<p>Hi everyone! I'm going to be a sophomore at SUNY Binghamton (double major: English and PoliSci, minor in Business). Though I am very happy at Bing, I'm interested in transferring to Cornell ILR for the fall 2007. I have several reasons for transferring that I think are pretty valid, all of which I plan to highlight in my transfer essay (ILR is a great combo of my current majors and minor while being less liberal artsy, I dont like the complete lack of counseling at Bing and being taught by TAs, thus far work at Bing has been pretty unchallenging, etc.). </p>
<p>Here are my stats: </p>
<p>high school (my school has a rep for regularly sending 10-15 kids to Cornell each year):
GPA: 4.12/4.21
Rank: 16/330
SATs: 660V/660M
SAT IIs: 740 Writing, 650 History
ECs: really good (4 leadership roles, captain varsity sport, lots of volunteer time, a job, a national business award, all honor societies), felt they were my strongest factor in applying to college as a freshman</p>
<p>college:
GPA: currently 3.75, could prob raise to a 3.8 by the spring
ECs: have a very prestigious internship with a major IB firm in their HR (human resources) department, will have an internship with a congressman in the fall, student government representative, national honor society, 2 other clubs
Coursework: fairly difficult, mostly 200 and 300 level classes</p>
<p>So based on past transfer history/experience, what would you say my chances are? Is there anything I can do to better improve my chances? How can I best approach the situation? Thanks for all help in advance!</p>
<p>just letting you know, I love Cornell and will still apply, like you should do, but chances for anyone at Cornell are incredibly random. Even moreso than some other elites universities I've checked into. Look for a thread called "Cornell Decisions" and you'll see what I mean. One person with a 4.0 from Rice was rejected, as was a girl with a 3.9 honors from UCSD. Cornell usually fills their class with guaranteed transfers, although a few people did get in. I really think to get in you have to have some AMAZING reasons and that they give preference to GTs and community college students. Some will argue with me on that point, but based on the people they accepted this past year, it seems to be true.</p>
<p>just to clarify, what would "amazing" reasons for transferring be?
I've heard about the people mentioned in the above post, but didn't they both apply to CAS, which is typically harder to get into? When I looked at available info online, it looked like ILR people had slightly lower stats and a higher acceptance rate.</p>
<p>Yes that internship is actually very good for where you want to transfer. Although I am not interested in Human Resources as a job, it is a good opportunity for people in ILR. I'd say you need stellar essays n recs because your grades are good enough to have your app "looked at"...but you need to take it the rest of the way.</p>
<p>And that's not true about the community college thing (At least I highly doubt it). Cornell has no obligation to take community college students like the UC's do. Although New York gives them some funding, that is pretty much where the line is drawn it seems. New York gets to use them in their advertising, and Cornell gets some money. (What I've drawn from the countless posts asking about this)</p>
<p>there's no preference to CC students, many people with GT's happen to go to a CC though to save money. </p>
<p>FYI, good HR internships typically pay over $1,000 a week plus housing and travel. </p>
<p>The OP's stats look fine, but what needs to be perfected are the essays. They will make a big difference in helping a candidate along. The transfer application is long so be prepared to spend a long time on it ... it will be read by 3 different people in admissions, and then it will be passed on to professors for a separate evaluation.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the advice. I actually just looked at Cornell's transfer app for last year and it did look kinda long. Lucky for me, Im only planning on applying to Cornell so the process should be a little easier. :)</p>
<p>regarding the essay(s), how do transfer essays typically differ from freshman app essays? </p>
<p>are you supposed to be more formal and straightforward? like these are the reasons I want to transfer (1st paragraph = reason 1, etc.).<br>
or can you still be creative and approach the subject a different way?</p>
<p>definitely still be creative, but yeah you have to work it out so that you clearly and completely explain why you want to transfer. most have several essays so just be sure to articulate that in at least one of them.</p>
<p>also, I saw cornell's app for last year asked for a rec from your college counselor. at bing, we dont get college counselors even though we do have a counseling center. I've met with different counselors there a few times (maybe 4) but I really wouldn't want any of them to speak on my behalf (I doubt they know me that well). </p>
<p>does anyone know/think if this is something that can be worked out with Cornell??</p>