<p>I'm currently attending a California Community College and am looking to transfer fairly soon. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!</p>
<p>I graduated high school in 2004 with a 2.4 gpa, so as you can see, I was lazy. I've taken some time off and I've been back in school for a year and a half now, and have maintained a 4.0 GPA, in all courses, and am in the honors program. During my long break from school I traveled to Africa for two years and volunteered in two AIDS clinics and taught english in an orphanage. I came back when I was 20 and enrolled at a CC, but became involved in a very abusive relationship, which caused me to drop my classes and have 4 W's on my transcript. The next two years of my life were horrible, as I became someone I didn't even know. I worked three jobs to support him and I, while I was beaten deeper into an abyss of darkness as time went on. I left him two years ago, and moved back in with my family, since which time I have been back in school faithfully, and have done very well.</p>
<p>As far as EC's, besides traveling out of the county, I am a crisis counselor at a battered women's and children's shelter, I started a domestic violence club at my school, I volunteer with the ACLU, fighting for the rights of inmates, I work closely with the LGBT and lastly I write for the campus newspaper and am VP of the philosophy club.</p>
<p>As far as career goals, I would like to double major in english and gender studies, and then attend law school, and work in the civil litigation field, while doing pro bono work, defending women in abusive relationships and helping wrongfully convicted inmates get off of death row.</p>
<p>Btw, I am black also. I'm obsessed with the idea of transfering to Smith! I really don't want to go anywhere else LOL!
Please let me know what you all think!!! Do I have a chance???</p>
<p>Positive criticism is Perfectly OK!
Thanks :)</p>
<p>I also wanted to add that this spring I’ll be doing reasearch in a lab at one of the top 5 LA colleges in the U.S.</p>
<p>Gypsyjas, as a mom of a first-year, I’m definitely not an expert at evaluating the qualifications of transfer students, but you certainly do present a compelling case. You have turned around your circumstances in a commendable way, are excelling academically and stretching yourself with your ECs. Ada Comstock Scholars, because of their life experiences, most likely vary all over the map with their qualifications. I’d say you’ve got a reasonable chance, but I hope a transfer student or more experienced poster would also provide you with some input. I would think an interview is a must.</p>
<p>Thanks CarolynB :)</p>
<p>Anyone else care to respond??</p>
<p>I’m assuming you want to apply as an Ada Comstock scholar, correct (the program for students 24 and older)? As an Ada, I think you have a pretty good chance. Interviews are required for Ada Comstock scholars and they are usually quite lengthy, in depth sessions. So much of being selected for the Ada program has to do with your personal background, what you’ve experienced and how that’s shaped your decision to go back to school. </p>
<p>As a regular transfer student (if you’re 24 or older, you don’t have the option to apply as a transfer, you have to apply as an Ada), your not so good high school GPA and your missing community college credits might be more of an issue, as transfer applicants are evaluated like traditional applicants, which means that transcript comes first. Still, doing the optional interview and discussing how your circumstances affected your performance will help some.</p>
<p>Thanks Smithie. Yes, I’ll be applying as an Ada Comstock Scholar. Hopefully it all works out :)</p>
<p>Good luck! Let us know how it goes!</p>
<p>Just curious, what sold you so deeply on Smith? It’s a terrific school, and I’m very sold on it myself (as I should be - my daughter just started!), but there are certainly other fine colleges out there. Wellesley comes to mind, for example, and they have something like the Ada Comstock program - I think it’s called Davis Scholars. I’m not trying to dissuade you, but it wouldn’t hurt your cause to have other options in your hip pocket in case Smith doesn’t pan out.</p>
<p>Their strong academics, the feel of an all-womens college, the campus, along with the town, which I love. I’ve had a couple of friends who attended Smith, and it seems right for me. I am also applying to Wellesley, along with about fifteen other colleges and universities. It’s not my only option, just my best.</p>
<p>Good luck! We’re all pulling for you.</p>