Currently I am beginning my sophomore year at one of the branch campuses of the University of Pittsburgh and wish to transfer to Swarthmore. I would like to know my chances of making it in and how to improve my chances. Thanks!!
IMPORTANT: Unfortunately during senior year of high school, a close family member had a completely unexpected medical issue crop up, and this negatively impacted my grades. I think this made me get a really rough start to senior year and I never could catch up, especially because I got the principle’s permission to take more classes than allowed. I could go into more detail, but I think this would be enough. I don’t remember what my final GPA was for high school, but I had horribly failing grades in four elective online classes (classes that I would normally excel in), but my other classes (which were in a real classroom/ not online), AP Lit, AP Gov, PreCalc, Orchestra, French IV ranged from above average to stellar (except math was usually average).
So…about me, in terms of academics and extracurriculars:
1.) 3.9 GPA Freshman year of college
2.) I’ve placed into the advanced classes for my French major via the university’s placement test (Semester 1)
3.) Did a 6 credit study abroad program in Paris this summer.
4.) Participant of Spanish Club and Chinese Culture Circle (freshman year).
5.) I study French, Spanish, and German at an advanced level (e.g. reading books, listening to news, speaking with conversation partners, etc.), Latin at an intermediate level, and Arabic at a basic level.
(SIDE NOTE: I can read/ understand some Italian too (like at least half of the content on average, depending upon the topic), mainly from noticing the huge similarities it has to other languages and from picking some of it up when I listen to it/ read it just for fun very occasionally. I’m unfortunately not studying Italian right now (although I will in the future), its just something I’ve noticed I can do.)
6.) I play the violin and piano (take lessons for both) and have 2 years’ experience in the local Symphony Chorus and tons of previous singing experience elsewhere but that probably doesn’t matter. Last year I was involved in a youth orchestra and a community strings ensemble.
7.) Leadership-wise I’ve tried to create a small string ensemble at the university as a club, however due to administrative issues that hasn’t taken off.
8.) I had an on-campus job Freshman year.
9.) I’m taking six 3.00 credit classes this year.
10.) I actually did the Middlebury Monterray Language Academy for high schoolers offered by Swarthmore 2 years ago (if that counts for anything, lol. At least I know what the campus is like.)
Extra Curricular Plans for This Semester:
Main priorities which have to happen:
1.) Get a 4.0 for this semester.
2.) Try again to create a string ensemble as a university club.
3.) Getting an on-campus job for this year. (interview tomorrow!!)
6.) Get a French and Philosophy tutoring job on campus and start doing online translation work.
7.) Improve/ maintain my languages.
4.) Do a ton of reading and research philosophy topics and topics in Language/ Linguistics.
8.) Submit and publish a few articles (at least 3) in specific Undergrad Philosophy journals which I have previously identified.
9.) Submit and publish a few articles (at least 3) in Undergrad language/ linguistics journals.
10.) Continue participating in Community Strings Ensemble.
11.) Definitely try to create French club for the university. Become president (which would be easy IF the club was created).
Less urgent ideas:
1.) Join English Club.
2.) Join Chamber Choir. (maybe)
3.) Maybe volunteer at the library on weekends or something if I have time.
What are my prospects? What else can I do to increase my chances of being accepted??