<p>I am in my second year at the University of South Florida. I am preparing to apply to several top-tier schools as a transfer student and enter in the Fall 2011 semester. Depending on where I am accepted, I am interested in studying Engineering or Math/Physics/Computer Science. Ultimately, I would like to go on to world-class grad program. On the list are:</p>
<p>Boston College
Boston University
Caltech
Columbia
Cornell
Harvey Mudd
MIT
Pomona
UC Berkeley
UCLA
UF
USC</p>
<p>Here's some info about me:</p>
<p>
GPA: 4.0 (through 28 semester hours)</p>
<p>Fall 2009
A+ - Intro to Chem
A - Composition I
A - Humanities (Renaissance to 20th Century)
A+ - Precalculus (Algebra/Trig)</p>
<p>Spring 2010
A+ - General Chemistry I + Lab
A+ - Engineering Calculus I
A+ - Composition II
A+ - Principles of Macroeconomics</p>
<p>Fall 2010 (in progress)
General Chemistry II + Lab
General Physics I + Lab
Calculus II
Principles of Microeconomics</p>
<p>Spring 2011 (planned)
Calculus III
Physics II
Biology I
Other (What other classes usually transfer?</p>
<p>
[ul]
[<em>]Currently participating in an undergraduate research project studying wavelet transformations and their application in GPS satellite imagery.
[</em>]Held a management position in my father’s company (radio network) before deciding to go back to school and make it on my own. The volunteer and community service experience I lack, I make up for in leadership and management experience.
[<em>]Dropped out of high school in 2005 (Boston Latin School, Boston, MA). Got my GED in 2008. Scored in the 99.9th percentile on this exam.
[</em>]Took the SAT I, but no subject tests, in 2007. I scored 640/600 on Eng/Math without any preparing and having dropping out of high school two years before. I am retaking the SAT I, as well as SAT II Math Level 2 and Chemistry, in a few weeks (October 9th). I expect to score much higher this time around.
[<em>]I stand out in all of my college classes. Recommendations won’t be hard to come by.
[</em>]My girlfriend is a sophomore at Pomona and I have many friends at the Claremont Colleges. (Pomona will ask if I know any students at the college.)
[li]Earned a distinction for my writing in my first-year composition courses and was published in a University anthology.[/li][/ul]
1. What are my chances of getting into any one of the schools on my list? Should I have any safety schools in mind?
2. I am trying to take classes that have the highest chance of transferring to my new school. What fourth class should I take in Spring 2011?
3. Will retaking the SAT help my applications?
4. Born March 13, 1988, I will enter as a 23 year old junior. Will this hurt my chances of acceptance at any of these schools? Am I too old to play ball?
5. Will stating my intent to apply for need-based aid significantly affect my chances of acceptance?
6. Should I ever bother trying to transfer into Harvard?
7. Am I way out of my league?
8. What can I do to strengthen my application between now and when the chips are all-in? I am considering applying to write for the school newspaper and volunteering with a group that promotes literacy by visiting underprivileged groups and reading with them once or twice a week.
9. Do any of you who have been in my position have any advice to help me through this arduous process?</p>