Continuation School to Marine Corps to Ivy League

Transfer Students
1

<p>Here’s my story. I came as close to dropping out of high school as you can, transferred from a private high school to a public high school then finally to continuation school where I eventually graduated. When I get my transcripts tomorrow I would be surprised to see a 2.0. I pretty much didn't give a *****.
After High School I joined the Marines. I was highly decorated, receiving numerous national awards for leadership in combat and job proficiency, completed 3 tours to Iraq (2 years in country) while occupying leadership positions well above my pay grade. I will have excellent recommendations and I’m pretty sure I can write a standout essay. I was in the intelligence field, so I was awarded a Top Secret//SCI clearance, very prestigious in the military but I imagine this would be irrelevant for college admission besides demonstrating trustworthiness and responsibility.
Well I got out of the Marines and just finished my second semester at Santa Monica Community College and currently have a 4.0. After Iraq, College is unbelievably easy and enjoyable so I’m 100% sure I will be able to maintain my GPA. But the Stronger my 4.0 gets the more prestigious schools I aspire to attend. I want to eventually land an ibanking or similar Wall Street job; I have wanted to work in finance since I can remember. Here is my list in order of precedence:</p>

<p>Cornell/AEM
NYU/Stern
UVA/McIntire
USC/Marshall
Berkley/Haas
Santa Clara/Leavy
USD</p>

<pre><code> Am I being realistic? What are my chances of getting into Cornell, Stern or McIntire? How much do you really think my military experience is worth? Are any of these schools out of the question? What can I do besides maintain my GPA?
The one thing my applications are going to lack is extra curriculars, this is going to be challenging since I am taking quite a bit more then a full time coarse load so I can transfer In time (I needed a lot of remedial classes). Should I just run for student president or something? I still have 1 year left; I plan on transferring as a junior. I don't think being the president of the veterans club is going to adequate. Any help/advice/comments would be appreciated.
</code></pre>

2

<p>I think you have a decent shot at Cornell if you're applying for AEM and about the same for Stern. Uva would probably be the toughest because you are OOS but the rest of them I would think you have a really good shot at getting into I'd say match.</p>

<p>I'd really look into UCLA and UCB especially considering you are in state. I really don't see why you would choose any of the other schools over those two as they are only marginally more prestigious and you would spend a LOT more money.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

3

<p>do you think I would have any chance at these schools if I applied as a sophomore w/ 30 credits, specifically Cornell? With scholarships, grants, the GI Bill and Veteran's aid all these schools should be affordable.</p>

4

<p>Your experience in the Marines, besides being excellent essay fodder, will set you aside from every other applicant. Your leadership positions whilst in the Corps will vastly outweigh those of school clubs and other such nonsense, so do not feel pressured to pad your resume with activities/club positions. </p>

<p>That said, have you taken your SATs? Given that you have another year before you will be transferring, you should consider investing some time into studying for them and increasing your options for other schools as well. Otherwise, good luck!</p>

5

<p>First off thanks replying,</p>

<p>I never took the SATs and from my understanding the SATs are designed to measure your academic capability in a very specific time frame. Without taking the SATs and with approx 30 credits do think my military experience and a 4.0 will be enough to keep me competitive for admission as a sophomore? or is it naive to think they will simply overlook my 5 year old HS transcripts so early in my college career?</p>

<p>So you have an idea of what Im working with here is one of my better write-up, the military takes no shame in a little embellishment :] </p>

<p>SUMMARY OF ACTION FOR SERGEANT CHARLES ARNDT INTELLIGENCE NONCOMMISSIONED OFFICER OF THE YEAR AWARD IN THE CASE OF CORPORAL BRANDON J. ST CLAIR 000 00 0231</p>

<p>Corporal Brandon J. St Clair was assigned as Intelligence Chief, Intelligence Section, Headquarters and Service Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, Regimental Combat Team 2, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force from September 2006 to May 2007. During the Battalion’s deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08, he was the only Marine of his grade and rank to function as an Intelligence Chief in Iraq. As an analyst, he displayed exceptional dedication, initiative, and a level of proficiency above his peers, which significantly contributed to the performance of 1st LAR Battalion during pre-deployment training and in support of combat operations during OIF 06-08.</p>

<p>Prior to deployment Corporal St Clair both designed and managed the development of two independent week-long Sensitive Site Exploitation (SSE)courses for the battalion, while also preparing the section’s Marines for Mojave Viper and the rapidly approaching embarkation process.</p>

<p>In the absence of the battalion Intelligence Officer, Corporal St Clair led the shop in creating a platoon-sized “Red Cell” to act as a designated opposing force for battalion exercises. He effectively task organized the shop to establish resident experts in topics ranging from insurgent ideologies to current in-theater insurgent tactics, techniques, and procedures. His innovative work increased the realism of the battalion’s organic opposing forces, ultimately improving the performance of platoons across the battalion. </p>

<p>Corporal St Clair also organized the creation of platoon intelligence cells, focusing on sensitive site exploitation and evidence collection. He developed a comprehensive course incorporating site exploitation doctrine from several different services and government agencies. His course also included a practical exercise for which he devised evaluation criteria and expectations for remediation, resulting in the training of over 150 Marines in advanced level biometric collection.</p>

<p>Immediately prior to Mojave Viper, Corporal St Clair accepted the role as intelligence chief. His prior planning and leadership allowed not only for the section’s successful execution of this culminating exercise, but also in the successful integration of 1st Reconnaissance’s Intelligence Section to create a joint intelligence center. For his actions Corporal St Clair was awarded a Navy Achievement Medal in December 2006.</p>

<p>Immediately prior to the deployment, Corporal St Clair supervised the creation of a Battalion Situation Room which allowed individual Marines to easily access developing information concerning our projected Area of Operations and to familiarize themselves with the AO. Concurrently he managed the embarkation process for the upcoming deployment with little supervision. Additionally, Corporal St Clair volunteered to deploy to Iraq for a third time and extended his enlistment contract.</p>

<p>Upon Arrival in AO Rawah in March 2007, Corporal St Clair’s steadfast dedication to his Marines training during pre-deployment exercises became immediately notable as the training he had conducted allowed the Bn Intelligence Analysts to successfully operate at the company level independently.</p>

<p>Corporal St Clair’s in-depth knowledge of company and platoon level tactics, learned while operating as a combat replacement with 3rd Battalion 5th Marines in support of Operation Al Fajr, in Fallujah in November 2004, for which he was awarded a Combat Action Ribbon and Certificate of Commendation, has significantly impacted the Bn. Those skill sets have enabled Corporal St Clair to develop IPB products and targeting packages specifically geared towards the Companies needs. Several of these products have led to the discovery of large enemy weapons caches and yielded the detainment of three Bn level High Value Targets.</p>

<p>Products Corporal St Clair has developed which have been instrumental in the success of 1st LAR BN are: The planning and development of a Bn map production and dissemination plan at a time when the ability to produce such products was very limited ensuring that all essential elements receive the maps that they need to operate. The development of an in depth Analyst Notebook Product linking key enemy personalities in AO Rawah. He revised an antiquated system of tracking reports and significant events into a searchable database, which has been adopted by the Bn. He also managed the meticulous tracking and reporting of detainees which resulted in the detainment of several HVT’s in AO Rawah. Corporal St Clair is responsible for the daily production and dissemination of an Intelligence Summary offering a daily threat assessment. Finally Corporal St Clair is solely responsible for the creation of an Immediate Apprehension List which fuses the Target Lists of Adjacent Battalions to AO Rawah which is expected to greatly reduce the ability of Insurgent Forces to transit between AO’s.</p>

<p>On Numerous occasions Corporal St Clair has briefed large audiences, the Bn Commander, and members of the Staff, to increase their situational awareness of the AO. Additionally, due to Corporal St Clair’s knowledge of intelligence systems, software, hardware, and databases the timeliness and quality of intelligence products produced by the S-2 section are drastically increased.</p>

<p>As a result of Corporal St Clair’s leadership, one of his Marines will be receiving a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his proficiency in his MOS and a second Marine from his section, a junior Marine, has competed for a NAM and is expected to be submitted for a Meritorious Lance Corporal Board.</p>

<p>Corporal St Clair excelled at every opportunity given to him, consistently displaying exceptional leadership, competence, sound judgment, and depth of professional and technical knowledge in the execution of his responsibilities in a section comprised of seven Marines most of which are senior Corporals. His outstanding performance is reflected in the success of 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion and his initiative, dedication and commitment to his unit, the United States Marine Corps and the United States of America unquestionably merit the recognition of the Sergeant Charles Arndt Intelligence Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Award.</p>

<p>CITATION</p>

<p>FOR MERITORIOUS SERVICE WHILE SERVING AS AN INTELLIGENCE CHIEF, INTELLIGENCE SECTION, HEADQUARTERS AND SERVICE COMPANY, 1ST LIGHT ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION, REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM 2, 2ND MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE. CORPORAL ST CLAIR WAS INSTRUMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF FIRST LIGHT ARMORED RECONNAISSANCE BATTALION BY VIRTUE OF HIS DEDICATION TO TRAINING HIS MARINES IN THE INTELLIGENCE CRAFT PRIOR TO DEPLOYMENT AND HIS FORCEFUL LEADERSHIP WHILE IN THEATER. CORPORAL ST CLAIR’S DEDICATION TO HIS UNIT AND HIS CORPS HAVE HAD A PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNTIY AS HE HAS DEVELOPED VARIOUS PRODUCTS AND INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES WHICH HAVE YIELDED THE DISCOVERY OF VARIOUS LARGE ENEMY WEAPONS CACHES, LINES OF COMMUNICATION, AND THE DETAINMENT OF THREE BATTALION HVI’S. HIS MOST PROFOUND IMPACT ON THE INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY HOWEVER IS EVIDENCED BY THE PROFICIENCY OF THE MARINES HE LEADS. CORPORAL ST CLAIR’S EXCEPTIONAL LEADERSHIP, INITIATIVE AND LOYAL DEDICATION TO DUTY REFLECT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND ARE IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE MARINE CORPS AND THE UNITED STATES NAVAL SERVICE.</p>

6

<p>A got a great rec from a former Army Ranger who was my history professor. So yes, the military does train one to write recs very well :)</p>

7

<p>Los</a> Gatos Weekly-Times - Cover Story | 0723 | Wednesday, June 6, 2007</p>

<p>Check out the above story - a Marine who got into Stanford after ccc. Note that the news article mentions he was waitlisted for Stanford - he has since been accepted and will be attending Stanford after his tour in Iraq. There are several articles about him online that are easy to find with google. I know him personally from ccc, he's an amazing person.</p>

<p>Annika</p>

8

<p>If you transfer as a junior, your high school record will be of little, if any importance (quite the contrary to the case of sophomore transfers), so no worries there. (Also, given the amount of time that has elapsed since high school, it is doubtful your record would be a liability.) </p>

<p>I would suggest investigating each prospective school and finding out if there are SAT/SAT II requirements for admission. (If there are such requirements, make the investment and study, as an impressive score will be sure to impress.) Likewise, I would get in touch with someone here (and at prospective schools) who is intimately familiar with transfer admissions for non-traditional (i.e. older) students to determine whether or not taking the SATs would benefit you as well as give you more directed advice. I really wish I could be of more help, but my [ostensible] expertise lies primarily with traditional transfer admissions. Good luck and Semper Fi!</p>

9

<p>That was a great article thanks for posting it. </p>

<p>Cornell's website states "The SAT, ACT, and SAT Subject Tests are not required for transfer admission" so this is good news for me. </p>

<p>I want to go to Cornell. Do you think its worth sending an application for sophomore admission? I can always apply again as a junior if i don't get accepted, but do you think this would be a waist of time? Should I just hold off applying until I finish 60 units? Can you chance me if I have a 30 Credit 4.0 and follow a parallel freshmen curriculum at my CC. </p>

<p>thanks again</p>

10

<p>it depends what school you are applying to, if it's CAS then you need to wait until you can apply as a junior would be my advice and taking SAT's would be preferable.</p>

<p>What is your reason for wanting to attend Cornell and the other schools other than just prestige? Do you really think being able to tell people you went to Cornell is worth the thousands of dollars you will have to spend because the GI bill is not going to pay for everything.</p>

<p>If you're applying there for the right reasons then go for it, I just think you should realize that UCLA and Berkeley are a better choice considering you are in state.</p>

11

<p>stclairbj - </p>

<p>Pick up the phone. Call Cornell. Tell the admissions office who you are and what you have done. Tell them that you would like to know if you should apply for admission as a transfer this year, or if they would like to see another year of grades from your community college. If necessary, ask to speak to the person in the office who specializes in non-traditional age students. They may have someone who does just that. You are not an ordinary transfer student by any means. With your professional credentials, you are in a completely different category altogether.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>

12

<p>Wow, my story is almost the exact same as yours except I was in the Army.
Anyway, I was accepted at Cornell AEM and Columbia. I am going to Cornell in the fall. I did have 60 credit hours so I don't know about only having 30, but I would say its worth a shot. One of the other things I did was an unpaid internship at a private wealth management branch office of a large bank. I think this helped show a little of my business interest and probably helped.</p>

<p>I would say that the skills you get from being an intelligent person in the military (in combat that is) are skills that no one else has, I'm sure you know what I mean, and I bet admissions officers know this.</p>

<p>Any way good luck, I'm starting an undergrad vets club at Cornell in the fall, so hopefully I find a few more people like us there.</p>

13

<p>Thanks for all the help and great information. I actually did finally end up transfering to usc/marshall with a 3.9 from Santa Monica College.</p>

14

<p>Thanks for the update, and congratulations!!!</p>