I’m a freshman at a top 25 LAC; I used to be transferring only because my school lacks majors in certain very academic fields I’m interested in, and rationalized that I could apply next year if I don’t get into the only two (reach) schools I’m applying to… but I really have been trying to fit in better here and am miserable. The location bothers me. The students do not seem to care about their classes, despite many of them being fairly bright. My GPA in high school is considered “good” by many standards, but not good enough for freshman admission to the schools I’m applying to and was rejected by last year (UPenn, Brown). I need recommendations for more realistic schools. I will list criteria I’d like to see in transfer schools since I’m being way less picky now:
-larger than an LAC, but no bigger than 10,000 kids. 5k-7k would be a nice range.
-on the East coast
-strong academics
-a more competitive environment would be nice.
-at least some flexibility in curriculum. Gen-eds are fine, but nothing with a major core
-urban location
-Strong Econ/polisci/policy related departments.
Oh, and below are my stats for reference:
College GPA: 3.85, high enough for dean’s list (took an above average amount of credits and an upper-level course relevant to what I want to major in) A lot of the courses I took directly addressed subjects I struggled with in HS. (IE getting an A in college multivariable calc after getting a B+ in HS single variable calc, getting an A- in college French after consistent B’s in French in HS)
HS GPA: 3.6 UW (No official rank, but based on guidance counselor, probably top 15% in a huge, competitive rigorous public school in NY. Most rigorous course load. My senior year was a straight A year, if that helps)
SAT: 2330 (CR: 800, Math: 780, Writing: 750, 12/12 essay, single sitting first try)
SAT IIs: 800 Math II, 780 Chem
Anti-hooks: ORM, upper-middle class income family, overrepresented state and HS
Here are the ECs I’m considering mentioning:
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Leadership position in a large nonprofit that helps underprivileged inner city youth. Single handedly raised a couple hundred dollars through a bake sale I held at my college.
Small leadership in a small UN-affiliated nonprofit. For my CA essay, I’m mentioning how lobbying national and international representatives and meeting other nonprofit leaders who had experience in the subject I want to major in affected my views of the subject.
Working three paid jobs during school year (8 hours a week). Not because my family financial situation is bad, but because I didn’t want to mooch off of my parents during college as they’re already paying exorbitant tuition costs.
President of a my HS chapter of Human Rights Watch; currently a member of my college’s chapter for HRW.
Creative writing…not sure how much I can emphasize this since I didn’t do anything for it this past semester. But in my high school I was co-Editor in Chief of the creative writing magazine and won a national award and several smaller state awards for my writing. Taking a course for it next semester though!
Model UN Secretary General (President) at my HS, smaller MUN officer position at my college
40-hours a week paid summer job?
Snagged a finance internship for a local business somewhat near my college, despite begin the only freshman that applied.
I also joined swing dancing for fun this past semester, but I don’t know about mentioning it. Overall, I’m just wary of clogging the activities section and filling it up completely since I know it’ll look like a laundry list.
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Oh, I also won a scholarship competition (10 page research paper) against 500 or so other college students of all grade levels across the nation.