Another one of them pesky chancey threads.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Transferring as a sophomore, currently a freshman at Cal. I'm gunning for UPenn, Brown, and maybe Northwestern this time around... given my good HS and 1st semester stats, would this be a good idea or should I wait...?</p>

<p>Stats--HS:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.9 UW/4.5W (ranked 1/200ish or something)
SAT: 2180 m 670/cr 720/w 790
APs: US History (5); English Lang/Comp (5); US Gov (4); English Lit/Comp (3); Psychology (5); Calculus AB (4) (my HS is small and doesn't offer much APs)</p>

<p>ECs (only problem I see here is that I picked a lot up pretty late in my HS career):
Piano (certificate of merit level 9, some small community recitals)--8yrs & 3 years of high school
Speech and Debate--2 years, co-captain 2nd year
School Newspaper/Literary Magazine--3 years (gap year sophomore year); editor 3rd year
Student Council--3 years as representative (no officer position)
Community Service Club--2 years, co-president 2nd year
Volunteering at local hospital--3 years; co-shift manager 3rd year
Volunteering at local youth court--1.5 years; leadership position last .5 year (no idea how I got one that early into it)</p>

<p>Stats--College:</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (only have first semester grades)
Classes:
Intro to Astronomy (4 units)--A
Intro to Logic (4 units)--A
Intro to Comparative Politics (4 units)--taken P/NP, Passed
English Seminar (1 unit)--Passed
Politics Colloquium (1 unit)--Passed
(Only problem I see here is that I didn't take a lot of classes for a letter grade, although the majority of my units were still taken for a grade than P/NP) </p>

<p>ECs:
Undergrad Philosophy Forum
College Christian Thought Magazine--editor
Amnesty International
Peer Review Board--member (selective application process) </p>

<p>Recs: probably going to be mediocre-slightly below average at worst since I was quiet in class this semester and my university is huge (i.e. most of my intro classes were taught by professors but discussions were led by TAs) but I'm banking on my HS stats and my college GPA, not my rec letters. </p>

<p>Etc.
Filipino female (dunno if this is a hook or not)
Intended Philosophy major
Good/creative essay writer</p>

<p>So if you guys were generous and patient enough to read all that... would you suggest I go ahead with my plans to transfer this spring? The only setback I see are my rec letters, but I heard those weigh a lot... should I just wait until next year to send applications? Thanks to all who can lend a hand!</p>

2

<p>You only have grades for two courses, so that might hurt you a little bit. You have competitive stats though so its worth applying, just know that its definitely not a certainty you’ll get in anywhere.</p>

3

<p>Cal like CalTech? That’s not a massive school…</p>

4

<p>Cal = Berkeley</p>

5

<p>I Think you def have a great shot at these schools since much weight is placed on high school work for sophomore transfers.You’ll never know where you’ll get in until you apply.Would you mind chancing me too?
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1262970-what-my-chances-transferring-pleasee.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1262970-what-my-chances-transferring-pleasee.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>So would you guys recommend I apply now instead of waiting a year for better rec letters (but probably lower college GPA and less weight on HS stats?)</p>

7

<p>What you need to ask yourself is why you want to transfer. You could be one of the many people who apply for name and reputation alone, blind to your own satisfaction. Berkeley has social connections, research facilities and course rigor nearly on par with the Ivy League schools you want to apply to. I see little reason to move for the sole purpose of moving up in the ranks.</p>