Help with schools to consider and my chances at a few

Transfer Students
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<p>I'm currently a freshman at Barnard and I need to transfer. I'm really unhappy socially, I dislike being at a women's college, and I dislike the Women's Studies major here. Frankly, I'm miserable. I picked Barnard because of internships and the fact that I thought it would help me after college, but I’ve realised if I’m smart and motivated enough I can get anywhere. I also knew when I picked it that it wasn't quite right for me socially; I preferred Vassar in that aspect. Guess I should have listened to my instinct! Regardless, this whole process feels a bit daunting; I’m a little afraid to leave the city, I feel as if I'd be giving up a great opportunity (but it is worthless if things keep going like they are), and after years of being a slave to rankings, it seems strange not to use them.</p>

<p>I only have a vague idea of where I'm going to apply. I definitely want to apply to Hampshire. The other schools I have been mildly considering (in no order) are: Brown, Amherst, Wesleyan [rejected when applied as a freshman], NYU (Gallatin) [accepted when applied as a freshman], Pitzer, Goucher, Vassar [accepted when applied as a freshman]. Those other schools are in no way where I am definitely going to apply, so I'd <em>really</em> appreciate suggestions. I don't care about rankings; I'm looking for a liberal arts school with little to no core curriculum with out a competitive atmosphere within 2 hours of a city (or in a city) and an activist, hippie, artsy type of student body. Preferably with an independent major or a Gender Studies major.</p>

<p>I hope this is the right way to post these stats...never been here before.
My stats:
High School:
SAT - 1400
ACT - 31
SAT II - MathIC 700; US History 760; Writing 710
GPA - 3.98
Top 10% of my class - I went to a small, competitive private high school.
I had numerous academic awards, solid extracurriculars, was a varsity athlete for two sports, attended academic camps, volunteered, and took community college classes.</p>

<p>Unfortunately my college stats are nowhere as good as they were in high school.
GPA: 3.14 (didn't do well on my finals...)
Extra Curriculars: Take Back the Night, co-coordinator of Sexhibition (this is a BIG event the week after Take Back the Night), Students for Choice, sub-DJ for the radio station
I haven’t been too close with my professors, but I think one would write me a recommendation.</p>

<p>Next semester I know I need to work harder. I honestly don’t even want to go back, but I don't think I have any other choice since my main EC is this spring (Sexhibition).</p>

<p>Thank you for all your help in advance.</p>

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<p>NYU then .</p>

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<p>Your college GPA (which is what counts the most, because high schools differ so much in how competitive they are) is not really high enough to transfer to a highly selective school like Brown or Amherst. Vassar probably not, though I'm not sure... NYU is also not that easy to get into. Hamphsire you could probably get into, although Hampshire is WAY different than Barnard in that students there don't really have to work if they don't want to so make sure you know what you're getting into. If you really got your act together and completed through Sophomore year at Barnard with stellar grades (3.6+ GPA), your chances of transfer would be much improved.</p>

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<p>Ecape-</p>

<p>My problem is that staying there would only make me more unhappy and I'm not willing to sacrifice my overall well-being for some a high GPA. I don't think I want to be at a super-selective school anymore, so I probably won't be applying to Brown or Amherst.</p>

<p>Thanks for your thoughts.</p>

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<p>Well, another thing I might suggest is sticking it out for a total of three semesters at least just to see if you adjust, simply because the switch you're thinking of making would be so drastic. I know some freshman have a difficult time adjusting to college their first year. I transferred to a charter high school my sophomore year in high school, and it was helluva lot harder than my home high school, but by the end of my junior year I had come out of the cave to see the merits of studying hard, and I learned SO much I was sure glad I went there, even though the GPA I graduated with wasn't ideal.</p>

<p>I know you just said you don't want to go to an all-women's college, but if there's any way that's not the most important factor, you might check out Smith (where I'm wanting to transfer from). It's social life is different than a city, the activist population tends to be generally great people, and you can go to coed parties on the weekends. I THINK it's easier to transfer into than those other schools you were considering.</p>

<p>Finally, I'll give you a little tip I came up with on my own. If in your spring semester this year, you sign up for classes you want to take, and then you study however hard it takes you to maintain a 3.6+ GPA in that semester, you could apply to schools by their deadline saying you will include spring midterm grades when they become available. Then, a couple of weeks later when its your spring midterm make out a worksheet where teachers can write down your midterm grade for their class, and then sign their name next to it. Then send copies of that worksheet to the colleges to which you applied. If you can show colleges you really can do college work by doing well in your spring semester, somewhere like Wesleyan that accepts 35% of transfers MIGHT accept you after all.</p>

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<p>High school is a lot different than college. And I know the merits of studying hard, but if I'm not happy, it's really not worth it to me anymore. I spent most of high school (which I chose for academics) being unhappy socially so I made sure I did well in my classes so I would have a chance of being happy in college, and I thought that the only way I would be happy was at an Ivy or a comprable school; this is most certainly not the case for me. The reasons I chose this school were the wrong ones for me.</p>

<p>I've toyed with the idea of taking this semester off, but I know I need to have better grades this semester so the colleges will see that I can do the work and I know I need to stay here for a full year to give this school a proper chance. Applying to transfer now at least may give me the option of leaving after this year if I am still as unhappy as I am right now.</p>

<p>I'll look into Smith, but I think being at a women's college is a major part of the problem. Having taken all-female and co-ed classes, I'm so much happier in a co-educational environment.</p>

<p>Thanks for the tip. I'll remember to do that. :) Good luck with your transfer process.</p>

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<p>Good luck, I myself already had the chance to transfer to a "better" college than Smith, and ended up not doing so because I realized I didn't think that college would have been right for me from a lifestyle perspective, so I do sort of understand where you're coming from. As someone who's considered Barnard though, what specifically do you dislike about it?</p>

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<p>i think it is incorrect to assume that ONE semester of college grades will be the most important factor as a first year transfer. From what I have learned, there is some type of "unofficial rule" called the 1/3 and 2/3 rule. If you apply as a first year transfer student, 2/3 is based on high school record (especially junior and senior years & SAT scores), and 1/3 is based on the first semester grades.</p>

<p>Now, if you apply as a second year transfer student, 2/3 is based on college grades and 1/3 on high school</p>

<p>These places have to know that college is a rough transition for some and it isn't easy to always adjust and pop out As like we did in high school. I could be wrong though...but this is what i heard</p>

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<p>Based on what you said bball my guess is that how college and high school grades are looked at differs by college adcom then. Because I have been told by some adcoms that they hardly consider high school grades. I think it totally depends.</p>

<p>Even if only 1/3 is based on college, my assessment of how you'd do with a 3.1 GPA stands. With a high spring midterm though, I think your chances are greatly improved.</p>

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<p>escape, "I have been told by some adcoms that they hardly consider high school grades"</p>

<p>that is totally bogus....go look at Columbia's transfer website, it says that since we only have time to see your first semester grades, your high school record and standararized test scores are of great importance to us and in the decision process. If they barely looked at it, why would every school be so emphatic about asking for a COMPLETED high school transcript. I called up a few places that I was already admitted to, and they wanted my transcript with my senior grades on there. I highly doubt that they "hardly consider" it.</p>

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<p>I think bball is correct - after only one semester, there's not much to base the decision on, so high school has to be given greater importance. However, that 1/3 is quite high, and if you dont have it, you wont get into top schools. </p>

<p>I think the 3.14 might be too low for Brown and Amherst. You're likely a cometitive applicant at your other schools.</p>

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<p>I'm just saying for some colleges. The transfer counselor from Smith for instance said that they place a lot more emphasis on college, no matter when you're transferring.</p>

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<p>Ecape, I'm just going to say that there are a lot of women who absolutely adore Barnard, and I'm in the minority. Anyways. 1) I dislike being at a women's college. 2) I feel like nothing happens; like nothing crazy or wild or unique. I wish I could articulate this better for you, but I spoke to a junior transfer from NYU and she feels the same way. 3) Sometimes I feel like Barnard wants to hold my hand too much. I dislike that to take 21 credits I have to get the class dean's permission, whereas at CC/SEAS you can take 21 credits with out any problems. Some people like that kind of concern, though. 4) I don't think the traditional liberal arts education suits me. I really don't like being told what to do when it comes to my education. I like to form my own path and do as I please. (I've been this way since high school - I wheedled my way out of certain requirements to graduate so I could do what I wanted.) 5) It feels too competitive and people seem to care too much about grades. I didn't see a girl leave the study lounge for four days except to eat/sleep/shower. That is crazy, to me. But I don't believe in grades.</p>

<p>So, I don't think Barnard is a bad school. I don't think it has many problems besides the extremely annoying course registration process and the current overcrowding in housing, but it's really not right for the kind of person I am and for what I want out of a college education.</p>

<p>BBall87 and Mr_S, thanks for your input as well.</p>