In Need of Some Maaaajor Transfer Advice. Am I on Track?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey everyone.</p>

<p>I'm currently a senior in high school that is on track to attending a small liberal arts college for my freshmen year, and will be part of the Honors program. It isn't really ranked for all that much, but I plan on transferring after a year.</p>

<p>My current academic status is that I will be completing my Associates in the Arts in the summer before I enter my freshmen year. I've completed a massive amount of dual credit, about 60 credits over the course of a year and a half.</p>

<p>But now my question is --- what classes do I take my Fall and Spring semester? I'm trying to meet all of the recommended transfer courses for the schools that put out lists, like University of Michigan and Williams and Mary, but when it comes to schools like George Washington University and Vanderbilt, I don't know if I'm on track.</p>

<p>In the Fall, I'll be taking:</p>

<ul>
<li>Freshmen Studies</li>
<li>Honors Seminar - A theater class</li>
<li>Calculus I</li>
<li>General Biology I (not introductory)</li>
<li>Spanish 3</li>
<li>Philosophy</li>
<li>Some other course</li>
</ul>

<p>NOTE: A couple of courses will be in the "mini semester", which is about 2-3 weeks long and is at the end of each semester.</p>

<p>Spring:
- Honors Seminar - European History
- Honors Seminar - World Conflicts
- General Biology II
- Spanish 4
- Comparative Politics
- Ethics
- Some other course</p>

<p>So I'll probably be transferring with 100ish credits. I know only 60 will transfer, maybe even less than that. I've also read that I'll be guaranteed Junior status at some of the schools I plan on transferring to because of my Associates. I really don't care if I have to spend three years at the school I transfer to. My ultimate goal is to go to law school.</p>

<p>I currently have a 4.0 GPA with about 40 college credits, coming out of high school. That number will be 60 by the end of the semester, with hopefully, a 4.0 GPA as well.</p>

<p>Some of the schools I want to apply for transfer to: (I know the list is long, but I'll most likely eliminate about half by next year)</p>

<ul>
<li>William and Mary</li>
<li>Vanderbilt</li>
<li>American University</li>
<li>George Washington University</li>
<li>NYU</li>
<li>Brown</li>
<li>Cornell</li>
<li>Fordham</li>
<li>UVA</li>
<li>Georgetown</li>
<li>Villanova</li>
<li>UNC-Chapel Hill</li>
<li>UM-Ann Arbor</li>
<li>UT Austin</li>
<li>Wake Forest</li>
<li>Boston College</li>
<li>Vassar</li>
</ul>

<p>So, am I on track? Or am I seeing this completely wrong? Feel free to be blunt/straight forward. I need some honest feedback.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Err, no one? Come on, I’m sure some of you have transferred before. :-.</p>

3

<p>Bump10char.</p>

4

<p>You haven’t even started school and you already want to transfer??? Please give it a shot. You might like the small liberal arts school better then some of the schools you listed. Then if you don’t like it, take your plan into action.</p>

5

<p>I know, I’ve gotten that same advice before. I understand your point completely, and I’ll definitely give it a go. I’m just trying to keep my options open. It’s not like I’ll be epicly anti-social at the school or not take any initiative. I definitely will, but my ambitions have always been to go to one of the schools that I’ve listed.</p>

6

<p>No help? Seriously? I thought this section of the forum was much more hospitable than the rest.</p>

7

<p>I’m not sure I understand your question, i.e. what being “on track” entails. If you’ve got questions about a school in particular, rifle through their website and/or talk to admissions personnel. On a more general note, undergo the most rigorous curriculum you can. There are generally no specific course “requirements” for transferring to a particular school, unless you plan on majoring in something pre-professional. Also, it’s been less than a day since your original post… Wise not to go questioning the “hospitality” of the forum without giving posters due time to respond.</p>

8

<p>@Atomspatz</p>

<p>Right, sorry about that. I retract my comment. The forum is quite hospitable. :P.</p>

<p>I’ve spent the most part of today and yesterday going through different threads for transfer schools, but the most information I could find were people who transferred from schools much, much better than mine to the schools I’ve listed here. Also, I noticed their transfer GPA’s, along with their ECs, work experience, study abroad, internships, and research projects. I’m working on each of these factors.</p>

<p>My question was regarding if my curriculum was on par with the schools I was looking to transfer to. I believe the classes I will be taking will be some of the hardest that I can possibly take. But, should I be taking more major-specific courses? I have already done a few major courses, but those were done as dual credit in high school.</p>

9

<p>

</p>

<p>One thing this should tell you is that you likely need more balance in your list, that it is currently top heavy towards reaches. If you don’t mind staying at your current school a year longer or for the duration, that’s fine, but if you really want to transfer soon, you should probably add more match and safety schools.</p>

<p>One part of your application you might be missing is LORs. And your course selection can affect this aspect of your application; selecting at least one smaller, perhaps seminar course can provide you a place to participate in class discussions and really demonstrate to the instructor what you are capable of.</p>

<p>My strongest suggestion is that you put transferring to the back of your mind once you start school. Just concentrate on classes, making friends and getting involved on campus. Give it your all, and if things still aren’t clicking by winter break, THEN you can start thinking about applying for a transfer.</p>

10

<p>@entomom</p>

<p>If I stay for another year, that would mean that I would be transferring with 150 credits. Having an Associates Degree before entering my Freshmen year doesn’t help my application any? I will have completed all of my core req’s and a quarter of my major req’s by my first year.</p>

<p>As for the seminar courses, I will be taking at least three honors seminar courses and have full intention to actively participate in them.</p>

<p>I know the majority of the schools on that list are high reaches, but I hoped that AU, GWU, and perhaps even UT-Austin as well as Fordham could be matches. Could you explain on your reasoning, please? I would be very grateful.</p>

<p>Would you know of anymore match or safety schools for me?</p>

11

<p>Also, keep in mind, it is a HOLIDAY weekend. The forum slows down a lot during weekends, and during holidays, forget it. So don’t think that the forum is being UNHELPFUL, people just aren’t around.</p>

12

<p>Sorry, I wasn’t being careful, yes the seminar classes are great. </p>

<p>The classes you take will count more than the degree. </p>

<p>The reason I said that you needed a broader list was based on your statement that I cited about people coming from much better schools. Since the school you attend is a factor, then you need to adjust accordingly. Of course this is only one of many factors, but since you need to transfer, you’ll want to be sure to have a range of schools. I haven’t checked the stats for the schools you’ve listed, so if you think they fit as match/safeties, that’s fine. Are they financially doable as well? Are you a resident of Michigan? If not, the COA is about 50k/yr and you can’t rely on any FA as an OOS student.</p>

13

<p>Sorry, I wasn’t being careful, yes the seminar classes are great. </p>

<p>The classes you take will count more than the degree. </p>

<p>The reason I said that you needed a broader list was based on your statement that I cited about people coming from much better schools. Since the school you attend is a factor, then you need to adjust accordingly. Of course this is only one of many factors, but since you need to transfer, you’ll want to be sure to have a range of schools. I haven’t checked the stats for the schools you’ve listed, so if you think they fit as match/safeties, that’s fine. Are they financially doable as well? Are you a resident of Michigan? If not, the COA is about 50k/yr and you can’t rely on any FA as an OOS student.</p>

14

<p>@entomom</p>

<p>Gotcha. I’m trying to take as many as possible while also having room for other classes.</p>

<p>Yeah, I meant people transferring from some of the “best national universities”. My school isn’t listed on that list, but it’s listed on the liberal arts college guide, but for region. Where it is top 20 or so. Honestly, I don’t even know what that means when it comes to “prestige”, but I can assume I won’t be as competitive as people transferring from GWU or from a top 50 school, or something along those lines. That’s why I’m trying to take the hardest classes I can.</p>

<p>Will I be considered a Junior transfer applicant?</p>

<p>Won’t I get some FAFSA money?</p>

15

<p>@missamericanpie</p>

<p>I understand, sorry about that.</p>

16

<p>your chances of transferring depend on how the schools you’re transferring to will look at your dual credits. since you already have 60 credits, that might be problemtic for some schools. i would recommend taking around 15-16 credits each semester for fall and spring, and hope that a lot of your dual credits don’t transfer.</p>

<p>also, make sure you are taking classes that wok toward a major/gen eds. not only does it show colleges that you are focused, but in case you are unable to transfer, at least you will graduate on time (perhaps even early, considering your completed credits) with your BA.</p>

17

<p>If your ambition has always been to go to one of those schools, why did you not apply in the first place?</p>

18

<p>@BoyWonder</p>

<p>I am coming from a high school that does not offer any honors, pre-AP, or AP courses. I have tried my best to maintain an awesome GPA while also challenging myself thoroughly with dual-credit, but I believed that my test scores along with the rigor of my curriculum would fall short of the expectations of the schools listed.</p>

<p>Because of some administrative issues at the school, I did not receive my transcripts until just a few weeks ago, which nullified me from most out of state options.</p>

19

<p>@melonbread91</p>

<p>I know that some schools on the list, including NYU, do not accept dual credits. Although, I have called up each of the schools on the list and they said that they definitely consider the credits as part of my academic record and take them into account — though they may not transfer.</p>

<p>I hoped that my Associates would lock in the dual credits. But that’s fine, I don’t mind spending three-four more years in college.</p>

<p>I will completed the entirety of my general education courses and a few of my major courses as well by the end of the Spring of 2011, so I’m not all that worried about not graduating on time. I could actually graduate from the school that I’m at in 2012.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your advice.</p>

20

<p>hey, i haven’t really read this whole thread that closely but i noticed that you said you were thinking of transferring to GW. i actually just finished my soph year there, but I’m transferring to Penn. i wanted to transfer because im a chem major and GW isnt too strong in the sciences, but if you want to go to law school you should definitely look into GW. i have no idea what a dual credit is, but if your goal is to get to law school ASAP then stick where you’re at (or will be at). or, ive also heard that some law schools want you to have work experience before you apply, so graduating early will give you the time to work and maybe volunteer, etc. to look really good for law school. i have no idea what will transfer to gw or what your standing would be, but if you work hard next year and decide that you want to spend some extra time in college, then definitely apply. a lot of my friends there are international affairs majors or poli sci and a lot of them are pre-law. DC has a lot of great opportunities for internships (mostly for the government), volunteering, getting involved, etc. and if you work hard then you really shouldn’t have a problem getting into law school. im not sure if money is a problem for you, but GW is pretty expensive and financial aid is sometimes hard to work with. anyway im looking at your possible courses for next year and a lot of them seem unnecessary if you want to transfer. take some hard classes (like the bio, philosophy) ESPECIALLY in your major (idk i didn’t see that on the thread) but stick to about 4-5 classes per semester for a total of 15/16. you really don’t need to overdo it unless you are trying to graduate ASAP. admission committees want you to be involved so i would back off a little bit on the classes and play a sport, join some clubs, volunteer, etc. </p>

<p>this is just what i know from my experience as a transfer. im just starting to get my courses from GW looked at and its going to be pretty rough, so if i were you just take what you need and don’t go overboard. anyway, good luck!</p>