Chance a transfer applicant for this Spring?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey all! I'm currently taking time off from school due to medical mishaps and now reapplying to get back into college this year as a junior. Here are my stats.</p>

<p>Applying to: Barnard, Wellesley, Mount Holyoke (accepted after HS with $30,000 scholarship), Smith, Bryn Mawr</p>

<p>HS: International School of Boston
International Baccalaureate: Bilingual English-French Diploma
HLs: English A1 (7), History of the Americas (6), Spanish B (6), Biology (3)
SLs: French A2 (6), Maths (5)
Extended Essay in History: A
Total score: 36
Cum. GPA: 3.7
SATs: 2010
SAT French: 800
SAT Spanish: 710
ECs: Theater: Awarded honor for distinguished performance in drama
3rd Grade TA: responsible for planning material to teach the children, answering questions for them, helping ESL students, tutoring after class
School newspaper: responsible for layout management
Guitar</p>

<p>Undergrad: McGill University, Faculty of Arts
Entered as sophomore with IB credits
Major: East Asian Studies
Cum. GPA: 1.62 (yes, you read that right!)
ECs: Sexual Assault Centre of McGill Students' Society support group facilitator, </p>

<p>During my year off:
Harvard Extension School: History; Comparative Politics; Mandarin
Cum. GPA: 3.67
- Worked over summer at restaurant
- Traveled to Beijing on language exchange for six weeks at Peking University</p>

<p>In my essay, I talk about the emotional challenges I faced entering university as a 17-year-old in sophomore year. I focus on describing my passion for East Asian Studies, and my background as a multicultural person (I was born in Hong Kong to a Filipina mom and American dad, and I spent my younger years living in Tokyo and Singapore while attending French school). I explain the depression (due to a traumatic event in the end of high school) I experienced at McGill which jeopardized my ability to succeed - I underwent treatment during my year off while still taking classes at the Harvard Extension School, kept myself informed of East Asia in my spare time, and now feel mature and prepared to re-enter my undergraduate studies. In all honesty, my essay is the strongest part of my application.</p>

<p>I understand these schools are quite the reach for me due to my non-traditional background and lackluster academic record at McGill. I am in contact with transfer admissions officers at each of the schools, and will be meeting with all of them shortly as they are in my general vicinity. Furthermore, in the supplementary essays I focus on the individual characteristics of each college and why I'd love to attend. Because they are women's colleges, I feel more comfortable explaining in a separate letter the particular circumstances surrounding my depression - namely sexual assault, and how my experiences have drawn me to advocate for women who have gone through similar experiences (see work with my university's sexual assault center).</p>

<p>Being honest, do I have any chance at all of being accepted to one of these schools? Please feel free to suggest other schools I might be able to apply to. Thanks!</p>

2

<p>First of all, I’m sorry about your depression and trauma. Speaking from experience with the former, I know that’s very difficult to deal with, and I can’t image it being compounded by such a horrible event.</p>

<p>However, it sounds like you’ve really got it together. A lot of people would have given up after a bad first year, but you kept going and raised your grades significantly, which I think is very admirable. Given your background, improved academic performance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and strong essays, I think you certainly have a chance at these schools.</p>

<p>Other women’s colleges you might want to consider include Simmons, Meredith, and Mills. I don’t have personal experiences with those schools, but I’ve heard good things about them.</p>

<p>Good luck to you! Please feel free to PM me with any questions about Wellesley (I’m a rising senior who transferred in as a sophomore).</p>