Get me out of New Orleans.

Transfer Students
1

<p>So I go to Tulane University, and it is not all it's cracked up to be. I'm bored academically, I'm tired socially (it's not even partying--it's drinking 24/7), and I just realized that I want to be a news magazine writer. The catch: there is no Journalism major or government major (my two loves). In fact, the school newspaper is commonly referred to as "bad." I just want a school where analysis is key and complacency isn't rampant.</p>

<p>I'm thinking Claremont McKenna, Northwestern, or UChicago (applied to Northwestern last year, but got considered very very very late in the process--they misplaced my SAT scores and deleted my file!--and thus didn't get in).</p>

<p>Stats:
3.9 GPA (3 of my courses are in 300-level courses)
2100 SAT I (750V 620 M 730 W 11 E)
SAT II
US History 660
Literature 730
Math I 590 (ugggh this is from before I realized that I'm not a math person...I'm such a bad Asian)
APs
5 English Lit
5 Art History
5 Euro History</p>

<p>I went to a very, very prestigious prep school, but went to Tulane because they gave me a lot of merit scholarship $. I don't know my high school GPA, but I do think it was a 3.35 (I had some very bad things happen my first two years.)</p>

<p>Clubs/Things in High school:
Founder of a student-based financial aid group in high school
award-winning public speaker on debate team
Worked a part-time job throughout high school due to a lot of crappy finances in my family
Interned for Gubernatorial Campaign (we won, yay!)</p>

<p>College things:
Organized a Roosevelt Institution (student political think-tank) conference with other Southern Colleges on post-Katrina development policy
Staff Writer, Newspaper
Tutor for local elementary afterschool enrichment program
In the Leadership/Honors Program dorm (where we can all be pretentious because we had to apply to get in, damnit! ;-p)
Might be on College Jeopardy! Tournament. Check back with me in March.</p>

<p>Overall:
nonfiction writer and aspiring editorialist with published pieces in local New Orleans newspapers (I destroyed a State Representative's campaign in an editorial decrying his giving free alcohol to underage voters--yeah, there's a lot of this in NOLA.) One day, I will supplant John Micklethwaite as the Editor of The Economist, but that's one day in the far-off future.</p>

<p>Do I have a chance?</p>

2

<p>NW is great.</p>

<p>UCHICAGO is a school that's just so different from any other. It's kind of ridiculous.</p>

<p>I live from NW. My cousin goes there. My brother applied there and I'm under the impression he'll get in. I'm not the guy to go there. They have nice parties. Their journalism school is great as well. Your stats are perfect.</p>

<p>I understand you want to get out asap, but I recommend sticking around for this year. It's also okay to assume you're a freshman right? If you can just put up with with the winter and spring, I see no reason why you wouldn't be able to get in.</p>

<p>Also, check out what is required for transfer. A recommendation from a dean for UCHI and NW. Also, some professors reqs. Take this time to get to know some and present it to them after winter break.</p>

<p>Good luck. As I said, UCHI is something else in nature, but give it a shot. I'm applying for transfer as well! Maybe we'll see each other? </p>

<p>Salud!</p>

3

<p>Thanks. What about schools like UC Berkeley, or (dare I say it ) Harvard/Columbia?</p>

4

<p>ahhh I am in the exact same boat! are you transferring this semester or next? I cant decide if I should wait it out another semester or not...</p>

5

<p>"Your stats are perfect."</p>

<p>I don't know about that. The GPA is good but the scores are on the lower end for NU.</p>

6

<p>So I visited Claremont McKenna over the break, and I absolutely love the school. I realized that I prefer a smaller student body, a closer teacher/student interaction, and, really, the strong political atmosphere of the campus. There's research opportunities, there's a strong government and economics program. But ultimately, I could do a lot more for New Orleans with a strong education in these subjects than simply staying in the city. It doesn't hurt that they also produce a lot of strong journalists in the fields that I'm interested in (opinion and commentary), moreso than NU (which is mostly reporting and newswriting.)</p>

<p>I think I'm only going to apply here. I'd definitely be happiest at CMC.</p>

7

<p>In advance, I appologize for hijacking your thread.</p>

<p>But honestly, you sound a lot like me and I'm seriously considering Tulane as a HS senior. Like you, the merit money is a big draw for me.</p>

<p>I like the sound of Tulane's American Politics major but I worry that the school simply isn't politically active enough? Sounds like you're confirming my biggest concern.</p>

<p>Am I wrong about Tulane for American politics/polisci? Is it a weak program?</p>

<p>I wish you luck on getting in at CMC. It sounds like a great fit.</p>