Advice: Transfer to Yale?

Transfer Students
1

<p>(I just posted this in the more general forum, but then I found this one. Sorry for the double-posting.)</p>

<p>Hello, all. I'm Laura.</p>

<p>I was hoping someone here who knows about these things could give me some advice about transferring to Ivy League and other top-tier schools. In particular, I desperately want to go to Yale.</p>

<p>My background is somewhat different from most applicants. I got middling grades in high school, due in part to a general lack of self-discipline, and in part to personal problems I was not equipped to handle at the time. I graduated early to enlist in the Army at seventeen. I served just under nine years, including two combat deployments--one in Afghanistan, and one in Iraq.</p>

<p>I am currently enrolled in community college, and will be ready to transfer to a four-year institution next fall. My current GPA is 3.9. I haven't taken entrance exams yet, but will be next month. I got a 35 on my ACT in high school, and have done college coursework since then, so I expect to do fairly well.</p>

<p>Things I think I have going for me:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>I am the founder and president of a student veterans' organization on campus. This is a Student Leadership Program position, and I'll be given a co-curricular transcript outlining my responsibilities and achievements.</p></li>
<li><p>I've had a few pieces of poetry published in "little magazines."</p></li>
<li><p>I know I have a few people who will write me glowing recommendations, and will be able to get one from my Dean of Students.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm confident I can write a decent essay.</p></li>
<li><p>I think my military record works in my favor (?)</p></li>
<li><p>I'm Phi Theta Kappa, if that helps. I'm also taking some honors courses, but the honors program at my school is a pilot program started this term, so I won't have enough time to take everything I'd need to to graduate "with honors." In general, though, I've tried to take challenging courses. for instance, I'm a philosophy major, but I took biology and chemistry courses designed for hard science majors, and math courses for math/science/engineering majors.</p></li>
<li><p>I did some hurricane recovery work after Katrina...rebuilding houses and such. I think that might look good an application.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>Things I'm worried about:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>My mediocre high school grades. How much will that matter? High school was a decade ago.</p></li>
<li><p>I'm dirt poor. I know they say they don't care, but is that true? The only money I have for college is my GI Bill.</p></li>
<li><p>I took one gym class pass/no pass and got a "no pass." I couldn't come to all the required sessions and I was really just taking it for myself. At the time, I had not intentions of applying to a top school. I'm retaking it to get a pass, but the first grade will still show on my transcript. It doesn't affect my GPA.</p></li>
<li><p>It's Yale. 'Nuff said.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>So, do I have a shot? Is it worth trying for? Any advice on how to distinguish myself? I have until March 1 to apply. Also, is it better to take the ACT or SAT or both?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>First off, I’d like to thank you for your service to this country. It is a great sacrifice you have made for others to enjoy the benefits we greatly take for granted. </p>

<p>Now to your original question(s). The first thing you have to understand about any Ivy institution is, it is difficult to transfer. The statistics are not that great.

</p>

<p>I also believe you would not qualify as a traditional transfer student. You would most likely have to apply to the Eli Whitney program. Below you can find the links to regular transfer admissions and the Eli Whitney program. Going over through those links will give you a good understanding of what Yale is looking for in an applicant. You do have good grades and to be honest I wouldn’t worry too much about the HS grades. As you said, it has been a decade since HS. </p>

<p>The most important thing(in my opinion) is the essay. Why do you want to go to Yale? What does Yale offer that no other school does. This is what you need to try to convey in your essay. It cannot be Yale is prestigious. It is an Ivy league school, etc. You need well thought reasons why you want to attend Yale and why Yale, and only Yale, will satisfy those needs.</p>

<p>Like I said, check the links out. Most of your answers are answered in the links.</p>

<p>[Transfer</a> Program | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/transfer]Transfer”>http://admissions.yale.edu/transfer)
[Eli</a> Whitney Students Program ? A Program for Non-Traditional Students | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney]Eli”>http://admissions.yale.edu/eli-whitney)</p>