Do I have a chance of transferring to an Ivy League?

Transfer Students
1

<p>First things first, I guess I should say that I didn't exactly make the best choices while in high school - my grades were low, my classes weren't particularly hard, and my ACT composite was about four points behind where it should have been. I only applied to one school (Michigan State University), which rejected me, even though I had been admitted to their early-early decision program. </p>

<p>I'm almost done with my first semester of community college, and will almost certainly have a 4.0 after finals. As January is fast approaching, I'm looking to put together some transfer applications, though I don't know to which schools I should apply. MSU is one of my obvious choices, given my proximity to the university and experience on campus. Lately, however, I've gotten it into my head that I might be able to get into an Ivy League or otherwise more prestigious school, though I don't know if such a goal is at all realistic for me. </p>

<p>I'll cut myself short here and give you all a laundry list of my achievements, or, perhaps more correctly, lack thereof...: </p>

<p>Academic </p>

<ul>
<li>High school GPA: 2.86 </li>
<li>ACT composite: 28 (35 Reading, 33 English, 24 Science, 19 Math) </li>
<li>12 transferable AP credits </li>
<li>4.00 community college GPA (15 credits, 4 classes)</li>
<li>Sporadic honor-roll placement</li>
<li>Number of academic awards (Physics, Technology Education, Math, Global Studies, etc)</li>
</ul>

<p>= My senior-year grades weren't as bad as years past. I had all A's my first trimester, A's and B's my second trimester, and then A's, B's, and one C+ my last trimester. I've never had a problem getting all A's when I go to class and pay attention - frankly, I don't really even need to pay attention or study, it's just a matter of having any clue what's going on. </p>

<p>Employment: </p>

<ul>
<li>McDonald's (05/2011 - 10/2011) </li>
<li>Jimmy John's (09/2011 - present) </li>
</ul>

<p>Extracurricular: </p>

<ul>
<li><p>Center for Inquiry - Michigan State University (CFI-MSU) - I'm currently serving an advisory position on the governing board of MSU's CFI-affiliated registered student organization. I participated in a discussion panel earlier in the fall, speaking in front of a mostly-full auditorium on campus. Only been involved since September. </p></li>
<li><p>Michigan State University - YDS - basically a socialist group on-campus, even though I'm not a socialist. Don't know if this would be something I should bring up, as I'm no longer active with the organization and have always been politically independent. </p></li>
<li><p>Emergency Department volunteer at a hospital - been active in the ER for close to three years now. Everybody there knows who I am, and I sometimes get called in by staff members to perform high school and MSU volunteer orientations on weekends. </p></li>
<li><p>Figure skating - ice dancing - two and a half years. </p></li>
<li><p>Theater on Ice - "Little Shop of Horrors" - leading role. This is a new development for me. Going to NYC for some exhibition in early January of 2012. </p></li>
<li><p>Fencing - fenced for six years through a community education program. Dates would likely be from about 2005 to 2011. </p></li>
<li><p>Wrestling - wrestled from second grade to ninth or tenth. Don't know if that would be relevant or not. </p></li>
<li><p>Aikido </p></li>
</ul>

<p>= I was also a county coordinator for a (failed) democratic House campaign in mid-Michigan. </p>

<hr>

<p>That's really all I've got. I'm hoping that my community college grades can help to overcome the nastiness that was my high school GPA. Please give me any advice or feedback that you might have - I'm certainly a realistic person, but I'd prefer that people tell me what I can do to bolster my chances as an applicant, rather than giving me a simple "yes" or "no" in regards to my credentials. </p>

<p>Ironically, considering my math ACT score, I'd like to major in physics. I'm actually very proficient in mathematics, it just so happened that I neither prepared myself for the ACT nor basically ever attended a full week's worth of algebra in all four years of high school.</p>

<p>On that note, would it be worth my while to consider retaking the ACT? I know that colleges aren't going to look at the subscores, but 28 is much lower than where I could be. </p>

<p>Thanks. </p>

<p>Here are some of the places I'm thinking of applying to: </p>

<p>Michigan State University; University of Michigan; Columbia University; Cornell University; Brown University; Boston University</p>

<p>Please give me any suggestions you might have on any schools that might be good fits for me and my major. Note that I don't expect to get accepted into Columbia or Cornell, but I'd at least like to try. I'm poor enough that I should be able to waive application fees.</p>

2

<p>For schools that selective, at the very least you will be better off applying as a junior transfer. Admission for sophomore transfers puts more emphasis on the high school record than for junior transfers. </p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1231535-transferring-ivy-league-school.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/1231535-transferring-ivy-league-school.html&lt;/a&gt; as well as the stickies on this forum are a good place to start for more information.</p>

3

<p>I can’t really see any of the ivies accepting you at this point, sorry to be blunt. However, I could see you having a good shot at Michigan (if you’re in-state) or maybe BU. I would recommend that you keep your GPA up near a 4.0 and apply as a junior transfer to the aforementioned schools. You should also start hardcore studying for your ACT (it’s never too early) and aim for as high as possible. (definitely 32+) I don’t see any leadership positions in your EC’s as well. </p>

<p>Transferring (to an ivy) is a lot of hard work. The problem with applying right now is that as a sophomore transfer, your high school grades still matter a lot. Seeing that you didn’t perform as well as you liked in high school, you should try and put more of the focus on your current situation at your community college. You can do this by junior transferring. Also don’t just look at the “ivy” name. Look to see which style of university fits you best. Good luck!</p>

4

<p>I would say if you can keep up what you’re doing, Michigan is your best option. Contrary to what the above poster said, you do not have a good shot at Michigan for Fall 2012. But if you can get another strong semester, you absolutely have a very realistic opportunity for Winter transfer to Michigan. I know I’m very much biased towards Michigan but still, hear me out. As an in-state student, Michigan is obligated to make sure you have all the financial aid you need to attend the school if they think you’re good enough. Also, since you live close to East Lansing, you live close to Ann Arbor as well. Personally, I think it’s much easier going to school close to home than far away from it. I’ve experienced both. Also, Michigan does not have an academic weakness. You can’t just look at the Ivy name and assume automatically that it’s going to be good at physics, you actually have to look at the department. I know for a fact Michigan has a very strong physics department. Have you visited Ann Arbor and UM yet? It’s definitely worth a trip if you’re that close. Anyways, the reason I didn’t mention anything about the Ivies is that I think previous posters have talked enough about the Ivies so I don’t really have anything to add to that.</p>

5

<p>For C, C & B, as a soph transfer, 1 sem of excellent grades at a CC will not offset your test scores and 4 yrs of HS grades. </p>

<p>Your best chance would be to keep up your grades for another year and a half and apply as a jr transfer. But if you will be applying for FA, be aware that B has need-aware admissions for transfers and limited FA:</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/936056-brown-transfer-applicant-survey-fa-need-aware-admissions.html?highlight=need+aware[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/transfer-students/936056-brown-transfer-applicant-survey-fa-need-aware-admissions.html?highlight=need+aware&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

6

<p>Bit disappointing, but I suppose that I’m not really too surprised. Unfortunately, I don’t think I’d be able to graduate on time if I were to do another year and a half at community college, due to how the courses progress around here. </p>

<p>I was considering just transferring to Michigan State next year, and then maybe putting in several applications after the conclusion of my sophomore year. I strongly dislike my current institution, and, as I don’t live in-district, my tuition rates are much higher than they’d otherwise be. Are they comparable to rates at Michigan State? No. But I’d rather take my chances with financial aid than continue on like this. I apologize if this outlook is naive or silly, but I’d like to be part of an environment that’s at least moderately more facilitating of my needs than here. </p>

<p>Could I probably get into MSU for Fall 2012? </p>

<p>As a side-note, in case I forgot to mention it earlier on, I am a member of the governing board for a student organization at State. I fail to see how that doesn’t count as a leadership position.</p>

7

<p>Well you’re the “member” of a governing board. You’re not the “President” or “Secretary.” </p>

<p>I think you should do what the poster below me said and get one more semester done and winter transfer to Michigan.</p>

8

<p>I think you’re fine for MSU 2012 right now, it’s honestly not that difficult to get into. If you hate where you’re going to that much right now, it is probably in your best interests to transfer to MSU and then go from there. Maybe you should also apply to Central, Western and UM-Dearborn just in case. I believe UM-D offers plenty of scholarships that are fairly easy to get, you should look into that.</p>

9

<p>You’ve gotten accurate advice in general here, for a shot at a top school it will take 2 years of consistently good work at your CC.</p>

<p>I want to address financial aid. You need to do your homework here, because if you’re poor, aid will have to lead your college decisions. There is very limited aid for transfer students. BU, for example, is highly unlikely to give you anything close to what you’d need to attend. Brown also has very limited aid for transfers.</p>

<p>Your in state schools are most likely to give you what you need (although loans and work study will be considerable) as will schools that meet 100% of need for transfers. Those in general are the very top
schools. So read up on aid so you can choose your schools wisely.</p>

<p>I’d also think twice about transferring twice. Top colleges are less likely to take a chance on someone who looks unsettled. I recommend staying where you are and doing exceptionally well for the 2 years.</p>

10

<p>I really appreciate the advice, everybody. </p>

<p>Should I just stick with trying to get into a state school (MSU, maybe U of M) if I want to go to medical or graduate school later on down the line, and then try for a well-respected program? It sounds like staying in-state would be my best bet for now - MSU has a decent physics program, and the University of Michigan’s is one of the best in the country. </p>

<p>Hm. Might it be a good idea to apply to Michigan State after the commencement of spring semester, and then apply to the University of Michigan slightly before the beginning of summer? I’ll have 27 credits after this semester, and around 50 by the time Fall 2012 begins. </p>

<p>Again, thanks for the help.</p>

<p>EDIT:</p>

<p>First full paragraph wasn’t meant to imply that the University of Michigan isn’t a “well-respected program”. I guess what I was asking was whether or not it’d be better to hold off on trying to get into a more-expensive, high quality school (Cornell, Columbia, etc, etc) until after I’m finished with my undergrad degree, as I’m fairly certain that I want to get a PhD or MD.</p>