I am a freshman at Quinnipiac University double majoring in Computer Science and Journalism, but I’d really like to transfer to Vassar for the Fall 2017 semester, but I’m not extremely confident about getting in, as my high school record is far from impressive. I’ve really hit my stride academically in college.
COLLEGE:
My first semester at QU resulted in a 3.938 gpa (one A- I am still upset about)
I’m in one club, and write articles for the Odyssey Online and am going to join the QU satire newspaper team next semester. I am also applying for, and am fairly confident about being accepted to, the Honors Program for spring semester.
HIGH SCHOOL:
As for high school, I finished with a 94.37 GPA - we didn’t do a 4.0 scale.
My high school record is not the best but includes at least one honors or AP class every year (my school didn’t offer many).
I took all honors or AP histories, and honors English.
AP World 4
AP US 3
AP Euro 4
SAT scores are not very good at all:
superscore 1830
M: 590
W: 610
V: 630
EXTRA CURRICULARS:
I was a member of the yearbook (9th and 12th) and newspaper club (10th and 11th).
I played Varsity Field Hockey at school and played in a private competitive league (9th and 10th).
I have played numerous musical instruments for many years. Flute in the school band from elementary through 9th and continued to study privately thereafter, and guitar and ukulele for the past 7 years.
Volunteer at a summer camp every year for 7 years.
I have also had a job since I was fourteen, most notably interning (paid, thats why I consider it a job) at a law firm.
I have good recommendations from both high school teachers, employers, and college professors.
My school didn’t do rankings.
Race: White.
I am also the daughter of a 32 year veteran.
It’s hard to say. Vassar says that it’s looking for transfers of students who didn’t bomb high school (and you didn’t) and who did well in college (which you have). Being male would prob work more in your favor. OTOH your veteran parent might help.
It’s really hard to say, as it’s so competitive to get in (not so competitive once you’re there) but I would do your best to interview with an alumn and to make sure to lay out your case with him or her. Let that person know just how much you want to be at Vassar, how you’d fill out the community of Vassar, and that it’s your first choice–you’ve been working diligently to be admitted.
Expert tip: Look through the ECs at Vassar and everything you can read about it. During the interview use those as your talking points. You know, don’t be obnoxious and hijack the convo, but take a moment and say something like: how would someone like me fit into Vassar in your opinion? They talk. Then you follow up on their points and say; great! I can definitely see myself doing that and I also hope to do XYZ. Is that possible? Back and forth.
That sort of thing. Best of luck.
What are your reasons for wanting to transfer? My daughter is considering Quinnipiac, just wondering.
It’s really just not the right fit for me. I’m personally very introverted and do not enjoy going out and come from a humble middle class family - all things that most kids at QU do not have in common with me. I have great friends and for the most part I enjoyed my time there, it just really comes down to it not being a good fit for me. I kind of fell into the school after chickening out of going extremely far away to my first choice of UW (I live in New York.)
The only thing that really bothers me about Quinnipiac (and this is not a factor into my transfer, more of just an observation) is how entitled the other kids are. That’s really the only bad thing. So many audis and jaguars in the parking lot and a lot of impolite behavior. Maybe it’s just because I was raised the south for the majority of my life and had southern hospitality instilled in me as a core value that this affects me so much, but it makes me feel like it’s a more hostile environment among students.
I’m not at all sure about how this website works but if there is a such thing as direct message and you or your daughter want to know more about QU, I’d be happy to answer anything to the best of my knowledge.
On the whole I had a successful first semester, it just ended up not being the best place for me personally! 