<p>So, do I have a shot at Emory, Johns Hopkins, or Duke? I am already applying to UNC Chapel Hill, but I want some other options. I know Duke will probably be a stretch to say the least.</p>
<p>Sophomore Chemistry/Biology double major at large UNC school (not Chapel Hill)- 3.82 GPA with 50 credits this far (probably right at 70 by the end of next semester/summer)</p>
<p>Activities:</p>
<p>Vice-Pres for AMSA chapter (been heavily involved locally and nationally)</p>
<p>Tutor for General Chem classes</p>
<p>Teaching assistant for General chem classes this summer</p>
<p>One solid year of Organic chem research; scholarship for this one summer too. (Two publications pending, hopefully they will be accepted by the time I submit my app)</p>
<p>Hospital volunteer for the past 1.5 years</p>
<p>member of the Golden Key Honor Society</p>
<p>Deans list 2 semesters, Chancellors list 1 semester, etc etc</p>
<p>High school (where I am weak):
~3.5 GPA top 1/3 of class
1850/2400 SAT
No AP credit (only two AP classes)
No real ECs except working for 4 years at a pizza shop.</p>
<p>I could get a really nice letter, and I'm not a bad essay writer either.</p>
<p>I would think that Emory is your best bet. You may be hurt by your high school record and your test scores, as well as not having any APs to report in spite of how well you may be doing at your current university. You may be helped by the fact that you are apparently applying to transfer in as a junior and as a junior you would not be guaranteed housing at Hopkins, nor would they be under obligation to consider you for it (as opposed to those hoping to transfer in as sophomores). That help will likely be slight, however. Hopkins and Duke (I have no experience with Emory) are highly competitive for transfer applicants. Of the two, Duke may be the better bet, but still not really a sure option. My daughter applied to transfer to Hopkins and Duke and was rejected by Hopkins, wait-listed at Duke. She had a 3.9 college GPA, board scores that were higher than yours, extraordinary recommendations and extra-curriculars. Believe in the right outcome for yourself: you will be accepted where you are meant to go if all the schools to which you are applying are appealing to you for a variety of reasons. I encourage you to enlarge the list of those schools in your own best interests and in order to be sure that you do have options when it comes time to choose where you will go. Look for schools like the three you’ve mentioned and be sure some of them are second and third tier, not just top-tier only.</p>
<p>Why a stretch? You underestimate yourself. Your GPA is very solid, your major is notoriously difficult, and your sophomore standing will mitigate most of the damage of your weak high school transcript/test scores.</p>
<p>If I may be so bold, consider some Ivies. You’re a very competitive candidate, IMHO.</p>
<p>It is always interesting to see who gets rejected/accepted as a transfer into top schools. When compared to freshmen admissions, it seems to be less about the numbers and more about the character and accomplishments of the applicant. The OP clearly is solid in both areas, I think he will do well applying to these three schools…</p>
<p>Yes I second what wayward trojan said, look into Cornell too your stats are not weak at all people on this board have transferred to these schools with similar if not lower stats</p>