Don't want to stuck. ): Help?!

Chance Me / Match Me!
1

<p>I just got accepted into Baylor for my sophomore year and just recently made a list of universities I'd ideally transfer to in half a year or a year. They're prioritised by location, education standards, and my personal liking towards them (the more the hearts, the more I adore the university)</p>

<ol>
<li>Rice University <3 <3</li>
<li>New York University <3 <3 <3</li>
<li>Georgetown University <3</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University <3</li>
<li>University of California -- Berkeley <3 <3</li>
<li>Northwestern University <3</li>
<li>Emory University</li>
<li>Tufts University</li>
<li>Vanderbilt University</li>
<li>Columbia <3 <3 <3</li>
<li>UPenn</li>
<li>University of Chicago</li>
<li>Washington University in St. Louis</li>
<li>Brown University <3 <3 <3</li>
<li>UCLA</li>
<li>University of Michigan</li>
<li>University of Notre Dame</li>
<li>Boston University</li>
<li>College of William and Mary</li>
<li>Brandeis University</li>
</ol>

<p>I'm planning to major in international relations/politics or English (still indecisive) and my current GPA is 3.5 (I screwed up my first semester during my freshman year) and at Baylor, I'm certain I'll get a 4.0. SAT is currently 1920 (1300/1600) and I'll be retaking it in October after attending a top SAT preparation course (their statistics show improvement from 300 to 800), so ideally 2200 and above eventually.</p>

<p>Most of ECAs are done outside school and when I was really young (under thirteen) including ABRSM Piano Grade 8, ABRSM Theory Grade 5, ABRSM Classical Guitar Grade 5, Gifted Education Programme in Singapore, National Cadet Corps (Lance Corporal rank), Singapore Youth Festival Choir Gold medal, Swimming Gold medal, and literary publications within school (personal rejection from Kenyon Review; ideally published in top 20 worldwide literary journal by the end of 2010). Currently have great recommendation letters.</p>

<p>I'm thinking of joining MUN at Baylor (I've got previous experiences at debates, both in English and Mandarin), perhaps taking up swimming, musical, drama, and musical instruments again, going to participate in Student Council/Student Government, et cetera.</p>

<p>I went back to China this summer and completed about 400 hours of volunteer work, all related to helping poor public school children with learning English. Currently volunteering at an old folks' recovery centre in Singapore (probably around 100 to 200 hours by the end of summer).</p>

<p>Wondering what are my chances at the universities I've listed and what other ECAs I should be doing?</p>

<p>It would help so much and I've been completely stressed out.</p>

<p>(extra information, female, asian (born in China, lived in China, Singapore, Vietnam, United States, International School and elite independent school background, born 7th October 1993; I only took my IGCSEs thus that might be a huge hindrance. Oh, and I'm extremely fluent in both English and Mandarin, learning French right now.)</p>

2

<p>So, just to be clear, you’d be transferring for the second time?</p>

3

<p>Yes, I am.</p>

4

<p>Decent chances.
Why are you already in college, if you are 1993er?</p>

5

<p>I got bored with international school and their druggies and sort of took the exams as a private candidate. So I started at some lousy college when I was fifteen.</p>

<p>But, is there any particular universities I will have higher than decent chances in? (Especially for English or International Relations major)</p>

6

<p>^LOL.
But adcoms do not like young applicants who finished HS early, just so you know.
What are your interests?</p>

7

<p>Well, frankly, literature and writing, that’s the most endearing interest I’ve got.</p>

<p>Besides that, the piano, debating, philosophy, and slight politics, that’s about it.</p>

<p>I would say I’m more musically-inclined though, but not sure if I should stress that for college applications. Play the piano, violin, classical and electric guitar, been meaning to take up the cello.</p>

<p>Why do adcoms reach a negative preconception on young applicants? I’d assume there’d be valid reasons behind that judgment.</p>

8

<p>Bumppppppppppppp.</p>

9

<p>Well, Baylor itself is a pretty good school. But when you transfer, most colleges don’t look at your SAT scores anymore. They only look at your grades, your ECs, your teacher recommendations, your essay, and the interview (if it’s required). So, so far, from what you’ve posted, you have a decent shot at all the schools you posted, although your low GPA from your freshman year is going to hurt your chances at Brown, Columbia, Georgetown, Northwestern, Columbia, UPenn, maybe even Rice. This is what it looks like so far:</p>

<ol>
<li>Rice University: low-reach</li>
<li>New York University: high-match</li>
<li>Georgetown University: mid-reach</li>
<li>Carnegie Mellon University: low-reach</li>
<li>University of California – Berkeley: low-reach</li>
<li>Northwestern University: low-reach</li>
<li>Emory University: high-match/low-reach</li>
<li>Tufts University: low-reach</li>
<li>Vanderbilt University: high-match/low-reach</li>
<li>Columbia: high-reach</li>
<li>UPenn: high-reach</li>
<li>University of Chicago: high-reach</li>
<li>Washington University in St. Louis: high-match</li>
<li>Brown University: high-reach</li>
<li>UCLA: low-reach</li>
<li>University of Michigan: low-reach</li>
<li>University of Notre Dame: low-reach</li>
<li>Boston University: match</li>
<li>College of William and Mary: high-match</li>
<li>Brandeis University: high-match</li>
</ol>

<p>Hope that helps. </p>

<p>EDIT:
Oh, and this is the scale I used:
high-reach
mid-reach
low-reach
high-match
match</p>

10

<p>Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.</p>

<p>Also, as henrymoore claimed, they generally frown upon younger students applying, would that be applicable and something very influential in their decision-making (especially NYU, UCB, Rice, Columbia, Brown, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, Carnegie wise?)</p>

<p>I would not be in need of any financial aid, which is a plus side, however, I’m still concerned about my lack of in-school ECAs and SAT.</p>

11

<p>I don’t think what henrymoore said is entirely true. Actually, I don’t think it’s true at all. Disregard his comment. Colleges don’t care about age, but of course, if you ARE younger, it should actually just show more initiative from your side towards learning, and they’ll probably see that.</p>

<p>And, yeah, being a full-pay applicant is going to be a +++++, mostly in this economy. As for the ECs…you don’t have THAT many, but join MUN as soon as possible, and those volunteer hours should look pretty good. But, the ECs you did when you were younger shouldn’t really affect you - which might be a bad thing. Same with your SAT scores. I’m almost 100% sure colleges don’t ask for it when you’re transfering, but it really depends on what college.</p>

12

<p>Bumpppppppppppppppppp.</p>