<p>I am from Poland. I am currently a undergraduate student of Polish University, 16th ranked in Poland. My currently cumulative GPA is about 3.2-3.3 - so low. BUT.</p>
<p>I want to apply this Autumn to US College, to Top 10-25. Harvard is just my dream. My results in high school were about 3.89 GPA, best student in school two times (last two classes), double Prime Minister scholarship. During studies I wrote and presented one paper on International Conference. </p>
<p>Of course I have also another skills in sport and some achievements in addition like co-authorship of numismatics book.</p>
<p>I know that I have to have very high SAT score to be in good situation, but please answer to these two questions:</p>
<ol>
<li>I will be 24 years old, applying to College. Is it a problem? What about Ivy League in this situation?</li>
<li>Is it possible to be accepted to BA program in Top College's after BA abroad? How this fact would decreas my chances?</li>
<li>Will they asses me with my high school achievements, GPA, SAT etc, WITHOUT or WITH my studies result? WITHOUT option would be better of course.</li>
</ol>
<p>In addition - I've been playing hockey since primary school - I am dreaming about playing in College League. I heard that this fact maybe could help me in admission... What do you think?</p>
<p>You would be paying full fees, if you got in as a transfer student, anywhere, if that is even remotely possible. You already have undergraduate experience, so I doubt that they would consider you as a freshman applicant and your HS records might not be considered.<br>
Harvard is a reach for anyone and, given your history, I think it would be extremely difficult.</p>
<p>It is very unlikely–probably impossible --that any college would accept you into an undergraduate program if you have already completed an undergraduate degree. If you want to study in the US, your best path is to complete your undergrad studies in Poland and then apply to graduate school in the US. However, if you will have completed no more than two years at your current school, you could theoretically transfer to an undergraduate program in the US for the remainder of your undergraduate education, but your current GPA would be the most important factor in your application. Assuming your grading system is analogous to that used in the US, a 3.2-3.3 will not qualify you for transfer to a top 10-25 school, and Harvard is out of the question. If your hockey skills are truly world class, it’s possible that you could attract the interest of a college hockey coach and overcome your academic limitations–but that is very unlikely. To answer your other question, your age is not an issue–your issues are credentials and money.</p>
<p>In fact, in moment of applying (Fall 2014) I would be before my last semester in Poland. So in that moment I would have completed an undergraduate degree. I’m aware of my low GPA (but here, get super high GPA is almost impossible - education system is postcomunist and often the tutors too… but it’s not a topic here), so I am quietly counting on my high school, best results…</p>
<p>What about reason I just want to change my major (from engineering to i.e. economics) and I became interested late in studying in US? Thus I had to pass SAT’s and other stuff and it’t time consuming for international student. Thats why I’m applying now, and during my Polish undergraduate program. Probably I would have partial funding also.</p>
<p>Some places do admit students for a second bachelor’s degree. Harvard doesn’t. You will have to check each place individually to find out what their policy is.</p>
<p>You will need to pay for the second bachelor’s yourself. Can you do that?</p>
<p>Look at graduate programs too. You might be able to do that instead.</p>
<p>Even if you were to change majors, you would be considered a transfer student, not a first year student (“freshman”) since you already have a university education behind you. </p>
<p>There is almost no financial aid for transfer students. </p>
<p>I believe you will be too old to play a collegiate sport (if I’m wrong, someone please correct me) so that avenue is out too.</p>
<p>Happymomof1 has a good suggestion: explore graduate programs. In some fields, it is not necessary to have an undergraduate degree in the same fields. (For example, business or law.) Just keep in mind that unless you are accepted to a doctorate program, you will be expected to pay the full tuition, since most master’s programs or professional degrees do not offer extensive financial aid, only loans to U.S. residents.</p>
<p>If you wish to pursue BA/BS (why not to do masters?), is finaid a main issue? Quite broad specter of options is available for “additional” degree.</p>
<p>Again, if money matters do not bother you as much then consider for example tuition-free universities in Finland or Norway (you will still have to pay for room and board, but to find 10k aid is more possible than full ride if you need one)</p>
<p>Some visible advantages are (example about Netherlands):
duration: 3 year course instead of 4
2 languages instead of 1 (studying in English and attend classes for Dutch)
much easier to get into with your HS stats and testings. also no one will bother you and require college credit transfer if you dont want to do so.
closer to home and cheaper (transportation)
lifestyle is completely different from US in EU countries.</p>
<p>But its up to you. Ive been still wondering why dont you apply for any MA.
What is your main goal as for now regarding education?</p>
<p>Katliamom - “university education behind you” - it means to have completed degree or even one term/year/even month of studies?</p>
<p>Mimicore - I live in Central Europe, I’ve been to Scandinavia lot of times - those countries are not so far, they are brilliant and people are nice. But the quality of education is not as good as in the US. Of course, there are exceptions. But the greater reason is PEOPLE, CULTURE, LIVE and SPORT APPROACH… I’ve been to US year ago and fell in love. Different culture, so open, so kind, so pleasant. </p>
<p>Can someone confirm or correct that I would be too old to play a collegiate sport? Starting college at 24, especially Ice Hockey?</p>
<p>You are considered a transfer student if you’ve previously been enrolled at a university. Graduating from a university and trying to enroll for a second Bachelor’s degree only makes the situation more difficult. </p>
<p>About age - this is what I found through Google, on a site called sportscholarship.com If you read carefully through the various websites online, you’ll discover it’s not easy to be a recruited athlete. Most schools look for top players from recognized, top amateur leagues. </p>
<p>“Applicants for an official license to play sports at university or college level in the USA must be between 18 and 24 years of age or no further than the 6th Semester at university, as most scholarships are available only during undergraduate studies towards a Bachelors degree.”</p>
<p>If you are in your 3rd year in the Bologna System, you could target all Ncaa division 3 and especially NAIA colleges where hockey is important (probably all the Northern States) by filling out the prospective recruit questionnaire with your stats and age, and see if some coaches reply.
However if your goal is the Ivy league, that won’t be possible, especially if you need financial aid. Your option for the Ivy League is to be the best in your current program or in another program (in your country, another European country, or the US) and be admitted to a PHD program to prepare your Master’s (and then work on research for a PHD).</p>