Any chances for a transfer?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Hamilton College
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I just finished my freshman year at a good school in NYC and wanted to apply for a midyear transfer. I really love Williams so any advice would be helpful. I know the school is probably a reach for me but things can only improve from trying. Here is my info.</p>

<p>High School:
Top 20 boarding school in northeast
Graduated top quarter
Overall probably about a B+ average with serious upward trend (all A's senior year) <em>school does not weight AP's</em></p>

<p>College:
Overall 3.3 gpa again with serious upward trend (mostly B's fall term, mostly A's spring term)</p>

<p>Testing:
SAT: 2140
AP Art History: 4 (took class)
AP Euro History: 4 (took class)
AP English lang: 4 (didn't take class)</p>

<p>College EC:
New Student Orientation Leader
Volunteer at local public school 3 hours a week
Volunteer with autistic children at local day camp 15 hours a week (had to cut back)
Participated in pre-orientation volunteer trip
Graduated emerging leaders program
Organized a number of fund raisers through the year
Board member of campus activity board
2 part time jobs
Volunteer tour guide
Started free writing tutoring program in town</p>

<p>High School (Important) EC's:
Varsity level golfer (current school doesn't have girls team though :/)
Volunteered 50+ hours with H4H
Leadership position in tour guide group
Won awards for golf, made honors senior year</p>

<p>I know my gpa is low, and I'm not sure how much testing scores make up for that/ how much an upward trend really counts for. I've felt really busy this year so maybe all the EC's I've done will help? I was thinking of including a writing sample. I know schools don't like having too much extra material to go through, but it's where my strength is and my major so possibly a short story or poem? I'm not sure...
I want to be a teacher in a few years so most of my activities are geared towards that.</p>

2

<p>oops, someone thinks that this is the Williams board</p>

3

<p>haha oops, no I’m applying to both schools (and both are in my top 3) but had the bright idea to use my phone to start this thread, lesson learned lol</p>

<p>still, any thoughts on transferring?</p>

4

<p>So have you not filed a transfer application yet? I am not sure that Hamilton accepts mid year transfers. With the fact that you want to be a teacher, have you looked into Boston University? They have a very hands on education program. Hamilton only offers an education minor, therefore offering few classes. While all of the education classes I have taken were thought provoking and challenging, Hamilton does not offer a program for state teaching certification, which is necessary for teaching in a public school. No one really knows how the admissions office accepts students. The school has a rigorous writing program, and therefore requires a submission of graded written work (at least for the undergraduate admissions, I’m not sure about transfers). I think in general, Hamilton cares more about the personality of students and the diversity of campus. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

5

<p>According to the website Hamilton does accept midyear transfers. They actually ask for interviews which most colleges don’t do at the transfer as well.
I got accepted to BU last year and ended up not going, I’ve learned in the last year how important community and campus life are and BU still worries me in that respect.
I anticipate having to go to grad school for Education since most colleges don’t seem to have education majors as an undergrad. </p>

<p>I’m glad to hear they emphasize writing so much because it is my strongest subject! :slight_smile: I know they encourage transfers to send in supplemental materials so perhaps that would be a good place to submit one of the papers I’ve written in the last year?</p>

<p>Thank you for the response!! :)</p>