<p>For students transferring for sophomore standing (as in the target transfer school sees only 1 graded semester and maybe a "progress report" of sorts for the second semester of college), how important are high school grades really? I know it depends on the school, but say for the top 15-top 20 on USNWR rankings that do accept transfers (nat'l universities, not LACs). I have heard something that goes like this: a 4.0 first semester cannot make up for below average HS performance (<3.2 UW) but can make up for above average HS performance (>3.5UW). But a lot of the top schools state that emphasis is pretty heavy on the HS transcript, which would leave kids that have improved a lot from HS to college in an awkward position. Does anyone have any personal experience/accounts regarding this aspect of the transfer application? Also, if anyone successfully transfered to a top school from a lower-tier school with low HS GPA/high college GPA, please share a little bit about how you overcame those odds. The inspiration would be greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>The high school grades and the SAT/ACT still come into play when attempting to transfer after only one or two semesters. In other words, if you didn’t get accepted to the target school as a freshman, it’s a stretch to think that you will be accepted as a transfer student with only 1 or 2 semesters under your belt. </p>
<p>If you are trying to transfer into a more selective college and you want your college record to play more of a weight in the admission’s process rather than your high school statistics, you should wait and attempt the transfer for your junior year. You will need a strong college GPA and excellent professor recommendations. EC’s in college don’t play a big part in the admission’s process. Concentrate on a achieving a high gpa and getting to know your professors.</p>
<p>Applying for sophomore year will place a much higher emphasis on your HS record. 1 semester of college work does not really gauge how well a student will do. Often, you start with your easiest classes and they get progressively harder. However, if you were very borderline, then a good first semester in college could very well be the tipping point of getting accepted as a transfer versus a freshmen.</p>