<p>@annasdad-Thanks for taking the time to read my (long) post! I really appreciate it! </p>
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<li><p>I suspected as much, as I know the schools I listed practically don’t accept transfers (and I think Princeton literally doesn’t), so I’m probably going to end up applying to borderline targets instead (ex. Haas, Ross, U Chicago, etc.). I’m planning to attempt to develop an inside connection at every school I’m applying to, which should slightly help my chances. One more question-how will schools view my transcript from my first go at college? If they’ll average my gpa from my first two years with that of my second, it won’t even make sense to apply to the type of schools I’ve listed… Is there a way to put an asterisk on my first two years and have them consider my application on the strength of my second try?</p></li>
<li><p>I think you might have the wrong idea. If I was just going to sweep my past under the rug, I wouldn’t be here seeking advice. I’m trying to see if there’s an appropriate course of action for me to take, by which my application will be evaluated on the strength of the transcript that I earned while not under duress. </p></li>
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<p>@boysx3-Thanks for the advice! I may end up going to a “lesser” (caveat: I’m not one to believe that there’s a linear relationship between prestige of a school and quality of education provided, but I’ll use that terminology since my major goal is to get into IB) school, but it doesn’t make sense for me to consider grad school. My reason for attending college is more for getting an IB analyst position than anything else. My end goal is to trade my own account for a living, which doesn’t require any degree at all. I don’t need to attend school for the money that may come afterwards, as there’s plenty of opportunity where I am now. So, in short, my motivation for going back to school is essentially to serve my own vanity in finishing what I should have started immediately following HS. Thus, failure to get into a target (or borderline target) school means that the opportunity cost of forgoing $XXX,XXX/year to attend X state school, that won’t get me an IB job, is too great. </p>
<p>So what do you guys think my chances are at borderline targets? Again, that’s with a ~4.0 and mid-1500’s on the old SAT. </p>
<p>Thanks again for the feedback!</p>