Chances for non-traditonally aged transfer: UVA UNCCH DUKE (suggestions)

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Okay, I'll make this as concise as possible, and thanks for taking the time to read and respond.</p>

<p>I'm a 27 year old father of 2. I have UVa as my ultimate school of choice, both for my BA in History as well as my eventual goal of getting into Virginia Law. I live in California now, but am so tired of living out here and want to relocate to the east coast somewhere, preferably somewhere in the south, but close to both the capital and to snow resorts (even if they are not the most spectacular resorts, snow is snow if you make the most of it) and UVa has a great community life as well as prestige in its academics. End goal for me is to work in legislation or in the federal courts system, keeping options open to possibly hold a congress seat, so where I go to school has a fairly big role in my future. </p>

<p>Background: HS Drop out. yes, horrible to admit. A lot of things were happening around my soph/jr years of high school, including my dad passing away, and I just basically detached from everything and stopped caring. I went and got my GED right away (before 18 even) and then just kind of floated in life.
I attempted a semester in college, but dropped out of my classes (including an F) and did the 9-5 thing. Worked in a millwright shop and a few other things, but nothing seemed to fit, so I joined the Army Infantry.
Unfortunately, I had a medical issue that forced me to discontinue training, and brought me back to square one, but now depressed with my future back in limbo. I spent a few years slouching and just basically working to hang out and was just scraping by.
In 2009 I had my son, and things turned around for me mentally, but it took my daughter being born last august to push me into doing something about my future. So I quit working as an automotive parts sales manager and went back to school, to try again what I should have just done the right way the first time around, almost 10 years ago.
After a long and hard brainstorm session, I decided on what I wanted to attempt to do with my education and took a 12unit semester. I made a 3.5 with the Dean's list distinction.
I will be taking another 12 unit semester this fall, but to add to it I will be serving as the ASG Treasurer as well as picking up a part-time job and (if the interview on monday goes well) will be doing an internship for a congressional campaign. I intend to do another 12 unit load in spring, with a possible intersession class, and then apply for fall '13</p>

<p>Clean criminal record.
Step-father (who raised me, and died when I was in high school) dropped out of school in the 8th grade
Father (never knew) high school drop out, vietnam vet injured and became drug and alcohol addict
Mother went to a city college and received a radiologist certificate</p>

<p>no siblings</p>

<p>Native American with tribal enrollment</p>

<p>very low income</p>

<p>if there is anything else that would/could improve my chances, let me know, and if there are any other schools you might suggest for me, please feel free! Thanks in advance folks, and sorry that "try to keep in concise" turned out to be a mini-biography.</p>

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<p>You have an amazing story and I think you will get into all three of them as a transfer student, if you write about your life (everything you posted about why you dropped out, your father and stepfather, your jobs, and your kids/turnaround). The fact that your a native american helps too. You should be fine if you ace the essays.</p>

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<p>Thats encouraging. I would love to hear some more opinions, and I’m curious if I should maybe put some bigger names on my short list. georgetown, brown, harvard, schools like that; unlikely but are they worth considering? Id hate to limit myself and being forced into a cal state. I really want out of california and off this coast, but not into the midwest or deeeeeep south.</p>

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<p>Why not add the bigger names to your list? The worst that can happen is you’re rejected, at least you tried.</p>

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<p>Sounds reasonable. Okay add brown, georgetown, harvard and yale to my short list, and what should I do that would improve my chances? I’m looking fairly busy through winter, but I can do some last minute improvements in spring, concurrent with sending the applications. opinions?</p>

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<p>What should I do to have the best chance at brown, or am I fine with whst I have, and just hope for a good crap shoot</p>

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<p>UPDATE: I’m comfortable with UVA and UNC, I’ve ruled out big name Ivy’s, not only because I have less of a chance of being accepted, but financially I feel I’d end up over-my-head, both with tuition as well as housing. I have 2 kids, I’d need a 3 bedroom, large 2 bedroom at least, and housing around many of the Ivy’s is unattainable for someone in my position. So UVA and UNC for sure, anyone have others they feel may be a good fit for me? </p>

<p>My grades have dropped ever so slightly this semester, math especially. Im not a big math person. I should walk out of the semester around 3.2 overall average though. Still doing ASG, and have spent a large portion of my time going to committees for members who are less dedicated and available than I am making myself, which has translated into a good relationship with the schools president as well as the foundation board members, so getting one of them to write me a good rec letter that also reflects the large portion of time I set aside for these things added to my main job of being a dad to 2 toddlers should at least help to marginalize my dip in grades. </p>

<p>I took my SATs yesterday… yes, at 27 years old. I’m not going to go as far as saying it was THE most awkward moment of my life (i think that honor still lies with my first few showers in the military) but it was a challenge to ignore, that’s for sure. Judging by my practice scores and what I’ve been able to gather from what people have posted on the internet about which questions were wrong and right, I feel I can be comfortable expecting around a 600 on math, and 700-750s or so on CR and writing. not the most amazing scores or anything, but I feel they should make me a little more attractive. </p>

<p>with the slight dip in GPA, but with the addition of sat scores in the 1800+ range, as well as continuing student service, do you think my chances are still up there? I’ve had some correspondence with the admissions people over there, and the man I’ve been speaking with said with my credits and what not, they’d be considering me starting school there as a 2nd year, instead of a 3rd year, if that has any bearing on my chances. </p>

<p>Thanks for lookin’ folks :)</p>

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<p>UNC is a “reach-for-anyone” to out-of-staters, be it straight out of high school or for transfers, so your best bet is UVA.</p>

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<p>

Inform yourself before you post. State residency is not considered at UNC for transfer admissions.</p>