Help please, any advice? what must I do in order to transfer to a top school?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I want to start going to school this fall, two years since graduating high school (2012). I'll go to a community college that has a good record of transfers, one even transferred into Yale. </p>

<p>Looking back on my HS years I'm appalled by how ignorant I was in terms of college. My parents never went to High school, and my older brother dropped out. It was hard not having a roll model, but I understand that all fault lays on me for not having explored my opportunities to the fullest. I regret not having taken advantage of many things. I didn't understand the importance of the SAT. I didn't get involved much. I had to change high schools the summer before junior year, at my first school i was scared sometimes to stay after school because most of my friends didn't and I didn't want to be alone late on the streets, it was a dangerous school. At my other school I was too shy, plus I didn't feel so comfortable talking to white kids. I spent every lunch alone in the library doing homework, and went home early to play video games. I didn't even go to graduation. </p>

<p>Anyway here are my "stats":</p>

<p>GPA un-weighted: 3.75</p>

<p>High level classes (I would have taken AP calc and maybe AP physics, but since I transferred I had to take Alg 2 all year junior, and pre-calc all year senior, also I started in the esl program and went to honors English in 2 years, so i don't know if that looks good):</p>

<p>-AP Spanish lang (5)
-AP Spanish lit (4)
-AP NSL Gov. (4)
-Honors English 11, 12
-Honors US History
-Honors Algebra 2
-Honors Physics
-Quantum Mechanics (I was the only Hispanic there, if that counts for anything).</p>

<p>ECs:</p>

<p>-Soccer (9th grade and 10th grade).
-Rough Riders for Global peace (raised awareness on global issues and raised money for non-profits, at my old school 11th/12 grade)
-Peer tutoring (10th, 11, 12th grades)
-Helped new comers to America adjust to living here (10th, 11th, 12 grades)
-Saturday School STE (science, technology, engineering) program (10th grade, 11th grade, we just built bottle rockets)
-Worked some days after school with uncle.
as you can see they were all at my old school, I didn't really talked to anybody at my new school.</p>

<p>During the summers I didn't do much, I only worked a few days a week with my uncle. </p>

<p>SAT:
Took it twice, 1550/2400</p>

<p>I didn't take it seriously and now I'm practicing to take it again.</p>

<p>No subject tests, should I take them?</p>

<p>I feel like I've disappointed my mom, even if she doesn't feel that way. she has raised me and my siblings as a single mother, and simply graduating high school is not enough. Also going to a state school is not enough, I want to go to a top 20 school. I want to set an example to those that come after me, and break this stupid cycle. I don't want to simply go up a few steps, I want to go to the top of the stair-case. </p>

2

<p>I want to get involved in research, but have no idea how. I would like to start some type of non profit, but I don’t know how.</p>

3

<p>You want to set an example? Just finish your degree and do something with it. Once you start working, no one cares where you went to school, they care what you can do.</p>

<p>If you insist on a ‘top 20’ school at this point, you will likely be disappointed. You may be able to do it, but I would recommend getting a BS from a decent school and then shoot for grad school at a ‘name’ school. The Master’s will mean more than a BS. Even one from a top 20 school.</p>

4

<p>^ I agree with Torveaux on all points. Stop projecting years ahead and stop fixating on what others have done, instead buckle down and excel in your coursework, that’s what matters.</p>

<p>No need to take Subject tests once you’re in college. </p>

5

<p>I 2nd the poster above. </p>

<p>Can you afford a top 20 university?
Why do you want to goto a top 20 uni?</p>

<p>From my reading of your previous post it seems like you have prestigious school disease. This isn’t what you want to hear but you have to STOP THINKING about what you can do to IMPRESS SCHOOLS. Instead you should start thinking about where you want to go IN LIFE. College is just a bridge to that other side. </p>

<p>To extend further on the previous poster about working.
Here in California we have a typical state university called CSUF. They have a business school but obviously a business degree will mean nothing compared to an ivy school or even a better school such as USC. At the same time they also offer an accounting degree. Accounting is pretty much the same everywhere. Although it’s harder to get into a BIG 4 accounting firm out of CSUF (vs. USC) it’s still possible for someone with good grades. </p>

<p>Long story short their are ways to be successful without going to an top 20 uni. If you aren’t realistic about your options you won’t end up anywhere you want to be. </p>

6

<p>I can’t agree more with previous posts. Look, I understand where you are from and I been there. I was once pressured into doing science in hope to get accept to Medical/Pharmacy schools. And I failed miserably. Coming from an Asian family, the expectations from my parents were beyond what I can do. I flunked, fell, and wasted 3 years of my life to rethink what I really want to do. The point here is, NEVER do things only to impress certain people. At the end of the day no one really cares but yourself. Your mother wants you to have a stable life, that’s all. Right now you should focus on what you want to study and get good grades in your courses. Save up for graduate school. Matter of fact, your final degree outweighs your undergrad. </p>