<p>SATs: 1460
SAT II's: 700 Writing, 750 Math IIC, 720 Chem
High School GPA: 2.0 (Not kidding)
College GPA: 3.9
Transferring out of: UIUC
Major: Biochemistry</p>
<p>ECs: nothing to speak of, but I've been doing medical research consistently for past 4 years during the Summer. College is way to much fun to waste it on EC's, lol.</p>
<p>Ethnicity: Afghan </p>
<p>Comments: I applied three times, rejected twice, once in highschool, and once as a transfer. Finally got in this year. The first two years, I applied as an American, this year I specified my ethnicity as an Afghan and how my dad died in Afghanistan five years ago. I guess that was the hook.</p>
<p>Not going to Harvard, they only accepted a year of my credits, even though I talked and pleaded with them, but in the end I think I'll be much happier at Brown or Cornell. It'll be more fun and I won't have to waste a year.</p>
<p>It's okay, that was the big reason why I did so badly in HS. But I'd like to think my story gives hope that everybody gets a second chance...no matter how deep of a hole they were in. :)</p>
<p>I kinda want to apply, but I don't know if it's worth the money. I'm going to decide down the road whether or not I'll go for it, once my record's built up a little more.</p>
<p>that really gives me a lot of hope, kipling. reading these boards, i thought i never had a chance against transfers with much higher high school gpa's, no matter how much i succeeded in college. i was in a similar situation, and it really gives me a boost of confidence. thanks a lot.</p>
<p>if you guys wanted to apply to harvard, yale, dartmouth after your first year in college...would a relatively low SAT score destroy you (because its only after 1 year). Im talking about something in the 1150-1250 range.</p>
<p>Thing is, i dont have time to take the SAT (canadian) and Brown and Cornell have told me its not a requirement for me. On the practice tests im literally bombing the math section because in the canadian system, i havent taken math since my junior year in HS...I really dont have the time to study and take the SAT, especially with school starting soon.</p>
<p>In response to this last question, regarding the gravity of SAT scores at top schools, I believe that having a decent score is an almost necessary condition for being a contender at most top-tier schools. Many people on these boards will tell you the contrary, but I think these claims are poorly grounded, and often on inadequate evidence. I've deduced from reading this board for some time now, that 1400, give or take 40 or so points, is the mean for successful transfers at the more competitive schools. Sure, there are students who get into Brown and Dartmouth as transfers with 1200's, but they do not appear to be the norm. </p>
<p>I also speak from my own experience. I did not receive a single transfer acceptance, and I attribute this at least in part, to my 1300 SAT score. I applied for junior admission from a competitive four-year university with a 3.8 GPA. My course load was rigorous, and I had compelling reasons to transfer to each of the schools I applied to. Furthermore, I had two excellent recommendations (I have little doubt of this), impressive work experience, and I submitted exceptional applications (I will gladly provide the skeptics of this last claim with copies of the applications, if they are so inclined). I also lost my father in late September, and my resiliency in the face of this hardship during the fall-semester was a part of all of my recommendations, including my Dean's letter. </p>
<p>I truly regret not retaking the SAT I. I believe that my score precluded my application from receiving careful consideration, and I think the scarcity of students with similar scores reporting successful transfer admissions stories to top-notch schools further evidences this suspicion. I am certain that this insight is not grounded in some vested interest in attributing my failure to something apart from my own shortcomings, and for those who are leery of believing this, I again invite you to examine my application to better evaluate my contentions. I highly recommend you work to improve your scores if you are serious about attending Brown or other comparably competitive schools. I believe one needs to attain a minimal score to be fully considered at many top schools (Swarthmore, for example suggests a 1400 for transfers), though I do not think that ones score is used to assess ones application beyond this. </p>
<p>I am not trying to discourage you, or make you think that you need to spend hours each day doing test preparation. I just would like to prevent others from making the same oversight I did.</p>
<p>is it fine to take the SAT 1 again for possible sophomore year transfer to a top school?......are the SAT scores you obtained in highschool the only ones they look at?......im confident that my critical reading and diction have dramatically improved since last year(i got a 1200 last year)...........</p>
<p>this thread gives me hope....i too have a very compelling story....im originally from africa,west africa.....we'll see what happens next year-----></p>