<p>Hello and thank you for your help. I am in a bit of a dilemma, I am currently enrolled in the University of Florida (In State) and am thinking of transferring to the northeast or the west coast. I was stupid in high school and I didn't apply to the schools I probably should have applied to, and am currently here for the "free ride". I am a Physics and Mathematics double major and I am thinking of applying to the top schools (HYPS+ MIT, Caltech, Cornell, Amherst, Penn, Columbia, etc.)** My stats in high school were competitive (11/1150 students, 12 AP's [one 3, two 5's, rest 4's = 12 total], Varsity Basketball, several clubs, competed in MAO on national level, JETS at state level, etc.) and my GPA at UF is a 4.0 so far. I am a URM and a first generation college student. My high school was predominantly hispanic (~80%) and the stats from my school aren't that impressive. I am also going to do research in the particle physics lab this coming semester and I am going to retake my SATs (previously had 1310- should get at least 1450). I am looking for a smaller school, one where the intellectual atmosphere is high and one that is a good feeder school to the top grad schools.
Thank You Again,</p>
<p>**I am open to suggestions, and I would like an evaluation of what I can do to improve my chances.</p>
<p>if you're that into science caltech mit and cornell are the ones you should really consider within the schools you listed, and needless to say, you wound't have any problems getting into grad school coming out of those schools. So narrow down your list by doing some more research then perhaps I may be able to give my opinions on it</p>
<p>WOW, A UF student... I'm from Jacksonville... and like you I went to a FL college for like 1 semester i hated every minute of it, granted I didn't go to UF but visited and that small town is crazy... I live just outside Los Angeles now, and totally love it... So I understand your dilema. One thing you mentioned you are thinking of transfering to the west coast, one thing to think abot they seldom accept transfer (junior standing) students from out of state because they will consider in state student first. I personally went to a JC for a year and a half and now I will be transfering ( CALTECH is in fact right across the street from my apartment) to a UC. So research the schools you want to, learn what the transfer stats are from out of state, and just go from there. But keep in mind as far as CALI goes it will be difficult to transfer from out of state I'm not so sure about the other's you mentioned but its a good idea to look into it...
BEST of LUCK</p>
<p>Thanks for the posts,
I am narrowing down the list of schools and so far the list consists of the following:
MIT, Cornell, Amherst, Stanford, Harvard, Duke, Penn, Yale
I am also looking into Harvey Mudd, UVA, and UChicago - but I'm not entirely sold on them yet (if anyone could help me out with that it would be greatly appreciated). CNCL, I am looking into the heavy science/math schools but I am keeping my options open as far as the others go because I hate the fact that I have to specialize (I would like to be at a school with a flexible curriculum in which I can take interdisciplinary classes and still be able to research and whatnot). Pasadena, I would be applying for sophomore standing and I think the only school I am applying to on the west coast is Stanford (maybe CalTech - doubtful) but thank you for the reply and advice.
That is my list for now... any suggestions on which to add and/or drop? Also, what do you think my chances would be at the schools listed with the stats posted. (This coming semester I'm going to do research and try to volunteer at a local high school - tutoring students in math/science). Thank you very much.</p>