<p>I had some severely bad luck with my applications, and ended up at one of my saftey schools (a small tier 1 LAC - Juniata College). I'm thinking about transfering after my first year. I'm thinking about Brown, and maybe a second shot at Bryn Mawr (Waitlisted).</p>
<p>Here are my reasons:
I think I will have a signifigantly better GPA and rank after my first semester in college.
My department (Philosophy) is extremely small with only 2 professors and 5 students</p>
<p>High school stats:
[ul]Full honors/AP courseload courseload (missing one AP due to bad scheduling)
[<em>]Engish: 4 AP Track
[</em>]Science: 5 Honors track (I took the upper level nonrequired Chem II and Physics)
[<em>]Social Studies: 5 Honors (The three requireds + AP US Gov't and Honors Soc)
[</em>]Math: 6 Honors/AP (AP Calc 1 and 2)
[<em>]Language: 3 Spanish
[</em>]Final average: 89.6
[<em>]Weighted/Unweighted GPA: 4.3/3.4
[</em>]SATS: 1480 (800 Verbal, 680 math)
[<em>]SATIIs: 700 Writing, 680 World History, 630 Math IC
[</em>]National Merit Commended Student[/ul]
[ul]ECs:
[<em>]Leo Club (4 years)
[</em>]NHS (Senior Year)
[<em>]Scholastic Scrimmage (Junior-Senior, Captain Acad. Vars. Letters)
[</em>]Debate team (Junior-Senior, Captain Acad. Vars. Letters. The team was created my junior year)
[<em>]Mock Trial (Freshman-Sophomore, Acad. Vars. Letters. Quit for debate)
[</em>]Band (Sophomore-Junior, Section Leader Concert both years, Section leader marching Junior year -- I had to quit because after my grandmother went into the hospital, my mom was so busy with her I no longer had rides anywhere)[/ul]</p>
<p>My high school GPA was weak due due to some major home problems I did not mention in previous applications. Basically, my father was abusive and I'm suffering from an untreated bipolar and/or anxiety disorder (I've been in therapy for years, but my mother doesn't believe in medication)</p>
<p>Plus two music courses (Wind Symphony and Guitar class)</p>
<p>My advisor predicted a 3.75-4.0 GPA for the semester</p>
<p>Is this a good idea? What other schools should I consider? A friend suggested Yale, but even with the improved GPA I think I have almost no chance.</p>
<p>I have 15, the max for a freshman. 1 each for the music courses plus a required tech proficiency course I didn't bother listing.</p>
<p>I also got outright rejected from Oberlin (my first choice). </p>
<p>What would be a tasteful way to explain my high school predicament? Or is it not even worth it? I feel like I cheated myself by not writing an extra essay about it last time around.</p>
<p>The way to approach that is with a responsible, sincere tone. They don't want to hear whining excuses, except, you can turn it around to your advantage. Tell them what adversities you had to face, and how you did it, and look at you now, you're doing better than before. Something like that.</p>
<p>But I'd like more, and maybe some more advice on schools to apply to. I'm looking for a LAC or something LAC-ish with a decent or better philosophy program.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Among schools that do not offer the PhD or MA in philosophy, those with the best philosophy faculties would probably include: Amherst College, California Institute of Technology, Dartmouth College , Reed College , University of Vermont , and Wellesley College . But many other good liberal arts colleges and universities that only offer a B.A. have strong philosophy faculties as well (i.e., faculties doing philosophical work at the research university level), for example: Barnard College; Bates College; Brandeis University; California State University at Northridge; Colby College; Colgate University; Davidson College; Franklin & Marshall College; Haverford College; Mt. Holyoke College; Iowa State University; Kansas State University; New College (South Florida); North Carolina State University; Oberlin College; Occidental College; Pomona College; Smith College; Southern Methodist University; Swarthmore College; Trinity University (San Antonio); University of Alabama at Birmingham; University of Delaware; University of Massachussetts at Boston; Vassar College; Virginia Commonwealth University; Wesleyan University; Western Washington University; and College of Willliam & Mary, among others. (This list is not exhaustive; see below for how to evaluate other programs.) St. John's College , the "great books" school at both Annapolis and Santa Fe , offers strong historical coverage of the field, but weaker coverage of contemporary philosophy; still, many St. John's grads do well in admissions to graduate school.
<p>Also, don't necessarily go into the school year expecting to transfer out. Keep it as an option if you're miserable, but don't assume that you're going to be.</p>
<p>Also, unless you already know your focus in philosophy, there is no purpose in transferring to a 'better' philosophy department, assuming your professors are not incompetent.</p>
<p>I understand, but I was forced into going where I am. And my school doesn't offer straight philosophy as a major. It's only a minor or I have to combine it with something else in a custom major. And if you didn't notice from my first post, the department is only two professors.</p>
<p>Seriously, what's wrong with me wanting to have a good set of options so that I can get out if want to?</p>
<p>I don't want to be scrambling for ideas in november.</p>
<p>I don't think anyone's saying that you shouldn't consider transferring. We're just say that you shouldn't go into college assuming that you'll want to. You could discover that you actually want to major in something that your current school excells at.</p>
<p>I was wait-listed at Sarah Lawrence College the first time I applied, and now I'm transferring there. So, just a confidence-booster for another wait-lister. ;o)</p>
<p>
[quote]
I don't think anyone's saying that you shouldn't consider transferring. We're just say that you shouldn't go into college assuming that you'll want to. You could discover that you actually want to major in something that your current school excells at.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>There's no way I'll be a hard science major.</p>
<p>Anyway, the first week has passed, and I've gotten the a taste of the ridiculously pervasive party scene. So I'm still thinking about transfering.</p>
<p>Looking through the Gormand, I came up with this list:</p>
<p>Oberlin
Brown
Weslyan
Bryn Mawr/Haverford (I'd choose one, not sure which)
Vassar</p>
<p>Anything I'm overlooking that I should consider?</p>
<p>Really? Then why are all of them with the exclusion of BMC listed under good undergrad schools for philosophy from the Gourmet?</p>
<p>It's all nice and good that you're trying to discourage me, but I want a department where I'm not the only student in my year studying this and more courses are offered.</p>
<p>I'd like to be in an actual major rather then creating one.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Really? Then why are all of them with the exclusion of BMC listed under good undergrad schools for philosophy from the Gourmet?</p>
<p>It's all nice and good that you're trying to discourage me, but I want a department where I'm not the only student in my year studying this and more courses are offered.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I am not trying to discourage you; notice the key term 'significant'? A more perspicuous reading would have yielded a more pensive response on your part. I recommend looking for schools with significantly better philosophy departments, and by 'significantly better', I do not mean overall, but also in the sub-discipline of philosophy in which you wish to focus.</p>
<p>That is the problem with the preponderance of undergraduate philosophy majors (present company included). They all want to go to 'better philosophy programs', but each program harbors an expertise in a specific area of philosophy. For philosophy of mind, you go to NYU, for normative ethics, you go to Harvard or perhaps Yale, for applied ethics, you go to Georgetown, and so forth. Most majors do not know what it means to be in a 'better philosophy department'. What does it entail? An exhaustive course offering is not necessarily better. Perhaps you want to enroll in mathematical logic courses; both Harvard and Yale, while offering an exhaustive selection in philosophy courses, do not offer much in that sub-discipline.</p>
<p>You will want to join a department with a decent lecture series; that is, they attract high-profile scholars to speak. A good department also as good professors (of course). Consulting their biographies should tell you whether the professor is conducive to advancement in your sub-discipline. A decent department allows undergraduates to do honors theses, and so forth.</p>
<p>There are many factors that need to be taken into account; looking for schools that have aesthetically pleasing flowers is not sufficient.</p>
<p>"A more perspicuous reading would have yielded a more pensive response on your part."</p>
<p>oh...nspeds, you turn me on with that eloquence. you must do like maaaaaaad reading .... or some **** ....to work your posts like that. please, please --- I IMPLORE YOU, that I, MUST, have, 10 THOUSAND of your brilliant minded babies. </p>
<p>No no -- honestly! I insist that I shall forego my chances of Harvard Law just to satisfy your carnal desires. 24...7. rwar.</p>