Hello, I will be applying for Chapman next year, previously went to a UC but now will start at SMC in the fall. (i previously left my uc due to them not having my major, and for health reasons)
What can I do to be more competitive?
Major:Strategic and Corporate Communications
GPA: 3.12 (screwed up my first math class, but showed an upward trend because I got a B in math last quarter)
School: Previous work at a UC, now going to SMC
Igetc? No
High School: I was on a sports team for all four years, participated in several clubs, got a sorta low gpa (3.1, damn math!) My SAT score wasn’t very good either, but I hope they won’t look at that)
EC’s: 3 Internships (One that led to being employed afterward), Starting to volunteer for 3 organizations ( reasoning behind not volunteering before was that I was on a sports team and had hardly any time, had a lot of health stuff happen to me in college and high school which limited what I could do and what I couldn’t do) Am planning to join clubs
Essays: Going to talk about my health reasonings, how I suffered severe depression and anxiety through my first year, had previous serious health condition resulting in two surgeries, how I felt that I needed to be close to home (or should I talk about something else?)
Only bring up the depression if it’s something that you have overcome and have had the time to demonstrate that through higher grades/test scores. Play up how you overcame it, don’t make it sound like it’s an excuse for marks lower than you feel you can earn.
Don’t being ypndepreasuon although you can cite “serious health problem” and mention heart condition. Your essay should focus on why x major and what makes you qualified for it, why this particular university is uniquely suited to your giqls and strengths, etc.
Agreeing with @MYOS1634. When you are transferring in, a college expects that you are no longer a wide-eyed 17/18 year old just getting your feet under you- they expect that you have developed a sense of where you are going and a maturity to have identified the best way for you to get there (for example, do your internships link to your major?) . Very brief, factual explanations of things with a direct bearing on your academic past are fair, but as @Matt846 said, it should not come across as either unresolved or making excuses. Time to step up as an adult, not a teen.
Thank you all! I was wondering, do I still list my ECS from high school? What do you think a good GPA is to get in?