Do I have a chance.......

Transfer Students
1

<p>To transfer into the following schools from a community college:</p>

<p>Harvard
Yale
Brown
Stanford
University of Michigan
UC-Berekely</p>

<p>EC
Founder- Youth Task Force: Teaching parents and children to work as partners with the Police to deter crime in their neighborhood. </p>

<p>Fund raising chairman-Student Government Association Student Senate</p>

<p>BusBoy- The Cheese Cake Factory- 30 hours a week- I have bills to pay!</p>

<p>SAT I: Verbal-680, Math-690
SAT II: World History-660, Math IIC-730</p>

<p>Here is my college record:</p>

<p>However, I am not certain if I'll be a competitive student in the admissions process because I've received a grade of a D in one of my classes. To illustrate, Here is a breakdown of academic record to date:</p>

<br>


<br>

<p>I'm sorry for bothering you. I was simply wondering if the one bad grade
that I have will put me at a disadvantage to an otherwise strong academic record?</p>

2

<p>Let's try this again!</p>

3

<p>Where are you transferring from? What is your GPA? How many college units have you completed?</p>

4

<p>Well, I think the first few schools you list there are exremely competitive for transfer students and your GPA is probably low in comparison to most of the competition. Do you have some story/background hook to wow the admissions committee?</p>

5

<p>I'm not sure how successful you will be in applying to the top tier programs that you mentioned. The D and W will definately not help - also, you didn't take more than 4 classes a semester - which could negatively impact your application.</p>

<p>And your missing a higher math class, such as calculus.</p>

6

<p>Your W will hurt you simply because you never retook the course. That says you got lazy with it, not that the timing didn't work out or there were other circumstances that prevented you from completing the course properly. I actually just got a W today, my first (and only, in all likelihood), because my disability accommodations were insufficient and my health was awful, making it impossible for me to do the work. That's a completely understandable and acceptable reason for getting a W. It's also fine for me to have it because I'm retaking the course in fall with better accommodations. You didn't bother retaking Earth Science, which, at the intro level, is really easy for most people, so that is not good at all.</p>

<p>The only math you have (unless I'm overlooking something?) is College Algebra, which will not transfer. That says you only took the math necessary for your Associate's program, not your Bachelor's. This again comes across as lazy and unmotivated.</p>

<p>Your grades show a consistent downward trend since your first semester, which is going to hurt you. You also stopped taking honors courses/sections. Also, did you retake World History, or is that a different course? Why are they named the same?</p>

<p>I think each of those schools are major reaches for you, especially if you don't live in Michigan or California. You should be a little more realistic with your chances. There are lots of great colleges that aren't as competitive as they are. That's not to say you can't get in -- you might surprise us all and get admitted to each -- but I just don't see you standing out in the applicant pool, unless you have some sort of hook that makes you an attractive student.</p>

7

<p>Oh, and just to comment on what nkim99 said -- there's nothing wrong with taking 4 courses a semester. That's normal, especially for community college students who are working. Even at four-year colleges, that's normal.</p>

8

<p>Consider Tulane and Boston Uni also.</p>

9

<p>I would still like to know what state you are in. This matters at schools like Berkeley, and UCLA.</p>

<p>The W isn't as downright horrible as everyone thinks for schools like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UMich. I have no idea what it would look like to the privates you listed. I know someone with 4 W's and a 3.8 that got into these publics, no problem. The D, however, isn't going to look too hot. That is what will hurt you. Also, it's not just gpa that factors in, it's also grade trends like someone else mentioned, and yours unfortunately have gone down as time went on. </p>

<p>I would try lowering your standards a little bit. I am not saying that you're not a hard working, intelligent student, but I am not sure that the following universities are really in your reach, with the exception of U Michigan (excellent school by the way), which accepts a great bulk of it's applicants. </p>

<p>Let me know what state you're in, and I'll try to reccommend some schools.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

10

<p>To answer your question regarding taking Honors Classes, I was told that I couldn't because the Honors classes were incorporated into "The Honors College" at Miami-Dade College, which is exclusive to High School graduates. As a result of the new policy,the regular student population are not allowed to register, even if they have met the requirements to join. The same goes for those who used to enroll in those classes.</p>

<p>Thus, they cut off my ability to challege myself. I didn't like the fact that my opportunities were limited. Also, with regards to the math classes, I have no plans to take Calculus. I highly doubt that the class is required for admission. I would rather have a "A" in Statistics than a "C" in Calculus. Therefore, I would rather take rigorous classes that I enjoy than simular classes that I hate. I plan to major in Sociology. I don't see where I'd need Calculus unless I plan to apply to the University of Chicago, which does require a year of Calculus for graduation.</p>

<p>Because Yale, Brown, and Harvard has a policy that makes an applicant ineligitable for admissions if he has more than 60 credits. So my SAT II Math IIC will have the admissions officers look past the College Algebra. </p>

<p>I never planned to get any bad grades along the way. I planned on getting nothing but "A" in all of my classes. Unfortunately, not all professors give out "A" to hard working students. Believe me when I say that if there was a way for me to pass the class with an "A" instead of a "B", I would have found it. Grades are very subjective among teachers; thus a "A" to one professor could be a "C" to another. </p>

<p>Don't unestimate my classes. Most of the classes listed are graduation requirements. I've tried to take classes that were challeging. I can't enroll in a class that I don't have an interest in. Nor would I take a class just because it will look good on my transcript. </p>

<p>If I can't get into my choice schools because of the "D" in logic. Fine. I can't worry about the past. And besides, of the 10 students in my logic class, 2 passed with a "B" and "C" respectively. The remaining 8 had failed. A class is only as good as the professor who teaches it.</p>

<p>I'm well aware that my chances are not good in comparison to the other applicants. But it all boils down to the rescources that the school has available, which makes a big difference among the applicant pool. Which is way I want to leave my present school. I can't say at a school that restricts my academic oportunities. </p>

<p>Not all colleges and universities are created equal. Everyone leaves their school for another for different reasons. CC students are not exception.</p>

11

<p>If all of your courses are the same in units, your GPA is 3.52 which is way too low for the schools you listed. The W is no big deal but your SIX Bs and your one D makes the chances of getting into any of the schools you listed very doubtful. I don't know anything about Michigan though. Straight As next term only brings your GPA to 3.60.</p>

12

<p>It would have been helpful if the logic class was offered in the summer, that way you could have retaken it and raised your grade. </p>

<p>Your grades are very decent. A's and B's are excellent. The downward trend isn't anything near tragic now that I really look at it. Don't worry yourself too much about the "W". I'm telling you, people withdraw from classes and it doesn't make them irresponsible or lazy students. </p>

<p>Being from Florida (which is where the community college you mentioned is located), I do not think you have an outstanding chance at UC Berkeley or UCLA. Both of these schools are very keen on taking community college transfers that are coming from California schools. When you're out of state, regardless of standing, it is a tremendous hurdle to overcome.</p>

<p>If your GPA is around a 3.5-3.6 I think you should look into universities in your area. University of Florida and University of Miami are within your reach for sure. I really don't know much else about the academics or lifestyle at either schools, but it wouldn't hurt giving it a try. If you do do not live in Florida, excuse me and disregard all reference to the state.</p>

<p>As far as other privates in the US, I think you should try for schools that don't exactly fall in the Ivie (or public ivie) bracket. By all means, if you can write a killer essay, and you have something beyond gpa that will really wow these harsh admission officers, then by all means, go for it and good luck! Don't let people on this forum get you down. Intelligence is not measured by GPA only.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

13

<p>Even if you couldn't take honors classes, you couldn't complete honors projects or do honors section? My college, for example, only offers one honors course, but many, many courses have honors sections where you can elect to complete an additional project for honors credit at the end of the semester. Maybe you can see if it's possible to do that?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Also, with regards to the math classes, I have no plans to take Calculus. I highly doubt that the class is required for admission.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>You are very, very wrong. Most competitive four-year colleges, especially the ones you are looking at, do not offer any math courses below the calculus level. When community college students (and any transfers, really) apply, one of the first things admissions committees do is look to see how many GERs for /their/ college you have completed. If all you have to show is algebra and statistics, that does not make you an attractive candidate at all, because it means you're going to have more work to make up at your new institution. It also shows, as I think I said before, that you didn't challenge yourself by going beyond what was required of you. I strongly suggest talking calculus in order to be competitive at any college you want to transfer into, especially the Ivy League schools you have listed.</p>

<p>
[quote]
So my SAT II Math IIC will have the admissions officers look past the College Algebra.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Again, they won't. Your SAT II judges high school-level ability, and you also get no credit for it. Although your SAT II score is really good, it will not earn you any college credit. This continues to put you in a position where you will need to take additional math courses once you transfer, and that means you're coming in unprepared and without GERs completed.</p>

<p>From your post, it seems you're making a lot of excuses. It's the fault of your professors that you didn't get better grades. It's the fault of your college that you weren't challenged enough. It's the fault of grading practices that you couldn't get a better transcript.</p>

<p>While you may not really feel that way, that is exactly how it's going to come across to the schools you're looking at, especially if you interview (and transfers should whenever it's allowed). "A class is only as good as the professor who teaches it" isn't going to fly when Brown is looking at your application.</p>

<p>Bluntly: You have no chance in this world of getting into Berkeley or Michigan. You're out-of-state, your record is marginal, and your attitude is poor. You have some absolutely remote chance of getting accepted to one of the other four if you can somehow find a hook and work it well.</p>

<p>Your GPA doesn't even meet the minimum transfer requirement for many colleges (it's usually a 3.75-3.8 at the top institutions). You have two extracurriculars. You have an almost two-year gap between college work from summer of 2001 until spring of 2003. You have another missing semester where fall of 2003 is concerned.</p>

<p>Your D won't keep you out. Your bad attitude, blame-everyone-else outlook, inconsistent enrollment, and apparent lack of drive will. Get realistic and stop looking at Ivy League schools.</p>

14

<p>Actually, and note that I am only speaking for UC Berkeley and the other UC's, you really only need to take a college level math course in order to transfer successfully and complete IGETC, therefore omitting you from any further general education classes once you enter the university. I am an intended English Literature major and do not need math beyond statistics. However, I took classes that were above and beyond the required English classes needed to fulfill GE.</p>

<p>However, if you are a math or science oriented major, and there is more math involved when it comes to requirements in your department, then of course you will have that extra edge, and will be able to prove that you have taken it upon yourself to complete a fair amount of major preperation.</p>

<p>I don't think we need to point fingers here, and make the OP feel like someone who is miserably looking for excuses. I agree that the schools listed are not within direct reach, but I think it could be said in a gentle manner.</p>

<p>Take it from someone who is going to UC Berkeley in the fall. I didn't exactly have a perfect 4.0, but my grades were good and competitive for the range (3.7-3.9) that is popularly considered safe. I graduated high school when I was 16 and after taking a semester off to work, I powered through two years at community college while volunteering and working. I believe I'm a good writer, and found my personal statements to be pretty distinctive. But I was so nervous I wouldn't get into UC Berkeley, I applied to several safeties. I never dreamed of applying to any Ivies, or even Stanford. Please realize that it is very hard to get into the schools you listed above, and try not to take offence to our advice to keep searching for various alternatives.</p>

<p><3,</p>

<p>Izzie Bear</p>

15

<p>I feel that you should look at Emory University. Emory is an excellent school, very transfer friendly as well!</p>

16

<p>"I feel that you should look at Emory University. Emory is an excellent school, very transfer friendly as well!"
I think the SAT scores might look good at Emory University, but the downward trends in the grades and the fact that the courses aren't too varied for a liberal arts curriculum, are some things that might not be easy for the adcom to overlook. Without a doubt, it is a transfer-friendly school, but you have to acknowledge your competition. Most of the schools redlinekid listed, I believe, require the students to have a rigorous curriculum, and most transfers try to go beyond that so that they can prove to the adcom that they'd be well-adjusted, in spite of whatever setbacks the school they're transferring from have. Redlinekid2, have you looked online at the class profiles and the curriculum required of the schools you're interested in? Along with the advice given in this forum, I think looking more into those schools would give you an idea of what your chances are, and what you might need to do to improve them. Much luck.</p>

17

<p>You also have to look at the fact that Redline is a non-traditional, returning student. That in itself will be in his favor. Yes, there are lapses in education, but if they can be well explained, even if it's a honest, "I didn't realize the importance of a college education after graduating high school" response, it shows current initiative, in wanting to progress and further an education. That says a lot for a person.</p>

18

<p>At a school where the majority of applicants are overachieving and straight out of high school, being a non-traditional student can not only work in someone's favour, but it can sometimes work against it. You can't be certain how the adcom will view the application: will the people on the adcom be able to see you as an opportunity to open their minds and diversify their student body? Will they want to get to know you because your essay(s) and application ignited some sort of curiosity they feel the need to satisfy? Or will they feel that you coming to the school will be some sort of liability? Aside from your ability to do competent college-level work, you might also have to prove that you can handle that particular school's atmosphere, and depending on whose hands your application goes through, those may or may not be the only things you'll have to prove. And all they'll have to go by is your application, and maybe an interview. I think all everyone here in their own way is saying is for redline to add more schools that match the stats, and to push harder in his/her academics if s/he really wants to increase his/her chances. If my post was harsh, I apologize, because it wasn't my intention. No hard feelings.</p>

19

<p>
[quote]
You also have to look at the fact that Redline is a non-traditional, returning student. That in itself will be in his favor.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It does give him an advantage: it places him in a separate pool for consideration; however, given his stats, I strongly doubt he would be competitive in even that pool.</p>

20

<p>your best hope is a non-traditional program. yale has one. im sure other schools do as well. write some really compelling essays (a little padding couldn't hurt), and you can probably get in. i dont know how old you are, im guessing 22, and although thats really far younger than are traditionally accepted into these programs, they dont really have any hard-and-fast rules that i know of. it's your only hope of getting into the schools you mentioned, unless you have a reaaally good story (sudan refugee or something like that).</p>