<p>What should I do in college to gain an acceptance as a transfer student from a state school to schools like Duke, Yale, etc... my high school record is blah. I have a 3.81 GPA with a 27 ACT. How much will that hurt?</p>
<p>And do I really need to retake the ACT? Really? Really? If so, is it reasonable to take it sometime in Sept. or Oct. of this year? </p>
<p>Basically, what do I have to do to (hopefully) get accepted to these schools as a transfer and what are the chances of a transfer student getting accepted at these schools from a state school?</p>
<p>I think it's a bit premature to consider a transfer. Try your school out with a legitimately objective attitude and then decide. As you would be transferring for sophomore status should you apply next year, your ACT will hurt your chances for Ivies, as your high school record will be of large importance.</p>
<p>If you are absolutely set on an Ivy, wait until your sophomore year to transfer and work to get a 3.75 or above; that way test scores and high school grades matter less.</p>
<p>Well you'd have to take a bigger courseload and start during summer session! It can be overwhelming, however, and it is important to get great grades to be Ivy worthy, so think about it carefully.</p>
<p>If I retake the ACT and manage to get a 30+, will my prior 27 hurt me? </p>
<p>I planned on taking summer classes, with or without the intent of transferring, so yeah. :)</p>
<p>However, I really had my heart set out for Duke (even though I had like, 0 chance) and I want to transfer there in a year. I know the transfer rate is basically suicidal, but if I stand-out from the crowd I don't see why I can't get accepted (unless they look at my high school records, which in that case, I think I'm screwed). </p>
<p>What exactly should I do, extra-curricular activity wise? Start clubs, hold a summer camp, volunteer, apply for internships and jobs relating to my major, research, etc. etc? How can I stand out from the crowd of 4.0 GPA UW, 2300+ SAT, high school valedictorian applicants? I know I'm not curing cancer, but I just want to have fun doing these kinds of stuff (too lazy to really pursue these tasks during high school) and get accepted to my dream school at the same time.</p>
<p>But doesn't the colleges keep your old application for 'future references'? If that's the case, they'll still be able to see my 27 along with my high school records, right?</p>
<p>I am in a similar situation, except that I am in Canada, and I have not taken the SAT yet. I plan to do quite well on the real thing (>2300), and my HS Gpa is decent (>3.9 UW), but I'd like to ask the same question: what are some things I can do in first year to improve my chances of transfer (into, say, an Ivy) if my current college proves to be unsatisfactory?</p>
<p>Mika08: I am sorry to hear that Duke denied your application. But you seem to be a very determined individual and you will suceed any where you choose to go, and ultimately thats what really matters..... Most schools stop requesting your highschool record and standardized tests any where from 27 - 30 credits (well that is what I have been told) so that is, depending on how many credits you take each semester, about 14cr. in fall and 14 cr. in winter. Even though they may still have your old application, as long as your new transcript is stellar it shouldnt matter that much.The whole point of Standerdized tests are really to see how ready a student is for college, and by peforming well in a college institution it proves that you are----this is just my opinion. (if that makes any sense at all, I tend to word things oddly).....But I hope that Helps and the best of luck to you!</p>
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Well you'd have to take a bigger courseload and start during summer session! It can be overwhelming, however, and it is important to get great grades to be Ivy worthy, so think about it carefully.
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I have no idea what the basis is for this recommendation, so suggest the OP not follow this advice unless the poster can document what she means and why she believes this:
"bigger courseload" than what? why start during summer session, especially when some schools do not value summer courses the same as they do full-term courses? </p>
<p>To the OP: I would not worry about them having your original application on file. As someone said, read Transfer Admissions 101. You can check Duke's own website as to whether/how much they weigh hs records for transfer, but if you choose to apply while you are a freshman (for sophomore transfer), most schools do consider the hs record. And yours is certainly not a problem hs record. </p>
<p>I happen to agree strongly with wayward_trojan.... best to put off thoughts of transfer until you have given your freshman school a real chance. You will see, by reading the sticky thread, that the things you need to do which would help in transfer are the very same things you would need to do to succeed in and give yourself a chance to enjoy your first school.</p>
<p>Probably the key thing which you should do is get to know profs well enough for strong recommendations.</p>
<p>I must say, don't sell yourself down the river just to get into some lame basketball school -_-.</p>
<p>In all seriousness, don't try to start a club unless you wanted to start a club that doesn't exist. Do what you are interested in, explore, learn, be a nice person, and thing will work out wherever you end up.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice! If I get rejected after freshmen year, can I try again sophomore year? And how many credits does a typical student get per year?</p>
<p>Yes, if you get rejected, you can try again. But, please guard against thinking that there is some tiny set of school(s) out there that can be right for you. Allow your self to "bloom where you are planted" and take full advantage of the school you are actually attending.</p>
<p>"Typical" credits in a semester system would be in the range of 15 credits per term, but there is wide variation. Not unusual for Engineering students to be in the 18+ range/semester. Most schools have a minimum number to be considered a full-time student (this may be important for such things as staying on your family's health insurance plan, as well as for academic reasons): maybe 12 or 13/semester... but check each school.</p>
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What exactly should I do, extra-curricular activity wise? Start clubs, hold a summer camp, volunteer, apply for internships and jobs relating to my major, research, etc. etc? How can I stand out from the crowd of 4.0 GPA UW, 2300+ SAT, high school valedictorian applicants?
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What you should NOT do is try to get involved in some EC/start a club etc. etc. in order to "stand out from the crowd." It will not work. Basically, you will stand out from the crowd by pursuing your own genuine interests, over time and in a way that rings true that it stems from your own interests, rather than a hope to improve a resume/application.</p>
<p>So, if you have some special interest, build on it. If you have a strong academic interest, find faculty in that field and take their classes, get to know them in office hours, see about research assistance opportunities. If it's an outside interest, pursue it in more depth.</p>