<p>I have a daughter who started this past September as a Freshman at a top-15 LAC but has not been very happy there --the atmosphere is too small for her, it is too much of a bubble, and much too isolated for her. She completed 12 credits in the Fall --dropped a class early on-- with A's in everything and took a semester leave this spring to reconsider her options. During the leave she is taking 6 credits at the state U. In addition, she has 15 other college credits from prior courses at the state U--and As in all of these. In other words, she will have enough credits to be a sophomore in September and her college GPA is 4.0.</p>
<p>She would like to transfer to a larger, more urban and more flexible (ie, fewer required courses) University like Hopkins or Brown. I know Brown might be a stretch, but in general, will her Freshman record make transfering difficult? </p>
<p>Her high school record is excellent and she got a 33 on ACT. She will have excellent recommendations (not to mention the letters sent only last year from the high school.)</p>
<p>How should she proceed? She does have the option of matriculating at the State U this semester and taking a full-load and transfering from there, but we fear that will only make her look flakier --and ruin her chance of returning to the LAC in case she doesn't get in elsewhere. What can she do to improve her chances of getting accepted?</p>
<p>Hmmm... my S transferred in to Hopkins as a sophomore, but he had a <em>somewhat</em> more conventional freshman year than your D. He had 16 credits from a top-LAC where he went first term due to Katrina and 15 credits from Tulane second term, plus 8 more from their lagniappe term plus 3 AP credits.</p>
<p>My primary suggestion would be that you post this qx on the JHU Board here and get feedback from Admissions Daniel. He is active on that board and is a gem. His perspective would be useful re her chances at that school and likely indicative of how other schools would see her year.</p>
<p>One qx I have is about those 15 prior college credits; I'm not very informed on the issue but I think there is a distinction between college credits earned if they were dual credit at her hs - may not count as transferrable credit.</p>
<p>It seems like you would need a quick response if she is thinking of matriculating with a full load this term. Maybe she should initially register for the full load and then drop if she doesn't need/want those credits. It also might be possible for you to phone Admissions Daniel. Like I said, he is extremely helpful and you do have a somewhat complicated situation to navigate.</p>
<p>Good luck on it. I am a veteran of the "transfer wars", since my son had to transfer out of Tulane due to post-Katrina elimination of her major. So feel free to ask about anything else I might happen to know.</p>
<p>Your D seems to have key elements in line - strong recs, good GPA. Most likely her hs recs won't come into play though, as most transfer apps want 1-2 college prof recs.</p>
<p>thanks very much --the issue is she cannot matriculate at the State U without withdrawing from the LAC, from which she is on leave. She is not allowed to take more than two courses during this formal leave. Withdrawing from the LAC up front would be pretty hazardous considering her accceptance at Hopkins or a school of that ilk is by no means guaranteed. She still may need to go back to the LAC.</p>
<p>Here college credits were dual enrollment but not part of the high school requirement --but even if they aren't accepted, she can take enough courses at the State U over the summer to be a sophomore anyway.</p>
<p>The thought of starting over as a freshman with (dis)orientation and that whole frenzy is very unappealing --despite the chopped up progress it is progress nonethess, with As and enough credits to for a year of college.</p>
<p>I will post on the Hopkins board --thank's so much for pointing me that way.</p>
<p>My son took some college classes as concurrent enrolment during high school. My understanding is they are treated just the same as any other college credits for transfers.</p>