<p>What is your opinion on reaches/matches for me with the following schools?</p>
<p>Vanderbilt
Emory
Cornell
Rice
Tufts
Drew
Tulane</p>
<p>I will be applying as a Spring transfer student intending to major in economics with an AA degree and a 3.9 GPA. My SAT was 1470 (770 v 700 m) but my SAT II's were pretty crappy. As far as EC's, I was secretary and president of my schools chapter of PTK, have been an avid fencer for ~5 years, and also have an extremely strong piano resume. </p>
<p>I'm not sure how it will affect the addcom, but I started classes when I was 14 through the dual enrollment program and usually took 2 classes per semester. I'm now 19 and am planning on taking 2 classes this Fall which probably bring my GPA up a little bit higher.</p>
<p>My reccs and essays should be strong, and the 2 year college I'm coming from is one of the largest and (supposedly) best in the US. However, I have no volunteer or work experience yet.</p>
<p>Any advice on what I could do to to improve my chances (particularly) at Cornell?</p>
<p>Ok, let's redirect the purpose of this post. Could you all recommend a few safetys or matches for my list? I got rid of emory/vandy because I can't really see myself going to those schools. What do you think of these?</p>
<p>Reach:
Cornell
Northwestern
WUSTL</p>
<p>Match:
Rice (reach)
Vassar
Tufts</p>
<p>Safety:
U of Miami (match) - [Brother now attends and had the same academic background I do. It's a great school, but I don't want to go because I'd be a commuter student]
Tulane</p>
<p>I'm also slightly worried because I was a dual enrollment student. Some places won't accept credit if it was counted towards both high school and college requirements. For me it was not - I was homeschooled and the college classes won't be reflected on my HS transcript, but they would have if I had gone to regular school. I'll be calling some admissions departments tomorrow about that; hopefully it won't cause any problems.</p>
<p>Where do you go now?</p>
<p>Vassar is not a match for you. Please keep in mind how different freshman and transfer admissions are. Vassar accepts only 19% of its transfer applicants. At Cornell, it will all depend on the college you're looking to enter, but that will also be a reach for you.</p>
<p>Because of your age and the fact that you were homeschooled, they are almost certainly going to consider your high school record strongly at each school. Is it good? What were your ECs like then? How about volunteer work?</p>
<p>With bad SAT IIs, part-time status, and no volunteer experience (especially for a Phi Theta Kappa member and chapter president!), you're going to need every bit of help you can get at most of those schools. Your record is good, but it doesn't stand out from the pack in any way, if you know what I mean.</p>
<p>Do you have any more safety/match possibilities? Drew is actually a really good one to have, but I don't know why you've taken it off your list. Have you gone through the PTK scholarship database to find schools that actively recruit PTK applicants? That will help you at Cornell, but the rest of your record probably won't.</p>
<p>Thanks beginning,
My interest in Drew is indeed fickle; I took it off because they say that financial aid is limited for transfers. Do you think I should still apply and see where it leads?</p>
<p>I'm actually just trying to find now and am hoping for some recommendations for matches or safeties that have spring openings.</p>
<p>I might be wrong, but I think they offer PTK scholarships. Are you applying for outside money?</p>
<p>Fact is, transfer financial aid is limited just about everywhere, even if schools don't explicitly say so. I wouldn't rule out schools based on that alone. If you really don't like Drew, don't apply, but otherwise I think you'd be a really strong candidate there.</p>