average student into top 30 by transferring

<p>so i am an average student in high school ( i am a senor)
GPA- 3.2
SAT- 600 on math and reading, 550 on writing
no leadership position in high school
i am about to inter either UTA, UNT or a community college
i am a hundred percent sure i'll get a 4.0 GPA in any of the above ( and save your time if you are about to tell me that college is not high school and that 4.0 is impossible and all that jazz)</p>

<p>So what i am saying is do people like this ever transfer to bad ass institutes..
i am aiming for nyu, cornel, columbia, ut austin, uchicargo, bu, northwestern and easter, and johns Hopkins... </p>

<p>just tell me what all i have to do in the three above state college that will make me as close to a competitive applicant can be.....Preferably a sophomore transfer...
( DONT YOU DARE ******** ME ABOUT MY HIGH SCHOOL, CAUSE I GET IT....)</p>

<p>All you need to do to transfer into UT (if you’re a Texas resident) is get about a 3.5+ (depending on which major you’re applying to) and you’ll be golden.</p>

<p>NYU, don’t bother unless your parents are rich. They give terrible finaid.</p>

<p>College is going to be much more challenging than high school and its probably unrealistic for a student, with such poor high school scores, like you to expect a 4.0 Gpa.</p>

<p>Sent from my DROIDX using CC App</p>

<p>Being honest, your chances are very unlikely to the aforementioned schools as a Sophomore transfer. A 4.0 semester will not mitigate your HS record. You’ll have a greater probability at admission if you apply as a Junior transfer, therefore accumulating 3 semester’s worth of credits and grades. In addition, Junior transfers are weighted more on their collegiate record as opposed to HS record. In other words your HS will still count, but not to the extent as a Sophomore applicant.</p>

<p>Grades are a fraction of the equation. Although important, there are other factors equally crucial such as the essay. This is where you can convey why you want to transfer and why X school will meet these demands. Please be aware that the reasons need to be well researched and developed. For example, stating you want to be in the city for NYU or Columbia will not do this. Also try gaining some leadership experience, and more importantly relevant internships. Even with all of this, admission is not guaranteed because those schools are very competitive. Even more competitive in transfer admissions.</p>

<p>Just do very, very well in college, do some volunteering and extra curriculars, etc. etc. and write a damn good essay explaining you situation. There have been many cases of students who didn’t do too well in high school actually going to top universities because they really proved they could handle college courses by getting like 3.8+ GPA for the first year</p>

<p>UT Austin and BU aren’t top 30…</p>

<p>its true take me for example… 2 years ago as a senior in hs i was waitlisted at nyu and then rejected… now after doing well in college, i have already been accepted to cornell!!! thats a huge difference… just do well for 3 semesters and then apply as a junior transfer… make sure u have a 3.8 plus and stand out with ur extra currics and youl get in</p>

<p>Unless you get a full two years under your belt at one of those schools, or take a significant amount of time off school before returing, your potential transfer schools are going to request your SAT scores, and the ones you currently have aren’t competitive for the schools in question. Even if you do get two years or some time off, many of them will request those scores anyway. So you either need to retake the test (and the schools will still have access to ALL your scores anyway, which could still set you back), or you need to completely sparkle on your application in another way in order to offset the SAT thing.</p>

<p>You will definitely need to try to do that 4.0 thing you’re plannin’ on, of course, and it can be done. I have a 4.0 after two years at a CC, while raising kids, etc., so it’s really doable. But you also need to demonstrate your potential through leadership and helping others. You should try to get involved in some extracurricular activities; clubs on campus, things that involve community outreach, and some academic clubs would help as well (Phi Theta Kappa is a great honors organization that you can most likely join if you’re at a community college- it depends on whether or not your school has a chapter, but hey, if it doesn’t you can START one at that school, and that’s even prettier on an app). Which leads me to my next point-- try to launch a program, start a local initiative, an organization/club/not-for-profit group, whatever. Be an entrepreneur, and be unique. </p>

<p>Start working on your essays NOW. Have people, academic professionals, on hand to help you revise your work. Establish the best possible relationships with your professors this semester, at whichever school you end up, so you can get some killer recommendations.</p>

<p>That’s all I can think of right now and I actually typed this up like four hours ago but didn’t actually click “submit” lol so god only knows what other people have already said by now…hope this isn’t redundant by now. :)</p>

<p>so which institute will you apply too…</p>

<p>certain schools in cornell like ilr, the one i just got accepted to, doesnt require sat scores… you should apply there…</p>

<p>As the other (kinder) posters have said, just work hard at whatever school you enter in the fall and keep a consistently high GPA. Good luck.</p>

<p>its possible check out the community college success stories thread, idk about UTA & UNT but at community college u should have no problem getting a 4.0, just go all out</p>

<p>It is important the OP understands how difficult the process is to transfer into these top schools. Simply having good grades will not sufficient. </p>

<p>For example, @transfer9858 was wait listed at NYU. A wait list decision demonstrates he/she had respectable HS grades. On the other hand, I quickly saw @chasethecarrot story and how her grades have been on the rise, etc. She is a unique applicant. Her experience brings something to the school that no other applicant can bring.</p>

<p>Most of the stories you hear of applicants with poor HS records generally went through an experience whether family related problems, substance abuse problems, or military service. After those experiences they were able to continue at school and excel. </p>

<p>I just bring this up because it may seem that transferring to a top school is very easy and only requires a 4.0. It’s generally accepted that if your HS grades were not competitive for freshman admissions and do not have a unique spin on your application, then the probability of admission is very low.</p>

<p>I’m confused. Are you saying one of the schools you are about to enter is UT Austin? Because, if so, you are not an average student. Maybe you are coming from a poor economic area, maybe your course load was tough, maybe your HS had grade deflation.</p>

<p>My vote would be if you can get into UT A, go there, especially if you are instate. It is an excellent school, so if you never transfer, you are still in good shape. Also, some schools do look at the level of school you are transferring from. Finally, the course work is more likely to approximate that of the schools you are looking to transfer to.</p>

<p>It’s not impossible to get a 4.0, but it is very difficult. Also, I would suggest only applying to schools whose names you can spell (Cornell has 2 Ls & there’s no R in Chicago btw). </p>

<p>If by UTA you mean University of Texas Austin, I second kayfs recommendation that you go there. It’s an excellent & well respected university.</p>

<p>UTA = UT-Arlington</p>

<p>UT = University of Texas-Austin</p>