Chances-

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>Looking for chances at a transfer to Ivies, most interested (obviously) in HYPS. Also, if anyone feels qualified, I'm extremely interested in Oxford and Cambridge, though I'm aware that it would be a whole different ball game in that case.</p>

<p>White/Male, though I look Hispanic, Italian, or anything else slightly brown.</p>

<p>Home: Southern California</p>

<p>Current School: Brigham Young University, Provo (45.5 credits)</p>

<p>Major: English Linguistics, Music minor, Econ minor - would look to study linguistics at transfer college</p>

<p>Honors Student at University</p>

<p>Current GPA: 3.73, will be 3.85 or so with one more semester (retaking a C class that I flaked out on) and could even be raised higher if necessary (would retake a couple B+'s in that same semester if necessary), rigorous schedule. - Note: I'm not sure what the universities' policies on retakes are, but my gpa is still on the rise regardless. That C really messed me up.</p>

<p>ACT: 34 (36 reading, 36 science, 35 english, 32 math) first sitting, no studying (so if retake was necessary, could study more)</p>

<p>SAT: 2080 (CR 720, M 690, W 670, Essay 8) first sitting, no studying (so if retake was necessary, could study more)</p>

<p>APs: 5 Music Theory, 5 Stats, 4 Language and Lit, 4 Language and Comp, 4 Gov and Politics, 4 US History</p>

<p>High School GPA: 3.6 UW, 3.9 W, no clue what class rank was, but not anything worth putting on an app.</p>

<p>HS Graduating Class size: 750, competitive school due to size</p>

<p>EC:
-Two years in Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine working for church (self-funded)
-Fluent in Russian, good knowledge of Ukrainian
-Eagle Scout
-Patrol Leader and Senior Patrol Leader in Boy Scouts
-Duty to God award in Church, requiring significant time investments of community service (appr. 50 hours) in addition to self-improvement tasks (much like Eagle Scout, really, but with a more religious emphasis)
-Four years, 5 days a week 6am church seminary program during high school, plus awards every year for being an outstanding student
-Significant community service for both Boy Scouts and Church other than Eagle Scout and Duty to God (hundreds of hours, though not entirely sure of exact numbers)
-Trip to Tijuana, Mexico to build houses for homeless
-Numerous meaningful youth leadership positions within church
-Level 10 Certificate of Merit accreditation for Piano, still actively involved w/ piano
-Lead in Fall Play of Senior Year
-Lead in Spring Musical of Senior Year
-Member of top school choir
-JV member of Cross Country and Track team grades 9-10
-Significant public speaking experience in church (w/ audiences of 200-300 typically)
-2 Summers work experience as full-time (40hr/wk) Camp Counselor for 6-9 yr olds and 9-13 yr olds, the kids loved me. =P
-Dishwasher at restaurant during college 8hrs/wk while taking more than full class load (this is my ticket in, for sure)</p>

<p>Excellent Essay and Recommendations, I typically do very well in interviews.</p>

<p>I actually leave to do the two years of church work in October, so all of this is really at-some-yet-unspecified-date kind of stuff. Still, I need to think ahead because I won't have a lot of time to handle this kind of stuff when I'm in Ukraine, and it's never too early to figure things out. So treat this as if I was applying for next Fall.</p>

<p>I'm banking on my extensive (and extremely sincere) commitment to my church, and the efforts I've made there. I hear that these schools value diversity, and I figure a religious nut like myself actually is a lot less common than the typical intellectual agnostic/atheist that you see so often. I am not, however, a close-minded zealot, and have probably asked more questions and considered things more than most non-religious folks, and continue to do so. I assume I could address this in my essays. </p>

<p>Anyway, am I completely out of the question for Harvard, Yale, and Stanford? And, though this could be a significant stretch, does anyone have any idea of what I'd look like for Oxbridge, even if it's just as a visiting student for one year? Thanks.</p>

2

<p>I already responded to your other "chances" thread.</p>

3

<p>Alright, I think I'm gonna go ahead and let the other thread die. Sorry for the double post.</p>

<p>Calcruzer said this:

[quote]
Harvard and Yale, no; Stanford, maybe</p>

<p>You should retake the ACT or SAT and shoot for over 2200 to have any chance.</p>

<p>As far as Oxford and Cambridge--they don't take transfers--although you can take a year of study there through many overseas study programs. I'd start with the one from University of Minnesota, since that one is the easiest to get credits transferred over from no matter which college you end up at.</p>

<p>Good luck.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've got another question, too, Cal - so should I retake the ACT, even with my 34 (and, excluding the math score which I have no plans to pursue educationally whatsoever, would have been a 36)? Or does the SAT make a lot better impression? I'd really rather not retake if I don't have to, seeing as when I would get around to taking it I will have been out of high school for 3+ years.</p>

<p>Also, what's keeping me from Harvard and Yale so certainly? The GPA? AP's? High School stuff in general?</p>

<p>One last thing - Any ideas on how I might fare for UCB, Columbia, and Dartmouth?</p>

4

<p>Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Harvard all are no.</p>

<p>I'd also ask the Brigham Young registrars office if anyone has transferred sucessfully to those schools. Very few students who are happy at BYU would be happy at more liberal schools.</p>

5

<p>It's the full picture. Good but not great GPA at a not very selective college. Good but not great scores. Good but not great ECs. Great recs are professors saying you are one of their students ever and had a key role in research. That and great stats is what HYPS get from transfers. I know 2 3.9s at Yale with amazing recs and scores turned down by H and S. I don't, unfortunately, think you're close.</p>

6

<p>Collegekid100 explains my reasoning pretty well. The competition is just too tough. You will be competing against 4.0s from JHU doing top-flight medical research, people doing interships in foreign embassies out of Georgetown with 3.95s, NYU students working on Wall Street with 3.9s at Stern that started their own businesses at the age of 15. And these people will have SATs above 2270 and ACTs of 35 and 36--which you do not.</p>

<p>Competition for Harvard, Yale, and Stanford is tough--and I haven't even mentioned the international pool of candidates that will be applying.</p>

<p>But I'd go ahead and apply anyway--there is always a chance. (Note: A few years ago a Cal State University student that was simultaneously majoring in three different areas with a 4.0 got admitted--so it can happen.)</p>

7

<p>^Yes, because the Cal State student was a triple major with a 4.0. Of course he got in.</p>