Being realistic or not: Chances of transferring to LAC like Reed, Oberlin,Vassar, or others

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>A brief introduction about my transferring situation and educational history. I moved to the States five years ago as a junior in high school, then went to a community college in SOCAL for three years. This year is my third year and will stay here for another year. The reason why I will stay here for four years is not because I was a part-time student, but because of switching majors and doing prerequisites. I did a lot of art studio classes in high school, current community college, and two art studio classes in Pasadena City College and Art Center at Night Program, respectively in order to prepare for a portfolio to apply as an Industrial Design major. However, even though pursuing a career in Industrial Design is still my goal, I acknowledged the type of post-educational system called liberal arts college that has to offer in the States since I started to learn more about the American college system in community college. Most importantly, many of my values and life philosophies are similar to or the same as that of the liberal arts colleges'.</p>

<p>Although I am still confronted with the language barrier, and I will be facing more language and academic challenges I, after one year of consideration, am eager to take on more obstacles. I believe in the training of being a critical global citizen and a creative un-learner given at a LAC. I have been pushing myself out of my comfort zone and keeping my pace to take more academically challenged courses and to do extra curricular activities in order for me to prepare for a four-year rigorous college experience.</p>

<p>Academic:
Majors: Art History, Philosophy
Honors program certificate: completed 15 Honors classes units within 1 year
GPA: 3.62 (Including 24 Honors classes units)
Because my career goal is to become an Industrial Designer, I took a number of art studio classes in high school, my current community college, and another community college, and a night program of a private art college.</p>

<p>Leadership Skills:
 Founder and External President of the Roosevelt Institute Campus Network Chapter on campus 09/2014 – Present
 Art Club President 09/2014 – Present
 Community College Mentoring Program 04/2014 – Present
• Maintain a close relationship with a mentee through sharing my college and spiritual experiences
• Communicate with a mentee on a monthly base about his or her academic and social life and share knowledge of college resources
• Understand a mentee's obstacles in life and give personal guidance or direct him or her to seek professional guidance that college has to offer
• Attend training sessions and commit to improve incoming students’ success
 Community College LEAD Program 08/2011 – 06/2012
• Certificates: earned both in Personal and Organizational Leadership upon completion of required hours
• Finished the program within two consecutive academic semesters
 Pacific Clinics CATALYST! 10/2010 – 05/2011
• Leadership training program for High school students
• Accomplished 31 community service hours
• Engaged in group exercises that involve team collaboration and team communication skills
• Searched for volunteer opportunities and started volunteer project as a team member</p>

<p>Volunteer Experience:
 Online Student Resources Intern 10/2014 – Present
• Research student resources available on other existing college access program websites (Ex: links to SAT prep, scholarships, college board, etc.)
• Establish list of most common resources available
• Meet with Promise Scholars Coordinator and identify which resources to include on the Promise Scholars website
• Create listing of resources
• Upload resources to Promise Scholars website
 Non-profit organization which preserves historically significant homes and buildings of a city 01/2013 – Present
Volunteer Internship – 3 - 4 hours per week
• Organize historical document according to subject matter
• Create inventories regarding the history and historical architecture
• Help set up booths for varies events
 Book shop 03/2012 – Present
Cashier and Book shelver – 3 hours per week
• Promoted the Prison Library Project to customers in the community
• Categorized books on book shelves according to subject matter
 Dwell on Design, Los Angeles, CA 2014
• Volunteered 8 hours in two days for this three-day event
• Monitored the products at the convention center and answered visitors’ questions regarding the show
 Spring Intern – Completion of 29 hours 03/2014 – 06/2014
• Assisted high school students and parents filing Federal Student Aid application (FAFSA)
• Inputted data entry from college visit surveys and created an Excel spreadsheet and bar charts
• Helped set up booth for 8th grade College Parent Information Night
• Participated in 5th grade College Letter Campaign where personally addressed 5th graders’ college questions </p>

<p>Honors/Recognitions:</p>

<p> Building Bridges, Honors Transfer Council of California 2014
• Selected to publish abstract “Enhancing the Quality of Interactions between People and Products: The Solution to the Problem of Unsustainability in Product Design”
• 1 of 75 to be accepted to publish abstract with close to 300 who presented at the conference
 Exemplary Achievement Scholarship, HTCC, Irvine, CA 04/05/2014
• Nominated by the honors program director and won a $250 prize
 Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC), Yearly symposium 04/05/2014
• Selected to present research paper “Enhancing the Quality of Interactions between People and Products: The Solution to the Problem of Unsustainability in Product Design”
 Building Bridges, Honors Transfer Council of California 2013
• Published research paper abstract “Will Americans Own the Knowledge Economy? A Discussion of the Challenge of American Education” in Building Bridges, 2013: Selected Abstracts of the HTCC Research Conference
 Writers’ Day Awards at my community college 05/2013
• Second Place Award for Critical Essay: “A Fallacious Argument about Cartesian Dualism” - $100 prize
 Research Conference at a Graduate University 01/25/2013
• Selected to present research paper “Will Americans Own the Knowledge Economy?” at a graduate school
 Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research, Yearly symposium 11/17/2012
• Selected to present research paper “Will Americans Own the Knowledge Economy?”</p>

<p>Work Experience:
Three one month entry-level work experiences for my summer breaks.
07/2014 – 08/2014
07/2011 – 08/2011
08/2010 – 09/2010</p>

<p>This is my first time posting here. And please let me know if I give detailed personal information in my resume. </p>

<p>Thank you in advance. </p>

2

<p>Some questions:</p>

<p>What year would you be applying to enter? None of these schools take a huge number of transfers, but most of the places that do exist will be for second year. </p>

<p>Do you have any financial constraints? financial aid for transfers is notably less generous</p>

<p>Have you looked at what art courses are available at these colleges? afik, none of them has any appreciable industrial design resources or classes- and after all the classes you have done you may find that they don’t have that much that you haven’t done. </p>

<p>The big schools for Industrial Design are places like Rhode Island School of Design, The Art Center (CA), Art Institute of Chicago, etc. Also some universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State and University of Illinois / Champaign-Urbana. </p>

3

<p>Check out Pomona, Pitzer, Occidental, Whittier, all Liberal Arts college in CA. Then, check out Liberal Arts colleges throughout the country. They typically take very few transfers each year.
For Art history and philosophy, the best school in the country is Williams. Getting in will be very hard but you have a record that’ll interest them, especially your research, and they’vegot deep pockets so financial aid should be okay.</p>

4

<p>@ collegemom3717 Thank you for your reply. Below is my answers to your questions. Please continue giving more guidance or suggestions. </p>

<p>What year would you be applying to enter?<br>
Fall 2015</p>

<p>None of these schools take a huge number of transfers, but most of the places that do exist will be for second year.
Yes, I understand that. And I also understand that I will most likely to be a Sophomore or first semester Junior status. </p>

<p>Do you have any financial constraints?<br>
Yes, I have. In fact, my Estimated Family Contribution (EFG) is $64.00, according to the FAFSA SAR Summarizes 2014-2015.</p>

<p>Financial aid for transfers is notably less generous.<br>
Yes, I am aware of that. So I am also taking schools’ financial evaluations into consideration. However, some schools like Oberlin offers need-based or meet full need financial evaluation. A person from Oberlin admissions replied that, “…We do meet demonstrated need for all students, including transfers, so if you EFC is 64 dollars, you can expect to pay that amount out of pocket at Oberlin as well, if you are admitted.”</p>

<p>Have you looked at what art courses are available at these colleges? afik, none of them has any appreciable industrial design resources or classes- and after all the classes you have done you may find that they don’t have that much that you haven’t done.<br>
My majors now are Art history and Philosophy. I will pursue a degree in Industrial Design after completing my B.A. degree. </p>

<p>The big schools for Industrial Design are places like Rhode Island School of Design, The Art Center (CA), Art Institute of Chicago, etc. Also some universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State and University of Illinois / Champaign-Urbana.
Yes, I have researched Rhode Island School of Design, Art Center (where I have earned credits through taking a design drawing class of their night program - Art Center at Night.), Carnegie Mellon, University of Cincinnati (Comparing Ohio State with University of Cincinnati, I feel University of Cincinnati is more well known because of its Co-op program). I asked one of my Art History professor was teaching at Art Institute of Chicago some questions about the atmosphere there, but not asking him particularly about the Industrial Design program. So far as what I have researched, Art Institute of Chicago was not a big name for Industrial Design. Pratt Institute has a good program as well. After reviewing the rankings of America’s best architecture and design schools that the magazine Design Intelligence conducted in 2013, I realized that some of the schools that you mentioned might be renowned for their graduate programs. The schools that I mentioned have reputable undergraduate programs.
One of the reasons why I switched my major to Art history and Philosophy was that I did not have a professional portfolio to present. It is still true that if I want to be admitted to one of those reputable schools and granted with a generous financial aid package for me to attend, I need to have money to pay for someone to instruct me on how to build a portfolio. Without any FAFSA, I could afford to take any Art Center at Night program class. A 2-unit class cost me $720 without buying art supplies, which was about $200-250. Then, I turned to take classes at Pasadena City College because some professors came from Art Center However, since I was a full time student at my community college, I needed to go to PCC on the weekend by taking bus - a 3-hour ride. That was a bit not easy for me. </p>

<p>Thank you for your advices again. That made me think more possibilities and know the reality that I am facing as a transfer student to a rigorous LAC. Understanding that brutal reality, I am applying Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship this year. If you are familiar with that scholarship, you would know how generous the scholarship is, but at the same time how competitive that is.</p>

<p>I look forward to seeing your reply soon.</p>

5

<p>@MYOS1634 Thank you for your reply. Below is my answers to your questions. Please continue giving me guidance or suggestions.</p>

<p>Check out Pomona, Pitzer, Occidental, Whittier, all Liberal Arts college in CA.
Yes, I did. The other two LACs I will apply are Scripps and Pitzer. Pomona is impossible for me as Pomona requires SAT I and two SAT subject tests. I did not take any SAT while I was in high school. I am only considering taking SAT I in order for me to apply to LACs that require only SAT I scores. I have taken that test on October 11th. Not surprising, I totally bombed the test. Oh, well, that is another dilemma that I have right now. You could read my another thread if you have more suggestions for me. </p>

<p>I was not interested in Occidental and Whittier. Recently Occidental was brought up by two of my Philosophy professors - one is a Occidental graduate and the other professor was saying that after graduating from Occidental, getting admitted to Harvard graduate is high. Although I am not a big fan of Harvard, I will probably apply to Occidental, but not Whittier. Whittier is a bit less rigorous to me. By the way, is it true? </p>

<p>Then, check out Liberal Arts colleges throughout the country. They typically take very few transfers each year.
I am checking out LACs throughout the country, and I understand that brutal reality - low transfer rates. </p>

<p>For Art history and philosophy, the best school in the country is Williams. Getting in will be very hard but you have a record that’ll interest them, especially your research…
Williams is the number one LAC, and of course, that have the best Art history and Philosophy program. The face that Williams is the number one LAC throw me off and that makes me not even think about transferring to there. I presume that most of the somewhat selective to competitive LACs would have good Art history and Philosophy programs. However, can you tell me more what made you say that my EA and research experiences might interest them. Are you a student at Williams? Sorry, I would like to take your advise, but at the same time I need to know if that advise is trustworthy and reliable. </p>

<p>and they’vegot deep pockets so financial aid should be okay.
Yes, I have heard of that. However, Williams is way too high for me to reach, and thinking about transferring to there would really make me be an unrealistic person. Sometimes I kept asking myself if the goals that I set for myself make me sound unrealistic? </p>

<p>Please give me more insight and I look forward to seeing you soon.</p>

6

<p>@collegemom3717 Thank you for your reply. Below is my answers to your questions. Please continue giving more guidance or suggestions.</p>

<p>What year would you be applying to enter?
Fall 2015</p>

<p>None of these schools take a huge number of transfers, but most of the places that do exist will be for second year.
Yes, I understand that. And I also understand that I will most likely to be a Sophomore or first semester Junior status.</p>

<p>Do you have any financial constraints?
Yes, I have. In fact, my Estimated Family Contribution (EFG) is $64.00, according to the FAFSA SAR Summarizes 2014-2015.</p>

<p>Financial aid for transfers is notably less generous.
Yes, I am aware of that. So I am also taking schools’ financial evaluations into consideration. However, some schools like Oberlin offers need-based or meet full need financial evaluation. A person from Oberlin admissions replied that, “…We do meet demonstrated need for all students, including transfers, so if you EFC is 64 dollars, you can expect to pay that amount out of pocket at Oberlin as well, if you are admitted.”</p>

<p>Have you looked at what art courses are available at these colleges? afik, none of them has any appreciable industrial design resources or classes- and after all the classes you have done you may find that they don’t have that much that you haven’t done.
My majors now are Art history and Philosophy. I will pursue another degree in Industrial Design after completing my B.A. degree.</p>

<p>The big schools for Industrial Design are places like Rhode Island School of Design, The Art Center (CA), Art Institute of Chicago, etc. Also some universities such as Carnegie Mellon, Ohio State and University of Illinois / Champaign-Urbana.
Yes, I have researched Rhode Island School of Design, Art Center (where I have earned credits through taking a design drawing class of their night program - Art Center at Night.), Carnegie Mellon, Pratt Institute, and University of Cincinnati (Comparing Ohio State with University of Cincinnati, I feel University of Cincinnati is more well known because of its Co-op program). I asked one of my Art History professor who was an professor at Art Institute of Chicago some questions about the atmosphere there, but not asking him particularly about the Industrial Design program. So far as what I have researched, Art Institute of Chicago is not a big name for Industrial Design. After reviewing the rankings of America’s best architecture and design schools that the magazine Design Intelligence conducted in 2013, I realized that some of the schools that you mentioned might be renowned for their graduate programs. The schools that I mentioned have reputable undergraduate programs.
One of the reasons why I switched my major to Art history and Philosophy was that I did not have a professional portfolio to present. It is still true that if I want to be admitted to one of those reputable schools and granted with a generous financial aid package for me to attend, I need to have money to pay for someone to instruct me on how to build a portfolio. Without any FAFSA, I could afford to take any Art Center at Night program class. A 2-unit class cost me $720 without buying art supplies, which was about $200-250. Then, I turned to take classes at Pasadena City College because some professors came from Art Center However, since I was a full time student at my community college, I needed to go to PCC on the weekend by taking bus - a 3-hour ride. That was a bit not easy for me.</p>

<p>Thank you for your advices again. That made me think more possibilities and know the reality that I am facing as a transfer student to a rigorous LAC. Understanding that brutal reality, I am applying Jack Kent Cooke Undergraduate Transfer Scholarship this year. If you are familiar with that scholarship, you would know how generous the scholarship is, but at the same time how competitive that is.</p>

<p>I look forward to seeing your reply soon.</p>

7

<p>More profile about me:
I am not an underrepresented minority. I am Asian. I am looking into competitive LACs for the sake of having intellectual conversations and a student body that appreciates the art of multidisciplinary. I am not very social. I am the kind of person who rather have a group of closed friends. I like all kinds of sports, music (Jazz, Bossa Nova, and electronic), and traveling. I do not have a long list of EA because I like to stick with one and find the meanings of the things that I do. I do not hold many leadership positions because I am more focusing on making every seemingly little task more meaningful to me - such as shelving books. I even dislike introducing myself, Co-President of blah blah club, and sometimes I felt like not bragging myself might put me at a disadvantage in terms of the admissions. </p>

<p>I am also very intrigued by and well aware of current issues ranging from political to cultural to religious and to economic topics. I firmly believe that multidisciplinary learning is the future, and creative and effective solutions deeply involved interdisciplinary thinking. Cultivation of interdisciplinary ability not only is my philosophy in higher education, but is also what I have been striving for through educational system and self-education.</p>

8

<p>Williams is known not just as #1 LAC, but also for its art history department. It’s THE program where you want to be. In addition, being Asian may actually be considered URM there (as it would at a school like Carleton, or at Bowdoin, etc; rural LACs in the Northeast and LACs in the Midwest, even if not rural, don’t have many Asian applicants. :slight_smile: )
If your EFC is $64, then you would likely get a fee waiver. Apply: I’m not saying you’re a shoo-in, but rather that you have a shot. Try it. (BTW, I’m not a student at Williams. :p)
I would also recommend UChicago (although it’s a reach and not a LAC) and Carleton (previously mentioned and sounds like a great fit considering what you like – Northfield has bars where legendary jazz musicians perform, it’s more laid-back than its east coast equivalents, and its vibe is very similar to what you like.)
Top LACs are very interested in students with research experience, especially since it’s rare among community college students. It’s one of the best “academic activities” to do. In addition, your recognition in that field is impressive.
Jack Kent Cooke is super competitive but you’re right to try and go for it. :slight_smile: Keeping my fingers crossed for you!</p>

9

<p>Please excuse my typo:</p>

<p>I even dislike introducing myself <em>as</em> Co-President of blah blah club, and sometimes I felt that* not bragging <em>about</em> myself might put me at a disadvantage in terms of the admissions.</p>

<p>Without any FAFSA, I could "not have* afforded to take any Art Center at Night program class. </p>

<p>@MYOS1634 Thank you for your lengthy replay and patience for reading my response. I appreciate your reply, and I have one more question for you. You recommended UChicago because of its atmosphere of the city of Chicago or its core. Please bear with me if you felt that I asked too many questions. I think I would have applied to UChicago if I would have had the chance to apply UChicago as a high school student. I found their admissions essays very amusing, non-traditional, creative, and challenging. Writing those essays’ questions would really make me take a self-discovery trip. </p>

<p>Many thanks to your sincere comments. </p>