How much does HS GPA matter when transferring as a Sophomore?

Hey!

I’m thinking about applying for transfer as a sophomore to UPenn, Brown, Cornell, and other privates.
My HS stats are kind of bad(3.1 unweighted, 3.9 weighted, 33 ACT), and my HS ECs then weren’t that great either.

However, I’ve kinda outperformed my expectations of myself in Freshman year at a CC. I have a 4.0, lot of ECs, interning at two places, and generally doing reasonably well.

I know universities look at HS GPA and things like that, but would it severely impact my chances at going to the aforementioned universities?

Anything is appreciated.

When you say “transfer as a sophomore”, I assume that you mean transfer so that you spend only one year total at community college. This means that you have to have your application in to the university by approximately the end of your first semester at CC. Is this correct?

One issue, if this is correct, then how do you already have grades at CC? Did you start over the summer?

Also, if this is correct, then you have only very limited CC grades, and your high school grades are going to matter also. UPenn, Brown and Cornell are all very difficult to transfer into. One semester of straight A’s at community college is not going to be enough.

If you keep up the “straight A’s” at CC, then you will eventually be able to transfer to a very good university (at least top 100, likely top 50). Which one I wouldn’t try to guess.

By transfer as a sophomore, I do mean that I’ll be at CC for an entire year. And yeah, I’ve taken summer classes but we’ve also had midterm grades posted online.

Private applications are sent around the middle of spring semester.

When I do give the application, I’ll have about 2 semesters worth of grades, or about 25 semester credits worth of grades. I’ll be taking 17-20 credits over the Spring Semester, so I guess that’s about 40-45 credits worth of grades. Obviously, I would have to take major prep classes all over again, so that would probably be about 30-35 credits.

Would that be enough of a sample size to really contest acceptance in any way?

Go to the website of each school. many colleges require a review of your high school record if you have only completed one year of college prior to transfer. Ivies will likely want to see the whole picture. Getting a 4.0 in a CC is not like getting a 4.0 at an Ivy.

Ivy Leagues are a crapshoot for any transfer applying. As @TomSrOfBoston said, Ivies want the whole picture, as transfer seats are beyond limited.

Your high school grades wouldn’t be that much of an issue if you were a rising junior applicant. However, since your applying as a sophomore transfer, high school grades will be looked at.

I’d apply to some schools, just not the Ivies. You have a really solid application so far.

You should really look into less competitive schools that are well known for your major/programs.