So, a little background; I am an american citizen, but I went outside of the US for HS – in India. I went because my family adopted an Indian religion and I wanted to discover that heritage more. While there, I hated school, so I focused on many activities outside of the classroom, like indian dance, music, wrestling, art, religion etc… Anyways, I have a 3.2 GPA from HS and a 1520 SAT – no opportunity for APs and no preparatory support for the SAT.
However, since enrolling at a CC, I now have a 3.65 GPA (should increase after this semester), 3 prestigious internships, club/leadership positions, community service, volunteer work, I’m an avid martial artist and musician (of an indian instrument). I have really stellar essays, which communicate my passion for the environment (ignited by the adverse effects that the distressed environment in India had on me, from pollution etc) as well as more detail about my life growing up at an international boarding school in India. I also have two strong recommendation letters – one from a professor in my field.
I already got into a back up school, so I figured I would try my luck and apply as a transfer to more prestigious schools; Cornell, Brown, Vanderbilt and Columbia (General Studies), but I’m unsure about my chances, even with my nontraditional background. Thoughts?