Cumulative vs. Major GPA in Transferring

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>My current status: I am a college sophomore and have a 3.2/4.0 cumulative GPA at a top 20 university.
Prospective schools for transfer: UPenn, Dartmouth, Columbia, Duke, UVA, Brown</p>

<p>I'm interested in applying as a History major for my transfer applications. The 3.2 GPA mostly resulted from my failed efforts of pursuing the pre-med track, which I dutifully gave a shot to satisfy my parents; I ultimately became miserable and hated it (I'm not strong in sciences and math, but in humanities and social sciences) and recently changed my major to History.</p>

<p>3.2/4.0 is my cumulative GPA, but in terms of History, my major GPA is 3.5. </p>

<p>Assuming I get straight A's this semester, my cumulative GPA would be 3.46 and my major GPA would be 3.67. </p>

<p>Obviously, cumulative GPA is taken into serious consideration. But would colleges take into consideration major GPA? That is, to note my chemistry grades but also observe that I am specifically looking to apply to their History departmental major? Would they give more weight to my History course grades (as I am applying to that major, after all) rather than science and math courses?</p>

<p>I hate to be a cliche, but I was one of those people who did their parents' bidding and was a pre-med grind before I just had enough and wanted to pursue History, which I love. </p>

<p>Would my cumulative GPA really hurt me if I'm looking to transfer as a History major in those top schools I mentioned above? What about the major GPA - would that make any difference at all?</p>

<p>I do realize they are all the most competitive schools in terms of transfer admissions, but I truly have legitimate reasons to transfer out of my current school (which I firmly believe is weak in everything except math, science and engineering). </p>

<p>I'd greatly appreciate any input.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

2

<p>I would expand your list of schools. WashU, Northwestern, Rice, Chicago all tend to be much more open to transfers than the Ivies.</p>

3

<p>not to thread jack or anything.</p>

<p>but I’ve always been wondering. When you calculate major GPA, what courses does it include? For example, would a business major only include courses such as economics, business law, etc? Are courses such as Calc I (which are required for the major) counted in?</p>

<p>thanks.</p>

4

<p>i’ve always been told that your major GPA is calculated from the required classes, and not the liberal arts core classes. so, if you were to look at my major, there are something like 52 liberal arts credits and then 60 required major credits. i only use the required major credits and not the liberal arts core.</p>

<p>you can count Calc I if you wouldn’t count it in the core curriculum.</p>

5

<p>Do not waste your time. You will not be a competitive transfer student with a 3.2 unless you have some mitigating circumstances like being blind or taking 24 units a semester etc.</p>