<p>I have two topics that I'm gonna post questions about in hopes that someone will answer them properly, thanks. :) </p>
<p>1) What does the term URM mean? & on college app's, do you have to specify whether or not you are classified as one? (All I know is that people have been saying "Yes, I'm an URM" or "Are you an URM?" or "Being an URM has greatly increased my chances of attending a prestigious univeristy.") </p>
<p>2) Let's say I attend a "regular" university such as St. John's in Manhattan, NY for first year admissions. If I maintain a 4.0, will I be able to transfer to univeristies like Columbia, or Dartmouth? Or will I need to have other things on the side like volunteer hours or things like that? I was told be a number of people that if I don't get accepted into an Ivy for first year admissions, then I should give up my hopes of transferring because it's impossible. Is it true? & this is because I'm scared of whether or not I'll get accepted to an Ivy given my current situation.
Thanks for all responses. :)</p>
<p>For reading my essay, I will answer your questions!</p>
<p>1) URM means under-represented minority. Examples are hispanics, and native americans. You do not specify if you are a URM on your common app because just my selecting your nationality, the college will know.</p>
<p>2) Okay, I am not an expert on Ivy admissions but I have never heard of giving up and not trying to transfer. However, you need to check with both the “regular” college and the Ivy league as to the transferability of credits. Sometimes, the classes you take do not have transferable credits to Columbia or Dartmouth.</p>
<p>You still need to remain active (i.e. volunteering, if that’s what you like) to get accepted as a transfer. Being a transfer does not let you bypass the standard application process, so you still need to “wow” the admissions people.</p>
<p>What is your current situation? And by your name (or more specifically the 96) I get the feeling you are 15/16 years old. How are you a senior? Is that your situation?</p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : Oh, ok. Thanks much for answering my questions. Helped a lot. I’m classified as South Asian (bc I’m from Pakistan) so am I an URM? Thanks
& well, being 15 and not taking the SAT’s yet or the SAT II’s yet is my situation. I don’t know if I can take the exams in time and score high enough for Ivy’s. & My school allowed my to take more classes each year for the one year jump. :)</p>
<p>It is not too late even for ED1. The next SAT is October 6th and you’ll get your scores by October 21st. There’s one November 3rd and MAYBE if you contact the school you can have the scores sent right there and still do ED1. </p>
<p>So, best case scenario you do SAT in October and SAT 2 in November. </p>
<p>This, of course, is assuming your doing early decision. If not, you have three test dates to work around!</p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : I am actually planning to take the Oct. 6th SAT but I’m a bit scared because in my practice exams I scored a 1380 then a 1620 I don’t know if I’ll score any higher. I want a 2000 or above, but that seems to be more of a dream then an expectation. :(( Same for the SAT II’s :((
Can you tell me any programs or preps I can do before Oct to score higher? Btw, what’d you get?
& Im considering RD , not ED.</p>
<p>International students are never considered URM’s. To be considered a URM, and thus given an additonal favorable factor consideration for admission at many colleges, you need to be African American, Hispanic American or Native American. Many also treat American women as URMs if they apply for engineering.</p>
<p>Transferring to ivies is not impossible but very difficult except that Princeton takes no transfers. The other ivies have low (less than 10%) transfer admission rates. Your high school record and test scores are still considered important when applying for entry into second year, and thus if grades and test scores were too low for admission as a freshman you should assume you are on the likely reject pile if applying for entry into sophomore year even if you have a 4.0 first semester freshman year They are of much less importance when applying for entry into junior year. You must check each college to which you intend to attempt transfer to see what will be required. For example if you are transferring into a major at an ivy, you may need to have whatever required courses that are usually taken by freshman at the ivy when applying for entry into sophomore year and also by sophomores when applying for entry into junior year. Stellar grades are imperative. ECs, college professor recs, and essays are also important.</p>
<p>There are SAT prep courses available online through Kaplan and Princeton Review (there are dozens more, but these are the more prominent ones). Sometimes they advertise a 150 point increase guarantee, but unfortunately that doesn’t mean much. </p>
<p>Are you saying what did I get on the SAT? If so, I got a 2150. I think you’ll be able to do much better on the regular test than the practice ones. It’s hard to sit down and do a practice test seriously because you know it doesn’t count. </p>
<p>@harborceal : well, that’s pretty unfortunate to hear. Lol</p>
<p>@drusba : I’m not an international student. Doesn’t that mean your a student in a schooling facility outside of the U.S ? I was born and currently reside in NY, lol. & Oh, ok. I see what you mean about the transfers. So if my HS gpa isn’t that high when I graduate, will it affect my transferring app? I have really good EC’s, recommendations and essays. So that’s not something I want to worry about. (M’A) but thanks, I appreciate the help.</p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : Im actually in a Kaplan course but I still have doubts. :(((( I feel like a baby with all this nagging, lool. I apologize. & wow, I’d be elated if I scored the same on the SAT’s as you did. you have a higher chance than me to get accepted to the universities we were previously talking about lol. Btw, congrats.</p>
<p>Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll do fine! And even if I have a better chance (which I doubt!) it doesn’t matter because if I apply to any ivy league it would be UPenn only I’m more of a Lehigh guy :P</p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : Haha, thanks man. If there’s one CCer that can successfully raise a wary students’ hopes, it’s gotta be you! And, actually, I just finished with a practice SAT (taking it as seriously as I possibly could) and scored at least 130 points higher on each section. So, hopefully, with a bit more studying and practicing I could score as high as you did!
& Lolol, you seem like a genius from everything I know about you (even though my knowledge on you is quite insufficient). You seem like Columbia material! Lol =)</p>
<p>And that’s great you scored that much higher!!! At least a 390 point boost? Nice! I do love Columbia, actually. It’s just there are some schools I’d rather apply to and I don’t want to spend SOO much on college application fees!</p>
<p>I can’t wait to find out if you get into Columbia! Are you applying ED?</p>
<p>No problem!
& yes, about that much higher in total ! I’m very happy but this should only show me that I possess the potential and that I should work harder to achieve my desired goal.
& actually, no I’m hopefully going to apply for RD. only bc I think I should have time for two SAT dates if I’m not satisfied with my score.
I really do hope I get into Columbia! I’d legit die of happiness, haha.
& I sincerely hope you get into Lehigh!! :)</p>
<p>If you apply ED to Columbia you still have time for both the October 5th and November 5th SAT dates. All you have to do is have them sent to Columbia BEFORE they are released to you.</p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : That’s possible? How? & thank you for the info! I didn’t even know! so I am planning to take three subject tests in November, can I still send those scores as well? & one other thing: isn’t applying ED to ivy’s risky? Bc aren’t there more higher qualified applicants ? I don’t wanna be amongst students with stellar academic records whilst mine is essentially lacking.</p>
<p>If you are competitive enough to get into an Ivy through regular decision, then the worst that can happen to you is that you’re deferred from ED to regular. So, apply early and you’ll get an extra round of applications to try for acceptance. </p>
<p>When you take the SAT, you will have the option, for I think 10 days after you take it, to send the scores for free to up to 4 schools. So yes, do the November 5th SAT and have those scores sent directly to Columbia and anywhere else you want to apply to. </p>
<p>November 15th is the deadline, but they’ll get the scores by November 20th, well before they actually need them. </p>
<p>@Lehigh2017 : If I am “deferred” to RD, what does that mean? Does it mean that I can apply to my desired schools a second time?
& oh ok, thanks, I didn’t even know you could send it in before it comes to me.
Are you going to apply ED?</p>
I don’t know if I’ll score any higher. I want a 2000 or above, but that seems to be more of a dream then an expectation. :(( Same for the SAT II’s :((
And, actually, I just finished with a practice SAT (taking it as seriously as I possibly could) and scored at least 130 points higher on each section.