Do I have any hope whatsoever?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi everyone! I'm currently a freshman at Boston College (in the honors program)...even though I like BC I went there because I had some family issues that required me to stay close to home. I am gay, and BC isn't a very gay-friendly school so I'm not nearly as happy there as I was hoping to be. The family issues are now over, so, if I were to be accepted, I'd be able to go farther away. Thanks again for reading! :)</p>

<p>I'll start with Academic Stats:</p>

<p>High School:</p>

<p>Rank: Top 10%
GPA: 92/100 UW
SAT: 770 CR, 790 M, 760 W, 2320 T
SAT II: 790 Math II, 720 Literature
APs: 4s - EngLit, US History, Biology; 5s - Calc AB, EngLang, Statistics, Psych, Spanish Lang
Awards: Nothing major, national spanish exam gold medals, honor roll, National AP Scholar</p>

<p>College: </p>

<p>Major: Biology (but subject to change)
GPA: 3.372 (bad I know, but there is some reason)
Courses: Calculus II for math science majors, Biology I, Chem I, Double-Credit Honors Course</p>

<p>The reason my GPA is so low is that my family issues "resolved themselves" by my stepfather completely abandoning my family (instead of being a worrying presence at home). Now he is gone, which is in some ways good, but my mother has been a wreck all semester so I've missed some classes to bring her to counseling appointments. I hate to pull the "emotional" card but I'd be lying if I said that the situation didn't have an impact on my prioritization this semester. Also, my family took a very large financial hit (out income was about 100k per year, but about 95k came from my stepfather). Also, my honors course is a seminar for which the grade is based on participation (well, 1/3 of the grade). Because I missed 3 classes, my grade couldn't be higher than a B+ (and it was a B+). These sound like excuses but I know my GPA is bad because of my own fault...I just hope it isn't the complete death of me. </p>

<p>Now some extracurriculars...</p>

<p>High School: (I'll just include the important ones):</p>

<p>-Tennis Team captain (all years at high school)
-Math team captain (all years at high school)
-Quiz bowl team captain (all years at high school)
-Hospital Volunteer</p>

<p>College:</p>

<p>-Member of GLC (LGBT club on campus)
-On honors program executive board
-On the executive board of the pre-medical society
-Volunteer at hospital in boston</p>

<p>Ok so that's about it...I know, pretty bad. Lastly some demographics:</p>

<p>Sex: Male
State: MA
Race: (Ghastly) White</p>

<p>So my dream school was always Columbia, but I applied ED last year and got deferred then rejected so I know I really have no chance of getting in there now especially with my GPA. Are there any schools you guys would advise? So you know, I chose BC over UChicago and Pomona (also Colgate and Tufts but those were less-considered). </p>

<p>Any advice on where I have a chance/should apply? I really appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>Explain the reason in a mature and professional way without going for the “sob” effect or over exaggerating its effect (it can totally backfire with a non-emotional admissions officer or if you over exaggerate). If not mentioned, it will simply look like you aren’t up to par academically.</p>

3

<p>I suggest waiting a year and applying as a junior. That way the explanation makes more sense and you’ll show you can perform well at the college level.</p>

4

<p>I agree with MonkeyKing1.</p>

<p>You don’t have to explain your situation here; write it on an essay in an professional way.</p>

5

<p>Ok…I’m hesitent to wait until junior year because by then med school application time/MCAT season will be quickly approaching. Transferring is a hard enough process, so I’d rather do it well before I need to apply to medical school. </p>

<p>Are there any colleges you guys could think of applying to? I’m open to many, but if it would be a school with a lower education quality than BC (not necessarily rank…I don’t care much about rank, more about what the education is like) then I’d be more inclined to just stay at BC and get the better education (I’m not really happy, but I would survive). Also, colleges that I was accepted to last year but turned down (Pomona/UChicago)…I know that it wouldn’t give me an advantage because I was accepted last year (probably a disadvantage as I then declined), but if I were to explain why I turned them down and why I’m not transferring, do you think my chances would alright? </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

6

<p>any advice…?</p>