Humble request~Please comment(Fall 2012 transfer to ivies)

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello guys,can anybody chance me on my fall 2012 transfer app to these schools:Yale,Cornell,Harvard,Tufts,,Dartmouth,Wash U in St Louis,Columbia,Brown,Bates C,Grinnell C,Gettysburg C,Macalester C,Reed C.Upenn…..In high school, I applied to only my current univ due to my financial background and had a full ride luckily. I self-studied for the SAT using some of the books in my HS library and had 2030 and HS GPA of 3.90/4.0.I called the schools and they said my SAT’s are O.k with my country of origin and background.(I wanted to retake it)…Currently working on getting either a 4.0 or something very close to it. I am a freshman and taking courses in Gen Chemistry, Experiments in Gen Chemistry, Communications, Freshman Seminar, Intensive French (French 200) and Calculus 1.
Any suggestions on the apps will also be humbly welcome (…I have written my commonapp “why transfer” essay.PS Let me know if you can critique it for me and I will PM you).</p>

<p>Challenges faced Growing up.
A son of a peasant farmer and charcoal seller in rural Ghana, finances have posed a major threat to my pursuit of education. In high school, I had to combine my academic work with selling items like gum on the streets after school to cater for my personal expenses in a bid to supplement my full tuition scholarship.it was really, a difficult experience that I sometimes decided to quit school. However, my determination and yearning as a first generation college student to change things around me kept me on. Through my work on the streets, I was able to raise money to register for the SAT to get this far. Coming from a disadvantaged background where majority of teenagers fall victims to teenage pregnancy ,drug abuse and eventual school drop-outs, I know the value of opportunities and have and will continue to make the most of them. My Yesterday and Today have been rough and tough but with God and the zeal to succeed, I know a better tomorrow waits.</p>

<p>Honors/Recognitions and Awards
• Presidential Scholar, University (Students who maintained a High school GPA of 3.75 minimum and with an SAT score of 1890 and above. Awarded full tuition, fees, room and board and $1000 book scholarship )
• Silver Prize ,International Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition, UK(2010)
• Honorary Participation ,UNESCO- Goi Peace Essay Competition, Japan(2010)
• Top 3% of Graduating Class, High School(2007-2011)
• Nomination into National Science and Math Quiz Team, High School(2008-2011)
• Best Student in Class, 3 Times, High School.
• Overall Outstanding Student in Basic Education Certificate Examination, Junior High</p>

<p>Clubs and Activities
College
• University Student Ambassador (proposed a model to increase international student enrollment which is in use by admissions).
• University Debate Team
• University Publications Board(Only freshman on an 8 member board that writes and manages magazines for the University)
• Honda All Star Campus Challenge Team,
• Student Member, Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation( a registered charity headquartered in Canada with global reach which aims to provide medical support for brain and spinal injuries to the people of Ghana and West Africa)</p>

<p>High School
• Main Library Prefect
• Member, Writers and Debaters Team(2007-2011)
• National President, Junior High School Alumni Ghana(2007-2011)
• President and Founder, Read wide Club,
• Vice President, Scholarship and Talent Club
• Public Relations Officer, Future Leaders’ Group
• Financial Secretary, Science Club and Pentecost Students’ and Associates
• Member, Writers and Debaters Team
• Revival Singers Choir</p>

<p>Community Service
College
• Monthly Donation of $10 to Korle-Bu Neuroscience Foundation towards the building of a neuroscience center in Ghana.
• Collegiate Health Service Corp, (Research on the neurological and cognitive effects of drugs and alcohol on African American adults).
• Metro General Hospital: Volunteer with City Healthy Start Program on Infant Mortality Reduction-
• Tutor, After School Tutoring Program,
• Tutor, Sunday School Kids Ministry at Church of Pentecost (2005-date)
• Leading Praises and Worship at Church, Pentecost Choir(2004-date)</p>

<p>High School
• Health Volunteer, Community Clinic,
• Tutoring Sunday School Kids at Church of Pentecost
• Data Collector on Infant Mortality, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (K.M.A)Ghana
• Helping the injured athletes during sporting activities, Red Cross Society
• Church Renovations’ ,Church of Pentecost ,Kumasi, Ghana</p>

2

<p>you’re applying to a lot of schools with extremely low acceptance rates. also, your SAT may not be strong enough for some schools</p>

3

<p>@perfect36
Thanks … I had to narrow down to this list because after my communication with various schools,these were the ones that promised to provide my demonstrated need when i am admitted…Do you know of any other?</p>

4

<p>are you sure? at first glance, a lot of those schools offer very, very little financial aid.
brown has very bad financial aid, in fact they are ‘need aware’ in the financial aid process and apparently take into consideration the applicant’s financial need when making their decisions. needless to say, even if they were to admit you, you would most likely receive very little aid and would not even be able to attend.
see here: [Transfer</a> apps rise by 20 percent - The Brown Daily Herald - Serving the community daily since 1891](<a href=“http://www.browndailyherald.com/transfer-apps-rise-by-20-percent-1.2538100#.Tr_xMjWPWHc]Transfer”>http://www.browndailyherald.com/transfer-apps-rise-by-20-percent-1.2538100#.Tr_xMjWPWHc)</p>

<p>did you say you were an international student? in that case, the situation is far worse. transfer admissions are already poor in terms of financial aid, but many of the schools, including some you listed above, offer 0 financial aid if you are an international student</p>

<p>if finances are a big concern, i would rethink your decision. international students are offered no financial aid in many cases. unless you are willing to pay 50-60k a year for school, you should either stay at your current university or find schools that truly offer 100% demonstrated need, which arent very numerous for internationals</p>

5

<p>Oh o.k…thanks for the advice.I really appreciate your concerns.Since I am already in the game,let me just play it to the end…Que Sera,Sera…</p>

6

<p>A lot of times when schools say they will “meet full need,” what they mean is you’ll probably end up with a lot of financial aid in the form of loans, not necessarily scholarships. And transfer students typically receive far less aid than first-year students to begin with. But there’s no harm in trying, if you can afford the application costs. Good luck!</p>

7

<p>Quick English lesson: what’s wrong with these two sentences?

  1. Coming around the corner, a mountain appeared in view.
  2. I saw the Grand Canyon driving across Arizona.
    Now look at the first sentence of your little essay.</p>
8

<p>@greennblue…thank you so much for the correction.I just noticed the problem with the misplaced modifiers…I really appreciate your help.I love to learn from people and from my mistakes.
Thank you.
~S.</p>

9

<p>more advice…please i am also considering applying to Cornell’s College of Human Ecology and I plan to major in Human Biology,Health and Society since as clearly demonstrated by my EC’s, HBHS perfectly matches my passions…With my current courses;Gen Chemistry, Experiments in Gen Chemistry, Communications, Freshman Seminar, Intensive French (French 200) and Calculus 1, and also planning of taking Physics or Statistics next semester(…i will be done with french by then)…will i meet the prerequisite coursework for this major as a sophomore transfer???</p>