Hello everyone! Trying to reclaim my life! Help out a transfer Student!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello everyone, this is my first post but I hope to become a regular contributor! With that says, here goes.</p>

<p>To put it simply, I fu**** up my entire high school career. I graduated from one of the most prestigious high schools in NYC (hint: it was named after the first dutch governor of NY and he had a peg leg) with a 73.3%. In my Senior year my guidance counselor told me that I was "one of the biggest wastes of talents" she had ever seen. Senior year was probably my big wake up call- seeing my peers going off to Ivy Leagues and other big name schools while I was freaking out just trying to get accepted somewhere. </p>

<p>It was a wonder how I ever got accepted into college, but a private Catholic school in Queens happened to take me in and that's where I spent my freshman year (I'm a sophomore now). Since then, I have, for the most part been working my butt off. </p>

<p>I'm double majoring in Government & Philosophy and I have plans on getting my JD after I complete my Bachelor's. I have somewhat of a problem though- the intellectual level here isn't as high as I wish it were and so I am going to attempt to transfer into a school I can find myself more challenged.</p>

<p>The schools I have considered applying for a Fall 2010 transfer as a Junior are as follows
Cornell, NYU (these are the two top schools I dream of going to, NYU law hopefully), UPenn, Boston University, UVA, Eugene Lang/New School, maybe SUNY Binghamton or Rutgers.</p>

<p>With the following stats, how much of a chance do I have?</p>

<p>High School- Arguably of the most competitive in NYC, it is consistently a feeder school to the Ivies. My stats however, are so horrid its laughable.
-73.3 overall average
-1960 Sat Score
-writer for the school newspaper
-volunteered for over 100 hours for one summer at a local hospital</p>

<p>College- (Somewhat of a redemption)</p>

<p>Fall 2008
English Comp- B+ (I could have done better, but I guess I was still getting used to college)
Calculus for Biology Students- D+ (I SHOULD have done better, but Math and Science are not my thing- combine them together and I get slaughtered. I don't know why I took this class, it was during my first semester of college when I was trying out a bunch of courses to see what I liked and what I would major in, my parents wanted something science so I took a science course.)
Philosophy of Human Person- A
Sociology of Prisons- A-
Theology 1- A</p>

<p>Overall GPA: 3.13</p>

<p>Spring 2009
Discover New York- A
World Literature- A
Ethics- A
American National Gov't- A
Law, Politics & The Individual- A
Emergence of a Global Society- A</p>

<p>Overall GPA: 4.0
Cumulative GPA: 3.59</p>

<p>Fall 2009 (in progress- the grades are midterm grades)
Contemporary Gov't- A-
Feminism & Politics- No grade given, but the professor has given me an A in a previous course.
Introduction to Logic- No grade given but I got an A on the only test we had thus far
Contemporary Philosophy- No grade given
Elementary Korean- A</p>

<p>So should I get another 4.0 this semester, it would give me a 3.71 overall GPA</p>

<p>Extracurriculars/Awards-
-Interned in the Queens County Supreme Court Library
-During the Summer of 2009 I worked on a City Council Campaign starting off as a petitioner but working my way up to Field Manager.
-Volunteered for Michael Bloomberg's re-election campaign during the Summer of 2009
-Currently interning for the current NYS Comptroller's re-election committee.
-Active member of the College Democrats at my school
-Contributor to the College Democrats blog.
-I made Dean's List</p>

<p>Now, all of that being said, I'd like to say I've made somewhat of a turnaround from my sad, sorry high school career. Can anyone help me determine my chances of getting into the schools I mentioned earlier? My passion lies in the field of Government & Philosophy, so are there any additional schools that are good for those subjects that I have missed out on?</p>

<p>Once again, thanks for your time, I know this was long- but I really need some help salvaging my future.</p>

2

<p>Your biggest problem with that D+ in calc isn’t fully due to your math skills…its due to “my parents wanted it so I did it.” </p>

<p>As for your grades; a 3.59 is a decent GPA. However, “decent” will not get you into the ivy league schools that you seek. Don’t sit there and imagine a 4.0. Go out there and get it! </p>

<p>Recommendations:

  1. Participate in local government/student government functions
  2. Raise that GPA!
  3. Think of compelling reasons as to why you messed up in the past (If the schools you are applying to review high school records extensively).
  4. Don’t do EVERYTHING your parents say. I know your parents may be in your best interest yet only you know your limits and capabilities. Don’t take courses you don’t feel comfortable with and end up with a less than average grade. </p>

<p>You’re on the right track and should only have to push out a few more semesters before transferring. Keep working hard! Raise that GPA and you may find yourself at Cornell. </p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

3

<p>pinedust-stuyvesant right?aw, science and HCHS are just as competitive
that’s kind of harsh of your GC to say you’re a “waste of talent”
Anyways:
Penn-High Reach (It’s Penn…)
Cornell-Reach/High Reach (unless you apply to ILR maybe)
NYU/BU-Reach/Match (Again, depends on the school)
Bing/Rutgers-Mitch/Low Reach
Can’t say anything about the other schools, cuz I don’t know much about them.</p>

<p>Good luck applying!
I will try to transfer <em>or die tryin’</em> to cornell/penn/nyu as well.</p>

4

<p>Hey everyone thanks for the replies!</p>

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<p>On a slightly different note, are there any other schools noted for their Philosophy and/or Government departments that I should look into?</p>

<p>Thanks once again.</p>

5

<p>going by purely admit rates, ILR has the highest admission rate of all of cornell’s colleges; the admit rate for IRL is over 30%, compared to Cornell CAS’s 9%. NYU CAS is also quite competitive, but definitely not as much as Stern would be. I don’t know about BU. As for penn, that will be difficult for just about everyone, since they tend to accept applicants that would have a decent shot of getting in from HS. but if you want to apply, then apply; try to spin your story to make it compelling enough. If you can get close to a 4.0 this semester, then you have an okay shot.</p>

<p>Aw, whenever I see a sci HS kid in need, i always feel like helping. maybe it’s an elitism i acquired while at a SSHS, but i always feel like they deserve the best.</p>

6

<p>Pinedust, what about BC or GWU?</p>