<p>I went to college last year and went in as an english major. It was a nice private college in NY and I posted a good GPA (3.7) but the second semester of the year I switched my major to business and I found it dreadfully boring.
now I've transferred to a community college and planned on trying out some applied science and math courses for a couple of semesters because its alot cheaper, however I don't think its what I want to do because I was never THAT good at math or science.</p>
<p>anyway, I think my best talent is writing since I got a 720 on the SAT in the writing section and my high school teachers always wrote wonderful comments on my papers. </p>
<p>Should I just stick with what I'm good with and stay in the english department? What can I even do with an English degree?
Anyway I'm looking to hopefully transfer to Yale, Stanford, UPenn, UChicago or Northwestern. (I have really high ambitions)</p>
<p>I know the chances are probably minimal for me to get into Yale, Stanford or UPenn but do you think I might have a legitimate shot at UChicago or Northwestern?</p>
<p>I think you should really read through forums about Yale and Stanford. It’s nearly impossible to get in and those who are accepted normally have absolutely perfect grades and/or exceptional stories.</p>
<p>I was accepted to UChicago as a transfer and my GPA was lower than yours, but I wrote a very unique essay. The important thing about transferring is conveying why you want to go from your school to a new one. Be specific, direct and write the best possible essays. </p>
<p>Wow really? I hope I can get into Northwestern, thats really where I actually want to go. I had a 720 on the writing section of my SAT two years ago, a 580 on the math section and a 600 on the critical reading section. are those worthy numbers? and my overall HS GPA was a 3.6</p>
<p>Oh and I took two AP classes, English and Government & Politics my senior year and passed both AP exams with a 3. </p>
<p>Do you think if I write an exceptional essay like you then I’ll get in?</p>
<p>You need to apply the same rule for transfer as you do for freshman applications… Reaches, Matches and Safeties.</p>
<p>As for what one can do with an English degree, it is pretty much anything that intersects with writing… teaching, editing, tech writing, administration, law school, writer, journalist, etc. You may find you enjoy a particular aspect of English more interesting than others… collaborators might want to work in a business setting, creative iconoclasts might want to become a performance artist, someone with a high-tech edge might want to work in Silicon Valley where the nerds need someone to translate their gibberish into users manuals, someone who likes working with kids might become a teacher, etc.</p>
<p>In many ways, English majors (outside of the path of teaching English) have to “create” their intended career and mesh in with the industry of their choice.</p>
<p>I also dream of a Stanford transfer… but I think need to start the 98-Percent-Club… for the 98% of us who will be getting reject notices in the mail next spring (or have or will in the future).</p>
<p>Annika </p>
<p>Btw - try to get into a great school that is a match for you - but realize that schools like Stanford have a 2% or less transfer admit rate. With those kinds of numbers, MOST of us don’t get in. So work hard to find matches and a few safeties first.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info. I realize Stanford would be an extreme reach but I want to apply anyway. Regardless, the school I’m really interested in is Northwestern. I read that the transfer acceptance rate there is somewhere in the 20% range. And I’m assuming that the fall semester is more competitive (I’m applying for transfer in the spring semester)
I’m wondering if I am close to that range or do I need to do a little bit more? (A 4.0 GPA this semester?)</p>
<p>I’d actually guess that spring semester is more competitive as there are usually less spots available.</p>
<p>Not sure on how your current stats look, but your HS stats would have been too low for UChicago. I was applying with a 610 CR, 730 M, and 750 W as well as a 33 ACT and a similar GPA and it was still a high reach (got deferred EA, then rejected). Northwestern also would have been a high reach for me too.</p>
<p>Dreamin- I’m 41 and went back to school 2 years ago, so I look at it differently. I changed majors at your age because of uncertainty and eventually let confusion stop me from finishing a degree. It seems so set in stone, but its not. Consider a SUNY school if cost is a factor and take some requirements and some electives until you have a better idea of where your interests lie. There are many things you can do as an English major, and there is always the thought that you could minor in something more specialized. Give yourself time to figure it out. Get your Associates at a Community or SUNY school while you figure it out. Then you will have your Associates and be a more attractive candidate for those schools you want.</p>