<p>I am starting to think I will just stick it out at my third tier, trash can, public school. I have wanted to apply to other schools (G-town, Chicago, Rice, Columbia GS) for a year and a half now. I have a 3.91 GPA from Arizona State. The school is a terrible fit, I think Chicago would be ideal. At this point, the whole transfer process is seeming so overwhelming. </p>
<p>Here is why:</p>
<p>1) SAT : I never took it in HS and I have put it off so long I feel like I am crammed for time. After all, do I even apply if I score less than 1300? Probably not.</p>
<p>2) Teacher recs : I have two great teachers I can ask, but I want to give them plenty of time. With most apps due in March, there does not seem to be sufficient time to get my test scores back, then ask the teachers for the recs.</p>
<p>3)Personal Statement : With all these doubts I have not started my essays, though I have formulated my ideas. </p>
<p>With school starting I do not feel super motivated to work through all these doubts. I love school, but I do not like my school. I certainly do not want to regret anything.</p>
<p>Anyone have advice based on their experiences that can help me out? I would love to hear it. Thanks.</p>
<p>My two-cents? If you're not even motivated enough to complete the requirements/application, why on earth do you want to go to a school like g'town, columbia, ect? Those schools strive on self-discipline, from choosing classes to studying. I don't want to sound negative, but most transfer-hopefuls look forward to completing their application because they want to do their best on it so they can change their situations...
However, on a suggestive note:
SAT - you need to take them...plenty of transfers do...i'd say if you score above a 1200, you're ok...but, i think you'll be suprised, most transfers do much better than their high school score, or so i've heard...besides, as a junior transfer, they'll look far less at your SAT than your impressive 3.9
Teacher recs - why do you need to wait for your test scores? Teacher recs are about you, your work ethic, and how you come across to them...they don't need test scores, GPA, or anything else to determine whether you are a solid person or not
Personal Statement - it's easier than you might think...if you have ideas, start jotting them down! Then come back to it, and you'll be suprised by how quickly you form other ideas, and pretty soon, you'll have to be editing your essays because they're too long</p>
<p>Just think of it this way (for your application, keeping up your GPA, everything): it's going to take work, and will sometimes be difficult...but why not work extra hard for the next 6 weeks when it will pay off in the long run when you're at a great school? It's keeping me going, so hopefully it'll work for you</p>
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SAT : I never took it in HS and I have put it off so long I feel like I am crammed for time. After all, do I even apply if I score less than 1300? Probably not.
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<p>Maybe so, but it's better than the "definitely not" chance you have if you don't take them at all. You have a really good GPA, and that must have taken a lot of work, so...I guess it seems illogical to me to choose to give up now. If you're really unhappy where you are, you should definitely see if you can change your situation, because it doesn't seem impossible at all to me.</p>
<p>If you feel overwhelmed and you havent even started the process, there's not much anyone on an internet message board can say that will help you. Obviously, you need to think pretty deeply, past the fear, about what you are willing to do to get our of the "trash can," but I think you know that already. So, as for applicable information I can offer, I'll just go on down the line:</p>
<p>--SAT. It's not that big of a deal. It's testing the skills which, if you're a good student (and a 3.91 from anywhere indicates that you are), you will have developed during your college career thus far. What's more, they don't matter so much for a transfer. My cousin is a professor at an Ivy League, and she tells me that she (when/if the applications get to her) and the advisors she knows only look at the scores as a concern if there is either a) a huge disparity between the scores, i.e. a student with a 750M and a 400V, or b) if the scores don't reflect on the students record and/or intended major, i.e. if that student with a 450 V is looking to become a lit. major. Even then, she tells me, it's just a red flag and not some kind of an instant veto. They are nothing to worry about.</p>
<p>--Teacher Recs: It's what shoebox10 said. They don't need your scores. They need to know you and your behavior in academia. </p>
<p>--Essays: You have three months. Yes, they should be interesting, eloquent, concise, unique, and beautifully written, but they are also 250-750 word blurbs. Three months is plenty of time for something like that. As a sidenote, if you've got ideas, you've already got a bit of a boost. There are a lot of people who submit essays without an ounce of thought in them whatsoever.</p>
<p>You're in a better position than it seems that you think you are. We've all had areas in our lives that have been intimidating, but we work through it; this doesn't have to be any different.</p>