<p>I think I have finally formulated my final list of colleges that I'll apply for transfer to for the Fall 2009 semester. My qualifications for schools were: 1) located in or near a large city; 2) far away from home (I live in TN); and 3) excellent academics. I did decide to include one school from my home state, just in case I need to live near home (for assorted reasons)</p>
<p>Here's the relevant information about me:</p>
<p>I am currently a second-year honors student at a large, public state university in the southeast. So far, I have completed 49 credit hours with a 4.00 GPA. I am a premedical student, planning on majoring in Biochemistry.</p>
<p>For extracurriculars, I volunteer at the university's affiliated hospital twice a week (about 6 hours/week) and play intramural basketball. I also spend a lot of time working out and playing pickup basketball. I have a contact in the Biochemistry department that would let me shadow her research... Should I take her up on the offer next semester?</p>
<p>Here's the list... I would like to get some feedback (specifically, which are reaches, fits, safeties, etc.):</p>
<pre><code>* Boston U
* Carnegie Mellon U
* Case Western Res. U
* Claremont McKenna C
* Johns Hopkins U
* Northwestern U IL
* Occidental C
* Pitzer C
* Pomona C
* U Chicago
* U Miami
* U Pennsylvania
* Vanderbilt U
</code></pre>
<p>UPenn, NU, JHU, Carnegie Mellon, U Chicago, are some of the best schools in the country. However, they are a crapshoot for anyone. For example, UChicago looks for a very particular kind of applicant (just like MIT, for example, looks for a very particular kind of applicant,) so a 4.0 won't get you in unless you're able to demonstrate exactly how you'll contribute to the campus.</p>
<p>Having made this grim statement, you're certainly in the running. Your ACTs are OK, but they won't matter too much now that you are a sophomore. I know that a 4.0 at a large state school is not easy, so kudos! Start thinking about how you're going to convince the admission committees that you are a great fit for their schools.</p>
<p>It's not set in stone. If you look at UC's application, you'll see that it stresses intellectual spark - like most top schools, they don't just want a hardworking student, they want somebody with a story who can add on to the campus. UC is unusual - they even call it the 'un-Common application.' You should get to know the schools individually beyond the Wiki articles and admissions brochures.</p>
<p>I'd take the bet, not because jjay isnt an exceptional applicant (she is), because like viola said lots of those schools are complete crapshoots...she'll get into most of them though</p>
<p>Pomona's going to be EXTREMELY hard too, as hard as the Ivies...I was reading a thread with the 2008 transfer results and stats, and someone said they only accepted like 10 people for Fall '08...</p>
<p>But I think you have at least a decent shot at almost all of them. I'm sure when decisions come out, you'll have some really good options.</p>
<p>Yeah, Pomona is difficult to matriculate into as a transfer, but I am discussing playing basketball for them with their head coach. Maybe that will help me get in.</p>
<p>As for Johns Hopkins, I'm removing them from my list because they do not offer financial aid to transfer students. Do any of the other schools on my list have the same policy?</p>
<p>parisha, I have contacted my list of schools through email about the issue, and the following have stated that they offer financial aid to transfer students:</p>
<p>Vanderbilt University, Occidental College, Case Western Reserve University, Northwestern University, and Stanford University</p>