Longing for your advice - Beware, chances!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi everyone, </p>

<p>Yes, another chances thread! So if you aren't already burnt out please let me know what you think. Here is a breakdown of who I am and what I have to offer the academic world. </p>

<p>I'm a 24 year old Hispanic female but I don't speak Spanish. Currently I serve in the U.S. Army Reserves as an E-5, Sergeant. I graduated from the Military Defense Language Institute (DLI), located in Monterey, CA. The language I learned is Pashtu, spoken primarily in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan. It is a very difficult language to master and rather obscure. </p>

<p>After DLI I volunteered for an eight month tour in Afghanistan where I did loads of "community service." I worked in a medical clinic and was responsible for translation between doctor and patient, as well as minor first aid. I had a great time and took a variety of pictures, mostly of women and children. I'm in the process of setting up a showing for my art in a Santa Fe gallery. Hopefully, I will sell a few pictures and generate interest for a coffee-table style book comprised of the best of my Afghan photographs that I really want to get published. I really think these projects will help define who I am and what I believe in. </p>

<p>As far as academics go I'm fairly strong with verbal skills, weak on the math side and my sciences are okay. For the college application I'm confident that I will do a good job on the essay portion. I'm working on getting recommendations from three of my best teachers over the past two years, as well as from officers and non-commissioned officers I worked with while in Afghanistan. </p>

<p>Due to military and personal obligations I've moved around a lot and as a result have attended two different community colleges in the past two years. </p>

<p>Attended Burbank High School in Burbank, CA. I wasn't the best of students. Here are the stats:
Total GPA (Weighted): 2.56 (Non-Wgtd) 2.52
Class size: 437
Class Rank: 292</p>

<p>Freshmen year at Oakton Comm. College in Skokie, IL:
GPA: 3.56
All A's (25 credits) except for the following weak points:
General College Biology - C
Social Problems - B </p>

<p>Sophomore year at Hopkinsville Comm. College in Hopkinsville, KY:
GPA: 3.455
Weak Points:
Intro to Computers - D (Teacher was awful. I re-took this class over the summer with a different teacher and received an A.)
Basic Public Speaking - B
Frontiers of Astronomy - D (First distance course, got lost and behind - I want to re-take it but it isn't offered anymore.)
Microbes and Society (BIO) - C (attendance issues, re-took it and got an A second time around)</p>

<p>Unfortunately, the bad grades from classes that I have repeated are still factored into my GPA which of course brings it down. </p>

<p>I have not taken either the SAT or the ACT but only a few schools still need scores because I've been out of high school for over five years. </p>

<p>Now that you've seen a little of who I am will you please tell me what my chances are for getting into a few schools? </p>

<p>I'm looking at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Yale, and Georgetown University. While my unique language, experience in Afghanistan, and gallery opening and possible publication do set me apart I think my lack of strength in math and science are deal-breakers, not to mention my less than 4.0 GPA. </p>

<p>Now - the real reason I'm here - what do YOU think? </p>

<p>Thanks ahead of time, </p>

<p>Victoria</p>

2

<p>I think you have a unique experience, but why Yale and Georgetown?
And i don't mean to discourage you, but if you barely pull 3.5ish at community colleges, how will you fare against Yale and Georgetown students?
Good luck :D</p>

3

<p>Hi Newbyreborn, </p>

<p>I understand the concern and I don't really have a whole lot to say in my defense other than I couldn't always devote all the time I wanted to school because I also had to support myself. I'm living in Virginia now with my fiance who just got a fantastic job. His support will allow me to focus more energy on my studies instead of my next paycheck. Georgetown in on the list because I want to go to a great school close enough to him so that we don't have to suffer the long-distance relationship nightmare again.</p>

<p>My weak points - math and science - have brought my GPA down more than I'd like but I have more than just grades to offer a top tier school. I have a different kind of ambition and "unique experience" to bring to the table. I have a lot to learn but I also have a lot that I want to teach and hopefully some admissions review person will see that and take a chance. Whadya think? Am I dreaming? :) I am a little too optimistic sometimes.</p>

4

<p>You need to apply to some state schools. You're probably going to have to retake those D's.</p>

<p>Check out some other state schools (in order)
University of Wisconsin Madison
University of Minnesota
University of Iowa
Michigan State</p>

5

<p>I only had two D's - Into to Computers and the Frontiers of Astronomy. I re-took the computers and got an A the second time around. I can't re-take the Astronomy one because it isn't being offered. </p>

<p>I had a state school on my list - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Any hope there at least? I would get a free ride in Illionis because of my veteran status.</p>

6

<p>well, if you are in virginia now, why not try UVA? if you have in-state status (how long have you been living there?) that would help. I would also suggest george washington and american (both in DC) along with georgetown. these would keep you close to your fiance but are considerably easier to transfer into than georgetown while still being great schools. also, along the lines of state schools, virginia might be one of the strongest in the country. look into william and mary and also james madison. both are great virginia publics. you could also consider virginia tech, though this might be too math/science oriented. hope that helps.</p>

7

<p>The C's and two D's will keep you out of Yale for sure and I doubt Georgetown will overlook them either. Sorry if that's not what you'd like to hear.</p>

<p>UIUC wil be a match school. I think your unique situation will get you in there, but don't think it'll work enough in your favor for Y,G, or UVA.</p>

8

<p>If you area applying to engineering in UIUC no chance. Sorry...</p>