<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>I'm new to the community in the sense that I've never posted but old in the sense that I've lurked advice for a long while now. I'd like to ask for opinions as to what the next steps in my college progression should be, because the path I've followed so far is unconventional and application time is almost here.</p>
<p>Here is my history:
-Oregon resident
-Scored about 1780 on SAT throughout high school, maintain a 3.8 or higher GPA, always swamped myself with extra-curricular drama/sports/student government/music/community service
-Graduated high school a year early in summer 2011 through a degree program at a community college (I had the state-credit requirements accumulated throughout highschool)
-Reconsidered my music composition major ideas after a private music theory instructor advised against it
-Decided to embrace my entrepreneur tendencies (at the age of 17, I've already owned a few small-scale businesses) and pursue a business major because I like thinking that way
-Began looking at different schools that accept sophomore transfers
-Am currently enrolled in a community college commuter school</p>
<p>Here are my preferences:
-My ideal place to end up would be New York. It is a dream to go there and the idea of the city is riveting.
-Seattle is my pick number two city-wise. California would be cool but meh.
-I wouldn't die if I stayed in Portland :)
-I would be happy almost anywhere in the country, I'm not a picky person and am inanely optimistic
-I figure if I'm in the realm of Ivy league, why not shoot for higher-up schools?</p>
<p>Things I've currently decided:
-Taking the ACT in December
-Taking the SAT once more to see if I can boost up to at least 1850
-Get good grades and stay involved at my current campus (am in student government with credit waivers and have a job outside of school)</p>
<p>Places I'm pretty positive I'm applying to (ordered by reach, pretty sure, and safety schools) :</p>
<ol>
<li>NYU's Stern (top pick)</li>
<li>Pennsylvania's Wharton</li>
<li>Ann Arbor's Ross
____________________________</li>
<li>Babson College</li>
<li>CUNY Bernard M Baruch's Ziclkin</li>
<li> ?
__________________________</li>
<li>University of Washington Seattle Campus</li>
<li>University of Oregon</li>
<li>Seattle University's Albers</li>
<li>Portland State University</li>
</ol>
<p>What do you guys think of my picks so far? Any suggestions or comments? What do you think would fit best in pick number 6? Any insider tips or tricks?</p>
<p>Thank you so much for feedback!</p>
<p>bump</p>
<p>Would it serve me better to post this in a different subforum?</p>
<p>I wish I could help you but I really don’t know very much on that subject. But, you might want to also post this on the transfer-student subforum located here: [Transfer</a> Students - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/]Transfer”>Transfer Students - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>I know from pure experience, transferring into top universities is much, much harder than getting accepted out of high school originally. I graduated in Texas in the top 10%, which meant I was an audo admit to any business school in the state, McCombs being one of the them. I ended up going to a CC about an hour away though…I didn’t know if I really wanted to study business or music either. After a few semesters, I decided I wanted to study business and took all the freshmen and sophomore business classes. </p>
<p>Anyways, I ended up trying to externally transfer to Texas, ranked #10ish, Texas A&M, ranked #25ish and Baylor, ranked #60ish…I was intially rejected from UT and TAMU, but accepted to Baylor. What I didn’t know from the onset was that even though you need 2 accts, 2 econs and so on. Many programs don’t have exactly the same curriculum and completing the right coursework and on time is really important to make your application “more put together.” Especially when you were transferring with as many hours as I had, I ended up getting into TAMU later on. </p>
<p>What I would say is that as great as it is to have many options and being open minded, it really does become a set back in a way. I learned the hardway, you need to have a plan. One or two reaches that you can say you researched and have worked towards…</p>
<p>What makes your situation different from mine though, is that you are reaching for the stars with your choices. I think that is great because even though you are coming from a CC, you do seem to have a very unique experience and education. IMO, if you are applying to big publics, it is best to sit tight and finish the exact set of courses they find important. More esteemed privates though, they want you to transfer much quicker. Idk, about Stern, Ross seems like a descent shot, I think Penn is a serious reach. If they even accept transfers…</p>
<p>Thank you for the responses thus far!</p>
<p>Some more information that may help:</p>
<p>I am 17 years old. I am in my first seasonal term of classes, and there are 4 terms offered in one year. My financial status is middle ground; I have passive streams of income that could pay for OOS public universities, like a CUNY school, with little hassle. For universities like NYU, my financial security would be a reach, just like my application chances.</p>
<p>My middle ground and safety schools take price into consideration, and some are on the list namely because of their price. I do, though, subscribe to the idea that one’s college experience has more value than a price tag; if I had an opportunity to experience more life and be poor, I’d rather do that than be only satiated to a mediocre extent whilst eating out.</p>
<p>To derekallen2009:
Most of my applications would be due in April of 2012. This thread and all the work I’ve done is my preparatory instinct being almost a bit unreasonable 
But I want to be sure that when application time comes around, it is easy and stress free, to ensure the best chances of acceptance that I can.</p>
<p>I won’t actually apply to any schools until I’m in my third term at CC because I want a hearty resume on my application. I’ve researched all of the schools above and they do indeed accept transfers. I also have lists of the classes I need to take, links to info, contact, and application page for each school, and the costs of all of them on a spreadsheet. This is a big decision and it requires adequate preparation.</p>