<p>I am starting at Suffolk County Community College, Ammerman campus in about three weeks. I plan on applying for transfer to Amherst, Colgate, Colorado College, Vassar, Grinnell, Swarthmore, and Hampshire for Fall '11. My major will be Philosophy.</p>
<p>SAT: 740/740/740</p>
<p>I haven't taken any SAT subject tests or anything. My high school grades are pretty much abysmal (family problems-- divorce, restraining orders, moving several times, etc. did not help, but my own poor work ethic is also to blame), which is why I'm starting out with community college. I am actually graduating from my high school a year early-- I was a junior during the previous school year-- because I feel like community college would be more helpful at this point. I have taken classes both at another community college and at Stony Brook University, so I know what to expect and that I can easily get As.</p>
<p>I'm rather nervous about college and my future, so any advice would be very, very appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>I don’t know how good your chances are for acceptance at those schools with a low HS GPA after just one year at CC, though. The longer you’re in college, the less your HS records matter. Just an FYI.</p>
<p>Not saying you shouldn’t apply, but realistically speaking, you might have a better shot waiting another year.</p>
<p>I would say it will probably take 2 years with good grades for most of these schools if your HS record is as bad as you make it sound. I could see Hampshire and Colorado College after one, but they’re not great aid schools if you need aid.</p>
<p>you could apply after a year, but the application process requires fees to be paid, transcripts to be sent, essays to be thought out and written, recs to be sent…you get the picture. You have great SAT scores, though. Applying to competitive liberal arts colleges is a huge pain - be sure to be realistic about your choices since some don’t have good financial aid policies for transfers, some accept very few since few drop out or transfer. If you have more specific questions, go ahead and ask. I’m transferring to Grinnell next year. :)</p>
<p>Hey, I’m thinking about transferring to Amherst from a community college…for philosophy, too. AND I have a bad HS record, too!</p>
<p>Just get straight A’s and write great essays. From all the advice I’ve been given, I’m starting to think that’s all you can do. Lots of colleges won’t really look at SAT scores I think, and some don’t really look at HS transcripts. That probably is mostly just LACs though…Amherst likely would look at everything, I’m guessing. </p>
<p>I’m sorry to be bringing this thread back up, but I was just wondering if anybody could recommend some possible safety schools for me to apply to in place of one or more of my initial choices. </p>
<p>As it probably matters, my interests are primarily in continental philosophy: namely, Hume, Nietzsche, Foucault, post-structuralism, and existentialism. Any school with decent academics and a program proficient in those areas would be welcomed. Secondary interests include the various social sciences (especially regarding gender, sexuality, and religion), history, and literature. Preferably, the school would have no religious affiliations. </p>
<p>Then it will be tough. You need schools that meet need and what will still matter most at these schools is your high school record. You will ony have one college semerster to show and won’t have developed campus leadership. </p>
<p>As a full pay you could look at second tier privates, but they are highly unlikely to meet any need that is not very minor.</p>