<p>Hello,
I applied to McGill this college season as a senior, unfortunately I did not get in. I feel this is probably because of my GPA, which is a 2.4UW/2.7W, since their decision was 'Denied-academic req't not met'. My test scores are ACT 28 and SAT 620CR/570M/620W. I also took the Math Level II/Physics/Literature SAT II's, though I do not remember my scores off-hand. I plan to re-test in the fall as a college freshman, and do well enough in my classes to get at least a 3.7 GPA. Any tips? What do you think my chances are, do you think they will look negatively upon me retesting as a freshman to get higher scores? I know that my high school transcript will also be taken into consideration, do you think if I show that I have improved and have a 3.7 or higher they will take me?</p>
<p>I’d guess that your chances are less than 50%.</p>
<p>All three sections of your SAT are below the 25th percentile of McGill students. [[Source](<a href=“College Search - BigFuture | College Board”>College Search - BigFuture | College Board)</a>]</p>
<p>Furthermore, McGill’s transfer-student acceptance rate is significantly lower than their incoming senior rate (<30%).[Source]</p>
<p>However, I know for a fact that a GPA from a college is weighed more than HS GPA, so you have that going for you.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Hey,
While I appreciate your honesty, I’d have to say that I think my chances are a little better than that. I know that their acceptance rate of transfers is low, which is why I’m hoping to get replies from transfers to see what their stats were. I see on your profile that you have been accepted to McGill, will you attend?
Anyway, I also see that your scores are barely in the mid-50% of accepted first years, but there is nothing saying how up to date those scores are. I was sick as a dog on my test day, and almost voided my test by throwing up it during repeated coughing fits. You scored less than 200 points better than I did, and because of my circumstances on test day I’m retaking it as a college freshman. I didn’t have the money to retake this year.
I think that I can get at least into the mid-50% when I retest on the SAT, and I know that I will get into the mid-50% when I retake the ACT.
I think that if I increased my math to at least 640, and increased my CR/W up around 680+ I might stand a good chance. As well as getting the 30 I plan on getting on the ACT and getting a GPA of at least 3.7.</p>
<p>You are on the right track to maximize your chance.
Your high school grades are sealed, you have no way to change them. Transfer is not standardized so college makes decision on a case-by-case basis. Nobody can tell you the actual admission standard because it also depends on application pool of the year. Thus, you should focus on maximizing your grades to increase. SAT/ACT is something that you need to work on first. On the flip side, college work is very very important since your high school grades are obviously not sparkling. Try taking some easy classes and ace them all.</p>
<p>I plan on doing very well at college, this makes no difference, but my HS gpa is so low because my school is full of subjective teachers (of whom I am not on the favorable side in terms of their opinion of me). As you can see by my ACT/SAT scores, I am fully capable of getting A’s with objective teachers. I’ve gotten B’s/C’s with subjective teachers.</p>
<p>He/she only indicated your scores are below 25th percentile. And this is a FACT, which hurts your chance in at least one dimension. </p>
<p>Like I said, try to improve your SAT scores, preferably higher than 2100(I got slightly below that though, but I am an international so I guess it’s ok for me to have an average verbal score, for you, since you really need to prove yourself, try to make it more impressive) Also college grades are incredibly important for you, try to take easy classes and pre-learn stuff in summer (by similar AP classes or sth), you would have an advantage over others, especially during midterm.</p>
<p>I don’t know how I could’ve responded in a more objective, non-judgmental way. Nevertheless, I’m sorry that my post upset you.</p>
<p>Stay classy, and take it easy on the defense mechanisms.</p>
<p>I’d really appreciate it if anyone who has actually applied transfer can shed some light onto the conversation. 200 views and only 2 people replying, neither of which can have any real opinion? I know there are admitted transfers out there. :)</p>
<p>I was admitted yesterday to Arts. I’ve just completed a degree from Waterloo though, and my cumulative average over four years was > 83%.</p>
<p>Hi Nicole,
I’ve been recently accepted as a transfer student so I’ll shed some light for you. It may not be quite the same as your situation however as I’m not an international student. </p>
<p>Nonetheless, my GPA in high school was above average (mid 80s) but they didn’t include any maths or sciences. In university, I had two years worth of courses with an overall GPA just below 3.7 (it might have been 3.6 but my previous school used percentages so I’m not sure how McGill converted it). I do have an upward trend in my records though so they may have considered that as well (my GPA would be 3.7+ if not for a dreadful first term). </p>
<p>In my case, I don’t believe they considered my high school records (they didn’t ask for it but I still sent it). I think it also depends on the type of program you are hoping to transfer to as some programs are quite competitive (not a lot of spaces for transfer students). </p>
<p>My advice is just do the best that you can in college. If you’re hoping to transfer as a second-year student, they’re still going to be looking at your high school grades. But, if you show them enough of an improvement, I’m sure they’ll take that into consideration. If you don’t get in, try again the next year. After two years worth of unversity courses, your high school records won’t even matter (just make sure your grades in university are consistently high).</p>
<p>@rougetardis:
Good to know! (Are you also a Doctor Who fan, by the way? Best show ever!)</p>
<p>Can you possibly shed a little light on the transfer application process? Did you have to send SAT/ACT scores, or were they not taken into account? Which program did you apply to? I’m hoping to apply to Arts or Sciences. </p>
<p>@leannie:
Congrats!</p>
<p>Yes, definitely a fan, can’t wait for Fall!</p>
<p>I applied to Arts. I’m Canadian so I didn’t have to send SAT/ACT scores. My high school grades were also unnecessary because I had two years worth of university courses:
</p>
<p>The downside to this is McGill limits you in how many transfer credits you get (30 credits/1 year for Faculty of Arts). For me, I’m supposed to be a 3rd year student this Fall but I’m expecting to be placed as a 2nd year student (I have yet to receive the transfer credit results).</p>
<p>In terms of the timeline, I just finished my 2nd year so I started the whole application process mid-way of my 2nd year. Follow the transfer student deadlines as mentioned on their [url=<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/undergrad2011-12/other/]website[/url”>http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/undergrad2011-12/other/]website[/url</a>]. From my experience, they don’t look at your application before May (where your college grades from Fall/Winter term are official). </p>
<p>Here’s my timeline for comparison:
January '11: Sent in application, current university transcript
May '11: Sent in final university transcript (including grades from Fall’10/Winter '11)
June '11: Admitted.</p>
<p>As arsenaleung mentioned, transfer students are handled on a case-by-case basis. On any given year there’s a multitude of factors that play into whether you get in or not (Are the current transfer crop weak/strong? Were there a lot of dropouts from the previous year? Did a lot of high school students reject their offer?). These are all factors you can’t control. Don’t let these scare you off from applying (apply!). Every year though things change. All you can really do is to work as hard as you can during the next two terms and hope for the best.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>Rougetardis:
Ah, good to know! I was kind of worried how applying transfer in my first year would go, since I wouldn’t have a full year on my transcript when I apply. But now I think it won’t be a problem.</p>
<p>Yeah, I saw that about the transfer credits. That, and I want to be at McGill for more than half of my degree, are the main reasons why I’m applying first year and not second. Though I suppose that if I don’t get in, I’ll just have to apply transfer my second year too. haha. </p>
<p>I’m doing everything I can to better my chances, but if SAT scores aren’t really looked at I don’t want to spend the $104 and bunches of time studying. So, if any american transfers are out there, do shine light on this!</p>
<p>Still wondering about SAT scores. Please reply if you are an American Transfer! Thanks!</p>
<p>Well, I’m like 7 months late, but I thought I’d chime in. Nicole, they do not require SAT/ACT scores for applicants who are from an American college. They DO however require SAT/ACT from American high school students.</p>
<p>@rougetardis:
Hi, I’m applying to Mcgill as an international transfer and I have recently submitted the application with my university transcripts, however I would still like to submit my high school transcript even though it isn’t required. Do you happen to remember how did you submit your high school grades? Should I just add this document to the PDF where I submitted my college transcripts?</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>I applied as an international transfer, and I believe there was no where to include your high school transcripts, as they look at your college transcripts since you’re in college. They better reflect on how you would fare at McGill than your HS transcripts anyways. </p>
<p>You could call McGill to see if there’s a way they can upload it, but if your HS GPA wasn’t at least a 3.6/3.7 unweighted on the 4.0 scale I wouldn’t bother though. Lower won’t help you out, because I think they want to see at least this in their freshman applicants.</p>
<p>camilaozb12: For my high school transcript, I just got my official transcript from my high school (in a sealed school envelope with school’s stamp on the flaps) and addressed it to [McGill](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/admissionsguide/mailing-address]McGill[/url]:”>http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/admissionsguide/mailing-address):</a></p>
<p>Enrolment Services
Management of Academic Records Unit
McGill University
3415 McTavish Street, Room MS 13
Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C8 Canada</p>
<p>When I applied they didn’t have that option of uploading PDFs so I’m not sure whether you can just submit a PDF of your high school transcript. Best bet might be to ask an [admissions</a> advisor](<a href=“http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/admissionsguide/contacts]admissions”>http://www.mcgill.ca/applying/admissionsguide/contacts).</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>