<p>Major: Philosophy
EC: Started a club for learning a constructed language
GPA: 4.0
Classes: Standard "core curriculum" introductory courses, Chinese
SAT: 2000 (retook this November 3rd) 660R / 570M / 770W (E:8 MC:80)
High school GPA: 3.8 or so
High school SAT: 1700; 580R / 450M / 670W (E: 9 MC: 66)
High school EC: Debate
High school AP: Eng lit 3, US Govt 3
Race: White</p>
<p>I realize my chances are low, however, are these two schools a reach or are they just impossible?</p>
<p>What college are you coming from? community? Are you applying as a junior or sophmore transfer? Really good improvement on those SAT's!</p>
<p>Thanks! Getting praise for anything SAT-related on this forum is really hard to do, considering how high your average CCer's score is ;)</p>
<p>College: Private, unknown, underachieving Catholic university. It's on par with your average "University of (state) at (unremarkable city)".</p>
<p>I have quite a few reasons for wanting to transfer, all of which sound good on applications and all of which I actually mean. Will those matter at all?</p>
<p>Cornell- good shot (if you are a junior transfer)
Chicago- reach, but it is for many many people. </p>
<p>Is your high school gpa weighted?</p>
<p>Now, a reason "sounding" good and actually having substance can be sticky. You need to be genuine, without turning mushy-if you get what I'm saying. As well, many people will most likely have similar reasons, make sure you are specific to what you can gain from B university that A does not have.</p>
<p>I was planning to do sophomore transfer, actually. Why would my chances be increased by being a junior transfer instead of a sophomore?</p>
<p>I'm not sure about the high school gpa. If it's unweighted, it's maybe 3.7 but no lower than that. I didn't take any AP classes until my senior year.</p>
<p>Good reason for Cornell: They have Cantonese courses, and are one of the few universities in America that offer them. Also, I'd like to go to their law school and being able to transition from Cornell --> Cornell Law would be bliss. They're one of the few universities within my reach that simultaneously offer so much that appeals to me.</p>
<p>Bump......</p>
<p>More credits with that GPA is more impressive. Maintaining a 4.0 throughout a whole year of college study is hard work. </p>
<p>Well, are you set on transferring out sophmore year? Do you have a back-up plan if you don't get into cornell or chicago?</p>
<p>How many credits have you completed before and after this semester?</p>
<p>I am definitely set on transferring sophomore year. I don't like the university I'm currently attending, and not all of the reasons for that are academic.</p>
<p>If I don't get into Cornell or Chicago I'll probably go to my state university, which I would be content with; it would be cheaper and I'd still have to take on massive debt for graduate/law school.</p>
<p>After this semester I'll have completed 16 credits; by the end of the year I'll have completed 32.</p>
<p>Yes, I see. Well, I believe Cornell is certainly in reach for you. You would have a better chance after another year, but I understand your predicament. I would add some schools to that list. </p>
<p>Cornell match/reach
Chicago reach
State safety</p>
<p>If you add a few more match/reach schools you'll be good to go. Possibly Northwestern, Georgetown, WashU, NYU, Emory, JHU, Vanderbilt, Umich?</p>
<p>Just some suggestions to get you thinking, let me know if I can be of anymore help. </p>
<p>Best of luck</p>
<p>I think cornell is more difficult to get into since he is a philosophy major. For A&S, which is the school philosophy is in, the acceptance rate for transfers is around the low teens or high single digits. I dont know anything about UChig and philosphy but I would think you have a better shot there. Anyhow GL and try applying to a few more schools to hedge ur bets.</p>
<p>
[quote]
If you add a few more match/reach schools you'll be good to go. Possibly Northwestern, Georgetown, WashU, NYU, Emory, JHU, Vanderbilt, Umich?</p>
<p>Just some suggestions to get you thinking, let me know if I can be of anymore help.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hmm.. I don't know much about those schools other than their names and a few people who attended them; I also can't afford to apply to all of them. Out of those, which would I most likely be able to get into?</p>
<p>I'm not sure what criteria you are looking for in a college. Just going from usnews/collegeboard, I would say you have a good shot at these schools: </p>
<p>"Virginia - 37.2%
Michigan - 39.9%"
-Brand_182</p>
<p>They are public, so even if you are out-of-state they will be a bit cheaper than most privates. Also you might want to try College of William and Mary.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I'm not sure what criteria you are looking for in a college.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I'm pretty flexible, but if I had to sort them by priority:</p>
<p>------priority------
1) classes that aren't so hard that it's near impossible to get A's in them; GPA is an extremely significant factor in law school and grad school admissions
2) strong law school (counts out JHU)
3) wide course selection
------luxury------
4) a price that won't decimate my debt
5) strong philosophy and/or political science program (could possibly double major)
6) less emphasis on a strong core curriculum
7) tolerance of radicals (for example, Columbia's hosting of Ahmadinejad)
8) "nerdy" or "geeky" attitudes (i.e. the reputations of Chicago, MIT, etc)</p>
<p>Not all of these are final; I realize that Chicago is in direct contradiction to 4) and 6), but I think it fulfills the others excellently.</p>
<p>Also, given that my old SAT score from high school was 1700, why do you think I have a shot at NYU? Don't they discount your newer SAT scores?</p>
<p>Admission into U-Chicago is, as I understand it, largely based upon your essays. If you write really good essays as a transfer you'll have a much better chance. Your letters of recommendation will then be the second most important factor by my estimates.</p>
<p>"1) classes that aren't so hard that it's near impossible to get A's in them"
"6) less emphasis on a strong core curriculum"
Then forget Chicago, which is known for it's rigorous core curriculum, grade deflation and a very tough grading "curve".</p>
<p>When you apply to law/grad school, they will look at your application as a whole. Thus, your gpa will be relative to the school you earned it at. A person graduating from a state university with a 3.5 gpa is not nearly as impressive as someone graduating from an ivy with the same gpa. </p>
<p>Now regarding your preferences, i will focus on the priorities--strong law school and wide course selection. These are some schools that I believe have both of those qualities:</p>
<p>New York University (usnews law school ranking: 4)
University of Michigan (usnews law school ranking: 8)
University of Virginia (usnews law school ranking: 10)
Northwestern University (usnews law school ranking: 12)</p>
<p>I believe with solid work in challenging courses at your university you have a good chance at these schools. I hope this is helpful.</p>
<p>Your posts have been extremely helpful, thank you.</p>