Any chance at all..?(transfer)

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hey everybody,
I posted this on the Transfer forum and I was given very helpful feedback. It was also suggested I post my stats on here because they are college counselors who would be of equal help. So, here's my situation..</p>

<p>I’m currently a freshman at NYU in the General Studies Program and I’m definitely looking to transfer. Unfortunately, the expectations I came in with have fallen well short of the reality I’m in. I believe most of the problem is credited to GSP. Of the six people that graduated from my high school and went to NYU, five went to Stern and I was left in GSP. I have become very discouraged because I don’t want to be associated with the program at all. I feel as if kids’ parents have bought their admission and its unbelievable how they are even in the school. Here is my high school transcript that basically tells the story of why I am where I am:</p>

<p>Freshman Year GPA: 2.9 (No Accelerated Classes)
Sophomore Year GPA: 4.115 (No Accelerated Classes)
Junior Year GPA: 4.085 (4 Accelerated Classes, 2 AP Classes)
Senior Year GPA: 4.255 (3 Accelerated Classes, 3 AP Classes)
Old SAT Score: 1260 (600 Verbal, 660 Math)
I graduated with six years of science classes and five years in math.
(Grading system at high school: 2.5 C+, 3.0 B, 3.5 B+, 4.0 A, 4.5 A+)
I went to St. Joseph High School (Top 50 Catholic Schools in the nation, all boys, highly competitve)</p>

<p>As you can see, my life has been revolved around improvement thus far. By transferring, I’m hoping to continue this trend. Ever since my dreadful freshman year, school and work have been my life. It has become almost like an obsession because I expect such high things for myself. All day, everyday all I think about is my standing in one class or the next. Honestly, I feel like its debilitating sometimes. Just for the fact that I set such high expectations for myself that they may be unrealistic and when I don’t get there, I feel like I disappointed myself. But, I guess its better to be over motivated than under motivated. Anyway, here are my college stats thus far:</p>

<p>Calculus I A-
Prose Composition I B+
Social Foundations I A
Cultural Foundations I A
16 Credits (3.75 GPA, Dean’s List)</p>

<p>Spring Semester
Economics II
Prose Composition II
Social Foundations II
Cultural Foundations II
Success at College: Thriving at NYU (Only one credit, but I figured any advice they could give me about improving couldn’t hurt. It’s pass/fail as well)
17 Credits (GPA should be in the same range as first semester, if not higher)</p>

<p>In regard to clubs, I was very involved in high school because they were a big part of the school. So, hopefully you can give me the benefit of the doubt here. At NYU, it isn't such a big deal because of the lack of community here, everyone does their own thing. As a result, I haven’t been very involved since the beginning of the year where I did community service projects all over the city. I racked up about 25 hours doing it. Also, I have had two jobs since the beginning of the year (I don’t know if that matters). I work at Best Buy on West. 23rd and 6th Ave and intern at FGI Finance (Faunus Group International) on Wall Street as an Inside Sales Rep.</p>

<p>I want to major in Applied Mathematics at EAS and minor in Economics. So, do you think I should just stay put at NYU or take a shot? In my previous post, I was told I might have a shot at ivy leagues if I got everything in quickly. If any, I would love Columbia, U Penn, Dartmouth or Brown. Mainly because they’re the only “realistic” ones. My family isn’t the richest so I don’t want to spend $250 in apps at places I don’t stand a shot at so please be brutally honest. If none of these, can you please suggest any other schools that would be better NYU academically (That’s the only factor that matters for me)? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this (if you still are haha) and helping!</p>

<p>Also, does it matter if I hand the application in early at any of them?
I have a cousin who got her PhD and family friend got his MBA at Columbia. If I get letters of recommendation from them, would it help my chances?</p>

2

<p>Also, GSP is over after sophomore year then you transfer into Arts and Sciences at NYU. Should I wait until then to try at any ivy?</p>

3

<p>I sent you a PM suggesting that you post on the "Parents" forum. That is where you are going to get the most help - not the Columbia forum.</p>

4

<p>I think Columbia, outside of GS which you won't want to do, will be rough. Brown or Cornell are your best Ivy bets. I also suggest UNC-CH, its not an Ivy but it is a top school and they let in scores of transfers every year.</p>

5

<p>I'm not sure if I exactly understand "which you won't want to do." Does that mean don't try it because its a very unlikely admission or it's not desirable field of study? </p>

<p>P.S. Sorry about that Columbiamom, I misread the message, my mistake.</p>

6

<p>No problem. It was just a suggestion. You should get lots of good information on the parents' forum. Just copy and paste your post.</p>

7

<p>Because of its similarities to the NYU GS program. Admissions wise GS isn't very selective, you are a lock. It isn't CC at all, those two are night and day admissions wise.</p>

8

<p>Sorry for being persistent about this, but how does it work? Do you graduate with a degree from there or do you eventually transfer into Columbia College? Like I said, I'm more interested in the name so would firms and companies know the difference? (That's shallow, I know. Sorry!)</p>

9

<p>couple of questions first:
what do you wanna do with your life exactly? do you wanna work in the financial industry?
About your transfer question, if you want to do Applied Math, that means you would be transferring into the school of engineering (SEAS) which you would be applying to, not columbia college. Unfortunately that means that your application would be more closely looked at than at CC. Also, Columbia requires three SAT2 tests, one of which has to be writing while the engineering school requires writing, math and physics or chem. I'm assuming since you didnt post them that means you didnt take them. Ontop of that, to be quite honest with you, your SAT score is quite sub-par...I mean I did badly on the SAT compared to most people in SEAS yet my score is still about 100 points higher than yours...the average SAT score of people accepted into SEAS is higher than CC at around 1460-1500 (if i remember correctly). Also you took nothing in college that shows any interrest in math. If you did get accepted into SEAS, your first year of college would just simply not count because you cant use a single one of those courses.....actually maybe Econ II will fill the econ requirement, but thats it. Overall what I am trying to say is why dont you either just stay put or try to transfer into CAS and do econ for example? NYU is a "name" granted it is not as big a name as Columbia but if you had the choice between CAS and GS at columbia i would choose CAS. I applaud you on turning it around in HS though and doing so well, but i think it was your SATs and your lack of SAT2s that held you back when it came to college admissions.
Oh and also, I'm not sure but i dont think you can major in Applied Math in GS, since it is in the engineering school.</p>

10

<p>OK, I was just destroyed, but honesty is what I wanted! THANK YOU! (I think I got too attached to it, but I'm glad someone brought me back to reality lol)</p>