d look at that. Decent scores in subjects won’t hurt either.</p>

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<p>I’m not sure who ‘they’ are, but if you go to the Premed Topics forum, you’ll see repeatedly that major doesn’t matter. This is also demonstrated in MCAT scores for matriculating med students:</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/download/161692/data/table18.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>SATs will be more important for soph transfers; and selective schools may consider them for any transfer applicants. There’s no reason to take Subject tests once you have a college record.</p>

<p>The biggest impact of your dual enrollment courses may be when applying to med school, where every college course you have ever taken will be included in your gpa calculation.</p>

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<p>“Are we talking College Confidential horrible (anything less than 2250), or honestly mediocre scores (<1800)?”</p>

<p>Sorry for this interruption, but Prospects80, I found this hilarious…and true! thanks!</p>

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<p>Thank y’all for the replies! </p>

<p>My SAT’s are the actual average scores; nothing compared to the “horrible” scorers on CC.
The career counselor I spoke with and my previous advisor is who said I may have trouble if I received a Psychology degree. Even then I wasn’t going to switch majors, but the Pre-Med advisor would only accept Biology majors; so I switched.</p>

<p>One last question:
I’m taking Math 111 (pre-cal 1) and am currently at receiving a C…or failing, yet I’m on track to receive an A in Math 112. My university allows grade forgiveness for a failed class. (Both grades will show up, but only the forgiven one will be accounted in GPA; there will be a notice on record about it being forgiven.) I also have that C from my first Bio course that was under DE. Should I retake these during the summer, along with taking Gen. Chem. II? </p>

<p>Please keep in mind that I’m trying to transfer for Junior year! My advisor and I have already scheduled me to take Physics I, OChem I, Calc I, and then a 3cr [easy] class for a total of 15 cr. I know that I definitely need to ace those because they will be the last grades admissions will see on my transcript.</p>

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<p>I’m going to be frank, these people don’t know what they’re talking about. See this thread:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/214387-what-should-premed-major.html?highlight=major[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/214387-what-should-premed-major.html?highlight=major&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Or do a Search for ‘major’ on the Premed Topics forum, which major to choose is a FAQ. </p>

<p><a href=“Both%20grades%20will%20show%20up,%20but%20only%20the%20forgiven%20one%20will%20be%20accounted%20in%20GPA;%20there%20will%20be%20a%20notice%20on%20record%20about%20it%20being%20forgiven.”>quote</a> I also have that C from my first Bio course that was under DE. Should I retake these during the summer, along with taking Gen. Chem. II?

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<p>As I said earlier, when you apply to med school, every grade you ever took (even if not on your transcript) will be counted, whether your school counts it in your gpa or not; AMCAS calculates your gpa themselves. As far as Bio, your C and whatever grade you get with a retake will both be used to calculate your gpa; see page 37:</p>

<p><a href=“https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf[/url]”>https://www.aamc.org/students/download/182162/data/amcas_instruction_manual.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>It would be a better idea to take an upper level bio course and do well in it.</p>

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<p>That’s very true. That is definitely one reason why I’m trying to transfer to a better college. Just hearing the career counselor say, “Majoring in Psychology may put you in a disadvantage when you apply” completely made me internally cringe… </p>

<p>Thank you for the advice! I will make sure to get all A’s from here on out. I’m probably overthinking the C’s a little too much… just typical nervousness.</p>