Help! - Need Advice On Transfer Schools/Opportunities & What To Do...

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello, I am planning on transferring after my second year of college for the Fall Semester (2009). I would even consider transferring for the Spring Semester (2009) if it’s possible. I was an excellent high school student and very involved, but I floundered once I reached college due to severe depression and psychological problems. I am currently receiving treatment, but I am afraid that my chances at transferring to a top school like before are shot because of my first-year college record. Please give constructive criticism. </p>

<h2>College</h2>

<p>I will be a sophomore this fall at the University of California, San Diego.
I am a Human Biology major, I was also in the Honors Programs for the first two quarters.
1st quarter GPA: 3.325
2nd quarter GPA: 2.600
3rd quarter GPA: 2.205
Overall UC GPA: 2.700
AP credits: 8 (a 5 on the Lit AP)
Credits completed so far: 50 </p>

<p>SAT (taken Junior year): V: 700, M: 640, W: 680 (total: 2020)
ACT (taken Junior year): </p>

<h2>High School</h2>

<p>Private, Catholic school: no Rank (although I graduated Summa Cum Laude)
GPA: something 4.0+, I think 4.3 or something, maybe higher
I took many AP and honors, all the challenging courses from the school. </p>

<hr>

<p>Extra Curricular and Awards</p>

<ul>
<li> Most from high school. I was leader of most clubs and was president of ASB and school 2 years in a row. I did heavy community service and won several scholarships, did tutoring, leadership, etc. etc.</li>
<li> JV/Varsity Swim Team – 3 years</li>
<li> My high school awards and accolades go on and on, and my achievement is very heavy here, but not at all in my first year of college. </li>
</ul>

<p>I am taking classes at a community college during the summer, to get credits done – how will this impact my transfer application? </p>

<p>Also, I am taking additional summer classes at another UC to boost my GPA. Will this help? </p>

<p>Also, what do you think my chances are of transferring to UC Berkeley or UCLA?</p>

<p>I am not sure whether or not my statistics for college will hurt me, because the last two quarters do not reflect the type of student I am. Do you think they will look at my high school record more? Should I even bother applying to the schools that I want to apply to? Please give me constructive advice on what to do, and what schools to apply to for transferring that are within my range. Also, any advice on including my problems (depression, etc.) in the essays, or whether they should be mentioned at all, are appreciated. </p>

<p>The schools I am considering (all ranked above UC San Diego): </p>

<p>• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Duke University
• Georgetown University
• Harvard University
• Johns Hopkins University
• New York University
• Northwestern University
• Stanford University
• Tufts University
• UC Berkeley
• UCLA
• University of Notre Dame
• University of Pennsylvania
• USC
• Yale University</p>

<p>Thanks again.</p>

2

<p>While they will look at your hs record (some or most will), they will not look at your hs record "more."</p>

<p>Why do you want to transfer? You are already at an excellent school.</p>

<p>For informed opinions on chances of transfer to UCB or UCLA, I suggest you post on the UC Transfer subforum. Knowledgeable posters about UC transfer are over there.</p>

<p>You do have another couple of quarters to show GPA improvement, which could really help you. And clarify that the lower GPA quarters were an aberration. Although the deadline for UC transfers is in November (instead of, usually, March for many other schools), which gives you less time to show a pick-up in performance.</p>

3

<p>Here is my sincere opinion:</p>

<p>Columbia University - No chance
Cornell University - No chance
Dartmouth College - No chance
Duke University - slim chance (would not have much hopes)
Georgetown University - slim chance
Harvard University - they dont take transfers.. so no chance
Johns Hopkins University - very low chance
New York University - low chance
Northwestern University - low chance
Stanford University - absolutely no chance at all
Tufts University - slim chance
UC Berkeley - low chance
UCLA - very low chance
University of Notre Dame - moderately low chance
University of Pennsylvania - no chance
USC - low chance
Yale University - low chance</p>

<p>As you can see you either have low, very low, or slim chances of getting into a couple of the colleges you listed. (Again this is only my opinion, and it by no means should be taken as a fact). I believe that since you are showing a negative trend (getting worse and worse grades) as times progresses, that could be seen extremely bad (mostly by the colleges you listed). Sincerely, I think you would need to get an EXTREMELY impressive ec to get into the schools you listed.</p>

4

<p>What is frustrating about this is that you say I have no chance (and for good reason) even though I got into some of these schools previously, solely based on my high school record.</p>

<p>But thank you for your reply. Do you think if I showed a positive trend in my GPA (and generally improved it with summer classes, etc.) that would help me? </p>

<p>Also, what is "EC"?</p>

5

<p>Well the thing is transfer applications are a little bit more competitive (I think), because there are less spots and so many different factors. EC = extracurricular activities. Finally, yes i think that if you show remarkable improvement during the summer, and you manage to get really good letters of recommendation you might increase your chances for some of the schools you posted. However, there are some schools that really, unless you have a 3.5+, you really don't have a fighting chance against other applicants.</p>

6

<p>Since when does Harvard not take transfers? I thought that was Princeton?</p>

7

<p>"Since when does Harvard not take transfers? I thought that was Princeton?"</p>

<p>This year.</p>

8

<p>Wow Darkchild. With your achievements you are totally discouraging me from applying to Yale. Anyway, I thought its the college record they consider more than the high school one, right?</p>

9

<p>If you apply as a college freshman, your high school record will still have weight. If you apply as a college sophomore, it will matter very little, and some schools say they don't consider high school at all at that point.
For the OP, this could prove to be an issue. You have a great HS record, but since you've waited past the first year to transfer, what they'll see the most is your downward trend in college. High school success is not always a predictor of college success, and your steadily declining GPA and getting kicked out of the Honors Program won't help matters. Colleges want to accept someone who has proven at their previous college that they will be an asset to their new school.</p>

<p>As far as mentioning your depression and psychological problems as the reason for your college struggles, I think there's been a thread or two on this subject somewhere on CC - if anyone knows where, please let the OP know. I know that some parents and students were having difficulty deciding whether or not to disclose the students' mental health issues on applications after what happened at VA Tech for fear that they would be discriminated against. </p>

<p>Don't give up your dreams, but do realize that transferring is a difficult and competitive process. Be sure to put some true safeties on your list. Good luck.</p>

10

<p>Thanks for all the help and advice, guys. I appreciate the honesty. </p>

<p>Pretzelbreaker - do you have a link for the psychological issues thread?</p>

11

<p>I honestly wouldn't mention your depression issues - just my opinion. </p>

<p>I wish you luck with your endeavors, and if you really want it then go for it. But I have to be honest and agree with SGA. I don't see it happening. Even with two quarters left to redeem yourself, you are up against others that have not missed a beat. I have always been told that the general rule of thumb is a 3.5 GPA cut off for most of the schools mentioned above. Your downward trend performance could be the death of your chances as well.</p>

12

<p>your GPA hurts your chance to your target schools badly. However since you mention about the psychological problems and treatment, that could be an explanation. But seriously, for Columbia, if you dont have a 3.8+ GPA, the chance is really slim. As for a junior standing, the HS GPA wont weight a lot. Probably some of those schools dont accept your SAT scores anymore.
And just a reminder, the culture and spirit of Columbia have no similarities with that of Dartmouth. Since you are a perspective transfer applicant which means you will spend your last two years in one of those schools, you really should consider about it. Where is the exactly place suit for you?
Choose some safeties at the same time to make sure you can leave your current college. Good Luck. :)</p>