First Semester 4.0 Looking to Transfer - Help?

Transfer Students
1

Hello, I am currently a student at a penn state branch campus. I am completing a 2+2 program, meaning I will be attending university park after my second year and receiving a penn state degree. However my first semester I am on track to get a 4.0 GPA with engineering classes, while also playing soccer.

I am very interested in transferring and wondering what my chances would be getting into good schools / how good of schools I could get into.

My high school GPA was only a 3.1, however at a very prestigious and challenging HS. I also took 7 APs throughout HS getting 4s and 5s on all of them.

I received a 33 on my ACT. However I did this without studying and was wondering if I was looking to transfer to a top school if I should retake this.

Schools I am interested in - UCLA, UPenn, Cornell, Duke, Cal tec, mostly all top computer science schools.

Lastly MIT - my sibling attends there and plays a sport. I am a pretty good soccer player; starting key player at my current school and could most likely play on their team.

Any help / advice would be gratefully appreciated.

2

For a lot of these schools, the only thing harder than getting in as a freshman is getting in as a transfer. You should look at the common data set for each school to see the transfer stats. For example MIT accepted 23 transfer students last year.

3

MIT would obviously be a crazy reach; however I am trying to gauge the other schools, and what level schools I would have a shot at.

4

UCLA accepts Junior level transfers only (60 semester/90 quarter units). Your GPA is on track for a possible transfer in 2 years. HS GPA, test scores and EC’s are not considered, only what you have accomplished at your current college.

Also in-state applicants get priority so you would be the low man on the totem pole. Will costs be an issue since the UC’s give little to no financial aid so $65K/year would be your approximate costs??

5

You have only completed 1/2 of a semester of college. Do you even have midterms back yet? Cart horse.

6

Also, transfer applicants below junior level (when transferring; typically sophomore level when applying) will still be evaluated on high school record, since they will not have much of a college record. I.e. your HS GPA of 3.1 will hold you back from transferring to more selective schools until you complete at least a year (~30-32 credits) of college and will transfer as a junior (at least 60-64 credits by the time you transfer).

7

My dad works / has a place in California therefore we would be able to switch my residence for in-state costs. Kinda disappointed did not know they only accept after sophomore year as my current school is definitely not challenging me enough.

8

I have not received my midterm scores back yet; however I am very confident in my ability to maintain a 4.0 until it is time to apply to transfer.

I am also not sure what cart horse means.

9

If you want in-state tuition, you will need to reside with your Dad 366 days prior to attending UCLA so by next August.

10

This isn’t quite the same as saying “my dad lives and works in CA” so it sounds like your dad may only be in CA for part of the year. If so, he may not meet the definition of a CA resident. See https://www.registrar.ucla.edu/Fees-Residence/Residence-Requirements/UC-Residence-Guidelines

11

I’m not sure what the problem is with Penn State. All those schools mentioned are either private or out of state, and I’m not sure your parents want to pay triple the tuition to send you there. If they can afford it, now is as good a time as any to apply, but you’re already in a great university.

12

It is mainly because I don’t feel like the school I am attending has enough resources to help me reach my full potential in computer science.

For example, next semester I am taking the last computer science class they offer at the school, meanwhile I will still have to be attending this branch campus for another year before I move to University Park.

13

Where else did you apply last year? Where else were you admitted?

14

I applied to a large number of schools. Got denied from VT engineering, Lafayette, Richmond. Accepted into Manhattan College, Temple, Elon, Hobart & William Smith, and Villanova (i’m guessing I got quite lucky to get admitted into Villanova as I don’t believe I should’ve gotten in).