Hey guys,
I’m currently in my third year at my local CC (took my time to maintain a good GPA while working), and plan on transferring to a University for Fall 2018. My preferred choices are Georgetown and UPenn, because of their location, programs, professors, and EC life. I know how strange it might seem for a Californian to want to transfer back East, but I’m actually from Upstate New York and miss the East Coast life (weather and the people/community).
If all goes to plan in these last three semesters, my GPA will stand at a 3.80-3.83, I’ll have taken 75-80 credits, and will have three AA degrees (History, Humanities, and Journalism). I’m also a History major, so receiving my AA in History and Humanities I felt would help my chances of being accepted.
I took the SAT a few years ago, but the score was so bad that I didn’t even keep the scores, so I understand that I’ll have to take the SAT/ACT again.
Finally, will the fact that I’ll have taken 4 years of CC to transfer look bad on my transcript? I took more than the usual 2 years so that I could take my time with classes, while working at my part-time job as well. It seemed to work, since my GPA isn’t terrible, like the vast majority of my friends’. I didn’t think it was a problem until my Mom brought up that issue, and now I’m concerned that it won’t look good.
Thanks for reading, and I hope that I’ve explained my situation clearly enough. What’s your take?
Also, I forgot to add my EC’s:
-Photo Editor of College newspaper for 2 semesters.
-Won national and state-wide awards in journalism for both my photography, illustrations, and writing in both college and high school.
-Editor-in-chief of high school yearbook and photo editor of high school newspaper during my senior year.
@schaapening just fyi Penn is never called Pennsylvania University. It is either University of Pennsylvania or Penn/UPenn for short. All the alumni/students and people who are familiar with the ivy league and elite higher ed in general, call it Penn.
Obviously you have slightly better chances at Georgetown but you could have a small chance at Penn too based on your SAT. It will be an uphill battle for either school though. Personally I feel taking four years might raise some flags because adcoms might doubt you can successfully complete a rigorous course load and get top grades. They might doubt you could have achieved this GPA if you had taken the classes in 2 years as most transfers do. But that said you never know.
@schaapening
Ok, I tell you straight up I know next to nothing about unique transfers like yours. I doubt many on CC do.
When are you looking to transfer and when is the App due - is it the regular Penn March 2018 deadline? Penn will have a number of information sessions out in the CA area during the fall. They are geared to HS students obviously, but showing up and talking to the regional rep will probably get you your best info/intel. I would also try emaiing some folks at UPenn admissions.
On-campus transfer info sessions are done for this year, but they also have in the spring: http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/transfer-admission/transfer-information-sessions
You may have already checked out the various links here: http://www.admissions.upenn.edu/apply/information-for-counselors but if not spend some times checking out Dean Furda’s blog etc.
Also, Penn will require you to complete 2 years of course work there, if that makes a difference.