Help me! I'm drowning in the transfer application process!

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm a freshman at NYU Stern thinking of transferring. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>College
gpa: expecting a 3.9-4.0 this semester, and hopefully the same for next semester
courses:
Calc 1- A (professor doesn't give any A+s, otherwise I would get one)
Writing- A/A-
Natural Science- A/A+
Conversations of the West- A
LORs: I'm planning on getting recs from my math and science professors; im one of the top students in both classes so they should be pretty strong</p>

<p>High School
gpa: 3.5ish UW/ 4.0 weighted - extenuating circumstances within my family definitely affected my grades. my home environment was not conducive at all to my school work. i wrote about this in my essay
rank: school does not rank, but for sure top 20% (went to a pretty competitive college prep school)
couseload: pretty rigorous, but definitely could've been more rigorous
ACT: 30 (30E, 35M, 28R, 25S lol)- i plan on retaking this. im hoping for 33+
SAT IIs: 770- math level 2, 760 math level 1
High school counselor rec (required for some schools): im worried about this. extenuating circumstances at home caused me to be rather frustrated at times, which definitely affected my relationships with my counselor and teachers.</p>

<p>Ethnicity: African American</p>

<p>ECs: Overall, I think very good. I'm very passionate in everything I do. I've got some pretty unique stuff, and have actually been internationally recognized for one of them. In general, my EC's pertain to music as well as politics and business. Sorry for being really vague, it's just for the sake of anonymity</p>

<p>Awards: currently in a big competition where I stand a chance of winning, National Merit Commended, nothing really spectacular other than that</p>

<p>Essays: I've already finished the rough draft for my main one, and so far I've gotten very positive feedback. I expect that my other essays will also be very good.</p>

<p>Schools that I'm applying to:</p>

<p>Yale (LOL... i know it's a crapshoot, but it really is my dream school)
Wharton (my #2 choice. would love to go here.)
Brown
MIT
Dartmouth
Columbia</p>

<p>So what do you guys think? Do I stand any chance at these schools? I'm specifically curious to hear what you guys think about my poor high school academic performance and its effect upon my application. Are my chances severely hurt? Or do you think these top colleges will look past it considering I have a valid reason, and that my college gpa is much better? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.</p>

2

<p>I’d throw a few solid match/safety schools in there. And then just go for it.</p>

<p>You can try transferring this year and if it doesn’t work out, still can try it next year as well (where the colleges will look more at your college vs your hs stats). </p>

<p>The colleges will look at your trend upward. URM is potentially a plus. </p>

<p>But most of all, throw a few solid “match” schools in there, because you do have fine stats. That way you can transfer to a great school even if your dream choices don’t come through.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the advice, annikasorrensen!</p>

<p>Anyone else?</p>

4

<p>bummmmmmmp</p>

5

<p>I think you’ll do well in the transfer process, especially if you can raise that ACT score to a 33+. Do that and I think you’ll have some acceptances waiting. Also you might want to apply to Northwestern too as it tends to be less selective in the transfer process relative to the Ivies.</p>

6

<p>Thanks, slipper1234! Yeah, I’ll definitely look into Northwestern.</p>

7

<p>bump10char</p>

8

<p>If you maintain that 3.9, I think you have a great shot. No need to retake the ACT/SAT. Those tests are redundant if you do well your first year at a great school (aren’t the ACT/SAT only meant to measure your potential to perform well in college?). </p>

<p>NYU Stern is a great school; everyone knows that. A 3.9 from there would make you pretty competitive for any of the above schools (except MIT; in fact, I’d probably just forget applying there in the first place).</p>

9

<p>Hey Flowerhead,</p>

<p>Does the Writing score of the SAT count no weight or a bit of weight for transfer students? (Even though I heard colleges do not really look at that.)</p>

10

<p>Thanks, flowerhead! </p>

<p>Oh, and just to add some more info to my profile, I took 16 credits this semester, and will be taking 18 credits next semester. I will be taking world cultures, microeconomics, statistics, and a business course. In addition, I will hopefully be interning at some firm next semester.</p>

11

<p>I think you have a great shot! However, if you truly want to leave NYU Stern, I agree with everyone else that you should probably add a few safety/matches. Not because you’re unqualified, but just because they’re all so competitive to get into.</p>

12

<p>Thanks, akalboy! Yeah, I think I’ll throw Northwestern and Georgetown into the mix. Not that I consider them safeties, but their admissions are considerably less competitive than the other schools I’m applying to.</p>

13

<p>Sorry to bump this thread, but grades are out, and I received a 3.83 gpa (all A’s except for a B+ in writing- apparently one of the toughest courses at nyu). Also, I’ve been studying for the SAT, which I’ll be taking in a couple of months, and am fairly confident I’ll break 2200.</p>

<p>So, what are your thoughts?</p>

14

<p>Was the B+ in Writing the Essay? Screw that course. I know seniors who still seethe when anyone mentions WtE. </p>

<p>Also, there ARE no A+s at NYU. [NYU</a> > University Registrar > Transcripts & Certification > Grading Information](<a href=“Class Registration, Transcripts, Graduation”>http://www.nyu.edu/registrar/transcripts-certification/grades-information.html)</p>

<p>I agree with flowerhead that with a 3.8 from Stern, there is NO reason to retake the SAT. You’ve already proven to ad coms that you are capable of handling college work.</p>

15

<p>Thanks, missamericanpie!</p>

<p>Haha yes, it was the infamous Writing the Essay. Oh and about the nonexistence of A+s at NYU, I discovered that during finals week when I was furiously calculating the various possible GPAs I’d receive contingent on my final exam performances. :D</p>

16

<p>It’s so weird seeing you undergrads talk and walk through Washington Square Park. I’m in the grad school; you all make me feel old:(</p>

17

<p>@flowerhead</p>

<p>ugh, i know the feeling. i’m graduating a year late, in 2011. but on the NYU board, the high school seniors i’m giving advice to are all applying to be the class of 2014. </p>

<p>when i was younger, i thought by 2014, we would be living like the Jetsons. hahaha.</p>

18

<p>Class of 2014!?!?! Ew.</p>

<p>Well, if you want any perspectives on the law school, feel free to ask!</p>

19

<p>3.9 in Stern quite impressive and I think you have a good shot of getting in to most of those schools. But as for Yale, keep in mind there transfer acceptance rate is 2.3 or 3%.
For business, Stern is among the Ivy’s. But just to be on the safe side try Vandy, Notre Dame ans so on… (even those schools are very hard to get in).</p>

20

<p>You should stay at Stern. If you maintain that GPA, you’ll have a virtually guaranteed employment.</p>