Any questions for an incoming transfer?

Transfer Students
41

<p>Thanks for the input Malapropism, your words of advice are still encouraging and I’m touring the campus this fall! Have a good time at Columbia yourself :)</p>

<p>ballin, I’m not sure about retaking the SATs because I have imo more important factors to work on now: relationships with my teachers, high grades, and commitment to a business venture I am taking on, surely this will help too? It’s my only extracurricular. ??</p>

<p>I am retaking the failed course this fall but I’m not sure how admissions will view it. My safety school will see the F and the new grade but will only factor the new grade into the GPA.</p>

42

<p>Also Columbia’s frequently asked questions page mentions only one teacher recommendation. Do we really only submit one?</p>

43

<p>If that’s what their FAQ says, then you should follow it. I think I submitted two (I was applying for a number of schools and I suppose I just assumed they’d all follow the same procedure), but maybe that was an oversight on my part.</p>

<p>You might want to call up Admissions and ask them how they’d interpret the grades of the class you’re retaking, since I really can’t tell you.</p>

<p>And yes, relationships with teachers is quite important, as are high grades, and any unique “venture” you’re setting off on can only help. There are lots of factors combined that lead to being admitted, so it’s good you’re considering all your angles.</p>

44

<p>What was your SAT score? And your ECs?
Also how much are you paying for Columbia? (not the be rude. But is the financial aid pretty good?)</p>

45

<p>My SAT superscore was 2350: 790 CR, 800 M, 760 W.
Single sitting was 2310: 750 CR, 800 M, 760 W.</p>

<p>My extra curriculars in high school focused mainly on tutoring (as my own business, working about 8 hours a week with three to five students aged between middle and high school), mock trial (I was co-captain junior year, captain senior), and my school’s literary magazine (managing editor junior/ senior year), though I was also VP of French Honor Society junior year and president of World of Difference also junior year. My volunteer work was decent, but nothing to write home about.</p>

<p>In college, my extra curriculars were mostly mock trial and an a cappella group, the latter of which I was web manager for. I kept tutoring whenever I was home, as well as at school for community service, though much less frequently (the program I was with was a one hour a week thing). I was also involved in a religious group.</p>

<p>In regards to how much I’m paying… I didn’t get (or ask for) any FA, because assets would pretty much disqualify me regardless of my parents’ working situation. The Columbia site says the following of FA for transfers: “While we do not guarantee that we can meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted transfer students, Columbia recently announced extensive enhancements to its undergraduate financial aid program.”</p>

<p>If you’re not international, they’re still needs blind, though.</p>

46

<p>What reason(s) did you give for transferring? I assume they take this portion very seriously and weigh it pretty heavily since (I assume) that a majority of transfer applicants have competitive stats. If you’re able to or open to this, I would love to read your response. I’m finding it difficult to find a relevant, yet distinct reason(s) for leaving my current institution. </p>

<p>In addition, how did you approach your professors/ask them to write you a LOR? I’m assuming you were a freshman when you were completing/submitting your application, so only your first semester marks were sent to Columbia?</p>

47

<p>Having read my main essay over after applying, I can honestly say that it’s not be most well-written thing I’ve ever presented. My reason focused mostly on academic challenge and academic climate, and also diversity, so it was really not too original an essay, though I tried to approach the subject matter in a personal way.</p>

<p>I also had to send Columbia a mid-semester report, so they knew how I was doing in my classes second semester, too.</p>

<p>Approaching my professors was, to say it bluntly, pretty awkward. I actually sent them each an email ahead of time to schedule office hours and, for the mid-semester reports, to ask whether they would prefer me to come early to class, stay late, or come during office hours. But gosh, it is so awkward (and repetitive) explaining why you’re transferring.</p>

<p>For the LORs, the emails were essentially… wait, let me get one.</p>

<p>"Subject: A Personal Request</p>

<p>Dear Professor ______,</p>

<p>I had the pleasure of attending your class ________ last semester and want to thank you for an engaging and informative semester.</p>

<p>As I will be applying as a transfer student to a few select Ivy League colleges for the Fall 2011 semester, I would be grateful if you might consider writing a letter of recommendation on my behalf. </p>

<p>If so, I will schedule an appointment with you, at your convenience, to provide any additional materials you might need, such as the Instructor Evaluation Sheet, the schools to which I am applying, my background, my interests, and what I believe each of those schools would like to see emphasized, in consideration of my application.</p>

<p>Thank you,
_________"</p>

<p>One of my LORs was from the Fall semester, one from the Spring, so of course the latter was altered a bit, but you get the idea.</p>

48

<p>Thanks! and if you apply as a sophomore, that means your high school marks are part of the equation as well right?</p>

<p>I don’t know some of my professors really well because I either </p>

<p>A) Don’t have time to visit them nor do I need their help during office hours
B) They’re too busy
or
C) I don’t really get a chance to participate during their lectures </p>

<p>I guess my second LOR is going to be as awkward as yours.</p>

49

<p>Yup! Applying as a transfer, junior and senior year (as well as overall GPA) come into play.</p>

<p>Honestly, talking to your professors about the whole transfer thing generally does allow you to get closer to them, as strange as that seems. That aside, try to find reasons to come to office hours: even if you don’t have any questions on the material, if there’s something you found particularly interesting, want to know more about, or have a question about something they might know (but isn’t necessarily all you’ve done so far), you can at least shoot them an email if you don’t want to go to office hours.</p>

<p>It really is important to get a letter from a professor who knows you, though.</p>

50

<p>My sister graduated from high school in Canada. The culture here for high school as a whole is quite lax compared to America and as a result her CGPA from high school is horrible (according to NCAA’s conversion chart, it’s approximately 3.5 for senior year UW, 3.9 junior UW). IB/AP was not offered at her school so the courses that she took may not look as rigorous compared to other applicants and may not reflect her actual academic potential. Her SAT/Subject Tests have all turned out to be rather high. </p>

<p>Should she apply as sophomore or as a junior?</p>

51

<p>First off, let me just say that colleges look at the course load in the context of the school, so she’s not going to be punished for not taking classes that aren’t offered.</p>

<p>That said, I’d say it depends on how she does in college. If she’s able to pull straight A’s first semester (and seems to be continuing in that second semester), it can’t hurt to apply right for sophomore transfer. That’s considering, of course, that she did do some beneficial things in high school, like extra curriculars, community service, or internship. She’d have to be very involved in campus, get good recs, and so on and so forth, to mke up for her GPA (which, honestly, isn’t too terrible, though senior could be higher).</p>

<p>Keep in mind that even if she doesn’t get accepted for sophomore transfer, she’s not barred from applying again the next year. I’m big on taking chances when there’s a possibility :)</p>

52

<p>Wow! congrats on getting into Columbia.
What is the criteria for getting in as a transfer student?
Do the admissions officers look at your grades only? or grades and internships?</p>

<p>Basically, what are they looking for? or better stated, what are the requirements and preferences?</p>

53

<p>@malapropism</p>

<p>Did you apply to Columbia during your first year at Brandeis, and then go on to Columbia during your second?</p>

<p>If so, Columbia would also look at your high school transcript in addition to the freshman year transcript in progress right?</p>

54

<p>Mpcollegedriven, that’s correct. I applied after my first semester at Brandeis, and am starting at Columbia as a sophomore. Columbia did look at my high school transcript, yes, though clubs and awards were only asked for and provided regarding grades 11 and 12. They also do consider freshman year transcript, of course, including your first semester grades and a midyear report from second semester.</p>

55

<p>Again, I’m no admissions officer, but I’d say they aren’t looking for one particularly thing, but rather overall strenght. The application process is similar to applying as a freshman: GPA, ECs, test scores, and awards are considered from both college and high school (more so college if you’re applying as a junior, though). Columbia accepts transfers only going into their sophomore or junior year, and I think I should note that they also only allow for students to complete 8 semesters TOTAL between Columbia and their previous institution (you only need a concentration to graduate, so petitioning for more semesters and getting them is extremely dificult).</p>

<p>Honestly, I think my internship helped me, especially since I already knew I could keep it should I attend Columbia. Basically, any strengths you have help you.</p>

<p>As for preferences, they don’t want you coming in with the intention to place out of the enire Core, because that’s an important aspect of Columbia they emphasize. If you’re transferring in as a junior, they want to make sure you have a plan for how you would complete the Core as well as concentration/ major requirements.</p>

<p>I hope this helps; I’m not exactly sure what sort of information you’re looking for, but if you clarify a bit more I can try to help answer your more specific questions.</p>

56

<p>@Malapropism: Why did you transfer from Brandeis? :/</p>

<p>How did you make yourself stand out? What did you mention in your essays that you think helped you? Did your college ECs help at all?</p>

57

<p>Eastafrobeauty, don’t get me wrong - I absolutely loved Brandeis, the friendly, quirky people and environment, the suburban campus and its proximity to Boston, and the dedicated, intelligent, and caring professors. I don’t want anyone to think that I feel Brandeis was anything less than a stellar school.</p>

<p>However, I missed the diversity that I encountered upon taking summer courses at Yale as a rising high school senior, as well as work that challenged me to push my mental limits. Also, being closer to home cuts travel costs; being able to cook my meals cuts food costs; and being able to keep my internship is hard to refuse for matters of connections as well as funds.</p>

<p>I’m not exactly sure how I made myself “stand out,” per se. I think my essay was written in a compelling way (i.e. personalized and in a way that made me out to have a lot of diverse interests and a true passion for learning), and after I got waitlisted, I sent in a poem which I definitely give credit for ultimately winning me acceptance.</p>

<p>I think college ECs helped me, too, without a doubt. Colleges want to see you’re committed to something, and also that you’ll become an integrated part of their community. At the transfer info session I attended somewhere within my first semester, all the Columbia transfer student reps were talking about how they pretty much got into the community and made friends through joining clubs and participating in ECs.</p>

58

<p>Oh I see!
I apologize for not being specific in my earlier post. </p>

<p>I was just wondering if its possible and wondering how difficult it might be to get into Columbia from the cc I go to(Berkeley City College, part of the Peralta colleges)
When you were transferring was it hard to complete the classes needed and make sure that they were similar to the Columbia core classes?
and
Do you still need a rec letter from a counselor and 2 from professors?</p>

<p>I don’t have many awards(I am AP scholar, but many have it as well), or extracurriculars right now, but I’m looking into doing an internship too as I am starting my freshman year in community college.</p>

<p>So far I’ve taken many many semesters at the Peralta community colleges.
This fall will be my 10th semester since I’ve been taken cc classes since the summer of 9th grade(most were intros such as intro to psychology, sociology, speech, elementary Chinese) but for each semester I only took 1 or 2 classes. Does that count as surpassing 8??</p>

<p>And does the legacy question matter? Did your parents also attend Columbia or another Ivy league?
Any input or advice would be great(=</p>

59

<p>Could you chance me? I’m an incoming freshman at Northwestern. I know you’re going to say my college stats matter the most, and I should give it a chance. I am going to, promise. I just want an idea of what I can expect if I don’t like NW.</p>

<p>Stats:
ACT-35 (single-sitting)
HS GPA: 3.83 (most rigor/top 3 school in the U.S.)
APs: 2 5s, one 4, and a 3 (yuck)
SAT IIs: all 710-750
ECs (pretty big part of my app): President of Students for Mitt Romney and founder of students4romney, author/seller of an ACT guide, published business and finance author on yahoo, intern at Merrill Lynch, co-founder of adVenture capital group.</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

60

<p>I’d say your app looks good (I’m assuming that 3.83 is UW?), and that your acceptance or lack thereof would be based now on your performance, essays, ECs and recs in college.</p>