<p>I am a CCC student who is on track to transfer to a UC (hopefully Berkeley or LA) by fall of '06. I will have 60 Units completed by the end of the spring semester (including a completed IGETC and all of my lower-division requirements for UCs). As of now, I have a 4.0, and I expect this to continue at least to the end of the Winter semester, at which I will have 42 transferable Units. I would assume that I would be able to get all A's in my remaining 18 units, but I have yet to take the classes (obviously), so I don't want to get ahead of myself. I have several substantial extra-curricular activities (Internship for congressman, Phi Theta Kappa, volunteer for American Cancer Society, 3+ years work experience, varsity athlete while in high school, plus a few additional high school clubs and such).</p>
<p>In high school, my grades were mediocre at best. I graduated with around a 3.0 (I had around a 3.8 both semesters senior year and took some AP courses) and was only within the top 50% of my class (out of about 500 students in a California Public School). My only explaination of this is that I didn't really develop a strong work ethic until my senior year, and that I suffered from chronic depression throughout much of high school (though I'm not sure how relevant admissions officers would see that). I scored reasonably well on my SATs (1330) and could certainly retake them, as I am positive I could score something around a 2000 on the new SAT (though this is merely speculation).
I am considering transferring to Stanford because of my success in college thus far. I am aware of how competitive admissions are, even for transfer students (last year, about a 4.5% acceptence rate for transfers). </p>
<p>My question is this: Am I a competitive applicant for Stanford (in terms of GPA and SATs-potential at least...I acknowledge that a 1330 on the old SATs isn't much for Stanford). If so, how much would my dismal high school grades affect my chances (as a junior-level applicant)? I could get good letters of reccomendation (my professor is Stanford alum, as is a internship reference), if that would help. Also, how much would the fact that I've attended a CCC rather than a 4-year university affect my chances?</p>
<p>I would prefer that people who aren't really sure to acknowledge that rather than sharing uninformed speculation. It seems that alot of people on this forum are misinformed and try to pass their opinions off as facts, rather than having actual knowledge behind it. Anyway, what do you guys think?</p>
<p>P.S. my major isn't particularly competitive (well, as opposed to Biology or something, though I realize every major at Stanford is competitive in a sense). It would likely be something within the social sciences.</p>
<p>I would say your chances for stanford are very slim to extremely slim whereas for ucb and ucla it seems certin that you can get in.</p>
<p>The biggest thing you have is the 4.0, and that is nice, but it really is almost expected to have near perfect grades. You will be compeating (mostly) against kids who have been able to do the same in challanging, top tier univerisities. Who gets in and who does not is not decided on based on scores so much (all the runners up will have 3.7-4.0 and differences in that range dont really matter) it comes down to research, unique life experiences, extremely compelling essays, etc. I would say that most have bigger ecs than you mentioned (and dont talk about high school stuff, expecially if you had grades you would prefer they didnt look at, you are saying hs preformance is indicative of yourself when its good but not when its bad, an inconsistent practice. Plus as a junior you really shouldnt have to.) While, in principle, ccc shouldnt hurt you versas 4-year the vast majority are 4-year. This I think is because 4-years tend to have better grades overall (including hs) and have research and more impressive experiences. </p>
<p>A couple of things: It doesnt matter what you want to major in. you would be admitted to the gen undergrad program not a spec dept. You should know (or have a strong idea) what you want to major in, though, they expect that you have started to take specialized courses by junior year. All else equal, hs matters but if you dont get in I would not attribute it to hs at all. sorry for the pessimistic report and good luck</p>
<p>Yeah, from what I've noticed, Stanford seems to like adversity quite a bit. From what you've mentioned (and you are obviously well-informed, being a Stanford student and whatnot), I am under the impression that high school grades would have little bearing on trannsfer decisions, and it is more so the fact that my competition is coming from top tier colleges...Hmm...Thanks for your input</p>
<p>I wouldn't worry about your high school grades too much. Your campus involvement, and to a lesser extent your SATs, are a bigger deal. Is your 4.0 in a challenging, diverse liberal arts curriculum?</p>
<p>Yes, it is. The IGETC (if you're familiar with this) basically requires that your education is such. It is comparable to what your GE requirements would be if attending a UC, as there are several different breadth requirements that need to be met; i.e. 2 english courses, a university level mat course, a biological science coure and a physical course (one of which must include a lab), 3 courses within the arts and humanities, 3 courses within the social sciences, and various other units (mine have consisted mostly of Spanish and Economics courses). I am honestly not sure how comparable these courses are, in terms of difficult, to similar ones at four year universities. I am begining to think that the Stanford app may not be worth the time which I would invest into it. If I were to apply, I would likely spend countless hours crafting my essays and such, simply beacause it's Stanford. If my chances are really that minimal, I'm not sure it's worth bothering...</p>
<p>Jeez. My stats are almost a mirror reflection of this guy's, except with different ec's and a lower high school gpa. I was told that the application was to be reviewed as a whole..I mean, I had my own stuff to deal with, and it was absolutely significant, but what I dont understand is why you guys are weighing the grades as vastly superior to the life experience, when in actuality at stanford admissions, it's a completely different admissions scenario. Or, at least, that's what i was told.</p>
<p>i am applying from Cornell University as a transfer student, I think I will have a 3.7 first semester, 1450 SAT I score, high high school GPA, all aps/honors, ranked tennis player</p>
<p>at Cornell
Main EC> Presidential Research Scholar, 1 of 40 freshman out of 3000 freshman, selected for every year...you keep this "Cornell Commitment Fellowship" so long you keep doing the research and meet some guidelines.</p>
<p>why you guys are weighing the grades as vastly superior to the life experience, when in actuality at stanford admissions, it's a completely different admissions scenario. Or, at least, that's what i was told.</p>
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<p>Who told you that college grades aren't enormously important for Stanford transfer admission?</p>