Hi!
I am a transfer student seeking to matriculate into either Barnard or Wesleyan for the Fall 2017 semester as an undergrad junior. I am kind of in a panic because my SAT/standardized test scores are so bad I am afraid it will affect my chances. Do you think I can get in?
Current School: Public Ivy; regional campus attached to a public state school
Major: English (However, I am seeking a school with more to offer in Creative Writing and Film Studies.)
GPA: 3.812; Major GPA: 4.0
SAT: 1520 (SO bad, I know. Unfortunately, my schedule is so ridiculous (i.e., all over the place and I am terrible at organizing) I did not have the chance to retake them at all during college. I am certain if I did have the opportunity to take them now I would probably get at least a 2000+ and certainly would be more determined to crack the 2000 mark, too, than I was in 11th grade. Bleh. While I am trying to take the ACTs in April, I realize I am definitely pushing it close to having my test scores reviewed; nonetheless, Barnard said if the scores reach their offices in time – which is unlikely, but still – they are willing to review it with my application.)
College ECs:
Intern for nonprofit publisher
President of Creative Writing Club
Tutor/mentor for disenfranchised elementary school students
Writing Center tutor/writing consultant
Fiction editor at multiple lit journals
Interim managing editor for literary arts collective
Assistant for professor/local poet (ton of archive work, curating, etc.)
Honors Program member
Several online publications (I wrote a lot of TV reviews for websites and I currently write for a feminist magazine)
Attended competitive writing workshops (e.g., Yale, etc.)
Also, works several jobs; currently a barista/cashier
College Academic Awards: I was recently recognized in a big fiction award on campus and I was the recipient of a competitive scholarship/award honoring students who excel in their declared major.
High school ECs: Intern for a museum, GSA, worked for several literary mags, but that’s really it…
High school GPA: 2.9-3.1? Honestly, I have no idea. (Again, my grades sucked. However, I am not going to detail all my high school awards/ECs because none of this is included on my current resume nor does it really matter this far in my college career.)
Additional notes: African-American, female. I am not sending my test scores to Wesleyan since they are test-optional. However, I am sending my test score along with my essay(s) to Barnard (since I did surprisingly well on the essay section), but I am keeping my fingers crossed they are willing to take my (incredibly late) ACTs. I also sent my writing portfolio featuring my short fiction and scripts.
Also, I previously applied to Wesleyan as an ED applicant back in 2014. I currently have 42 credits. I am looking at anywhere between a 3.7-3.9 for this semester thus far…
Reasons for transferring: I go to an incredibly small campus attached to a Public Ivy school. My current campus offers only 15 majors, not even nearly as much ECs, and I have felt incredibly limited in terms of finding ECs and outside opportunities that match my interests/career goals (despite the fact I started my own club). I want to get internships that pertain more to my interest in film/TV production and creative writing, neither of which my school offers and/or offers a limited amount of. While I could move onto the larger main campus, I genuinely want to attend a small liberal arts college that can offer what I want in terms of my career interests and long-term goals, too (which I have highlighted plenty in my application). Wesleyan and Barnard certainly fit the bill: they both offer strong film studies programs/concentrations, both have a small class-size ratio, a liberal arts focus, formidable creative communities and opportunities, and – especially in the case of Barnard – are in an environment teeming with opportunities. Honestly, I can go on and on why I feel passionate about those schools – and I certainly have in my application – and I honestly cannot imagine going anywhere else at this point.
Pros: compelling reasons to transfer, strong essays (I tried to write all my essays in an experimental, narrative fashion), strong writing portfolio, presumably strong recommendation letters (I have 4; too much?), strong ECs/academics, huge upward trend in high school grades, IB diploma, etc.
Cons: Too many introductory courses (however, many of which were converted to Honors credit), terrible high school grades and SAT scores, lack of APs, etc.
Do you think I have a chance at getting accepted to those schools as a junior?