Looking at Pomona, Brandeis... Claremont McKenna?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys. I'm a freshman at Saint Mary's College of Maryland (recently ranked within the top 100 liberal arts colleges by US News and Weekly), and I'm looking to transfer to a school that is bit less isolated from the rest of the world. Right now I'm looking at Pomona, Brandeis, and possibly Claremont McKenna. The problem is this: I have no idea if these are reasonable schools for me to look at, given my academic record. I really don't want to set myself up for disappointment if I don't have to (I do realize that each school I listed is very selective). But enough talk. Here are my stats:</p>

<p>GPA FOR FRESHMAN-JUNIOR YEARS: 2.56 (un-weighted). I know. Yikes.</p>

<p>SENIOR YEAR: Finally got serious about school and achieved a 3.86 the first three quarters and a 3.5 the fourth. Took 3 APs (Calc BC, Euro History, Physics), and Honors English. In the past I had also typically taken the toughest courses available.</p>

<p>SAT: 1390 (690 Verbal, 700 Math)</p>

<p>AP INFO: Got a 4 on the American History and Calculus AB AP test, and 3's on the European History and Calculus BC tests.</p>

<p>HIGHSCHOOL ACTIVITIES:
Marching/Symphonic Band for 4 years
Jazz Ensemble for 1 year
J/V Soccer for 1 year
Indoor Track for 1 year
Guitar lessons for 2 years
Clarinet lessons for 2 years
Gymnastics for 1 year
Garage Band for 2 years</p>

<p>JOBS:
Worked as the apprentice to a master carpenter over my junior summer
Volunteered with a friend's church fixing houses over my senior summer</p>

<p>COLLEGE (FIRST SEMESTER GPA): 3.92 (3 A's and 1 A-)</p>

<p>COLLEGE ACTIVITIES:
DJ on the college radio station
Member of the Rock Climbing Club
Amateur photographer</p>

<p>I also play the guitar and the clarinet, although, as of right now, I am not involved in any ensemble.</p>

<p>Do I have a shot? </p>

<p>If I don't, does anyone have suggestions for schools where I might? I'm interested in attending a smaller to midsized school with good academics, and within reasonable proximity to a city. I'm also interested in medical school, so any school that has a good pre-med program would be great.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for your help. I truly appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>look into villanova. im not sure if 8000 kinds is to much though</p>

3

<p>kids* not kinds</p>

4

<p>It seems to me that your excellent record at college will outweigh your somewhat questionable high school time. I think you're a match for CMC, and for Brandeis; you're perhaps a slight reach for Pomona (just because it is Pomona.) You might also want to look to transferring to schools like Case Western, or Johns Hopkins (the first more of a match, the second more of a reach) if you're interested in med schools.</p>

5

<p>Thanks a lot for the input!</p>

6

<p>due to poor high school performance, you need to stay back in 1 college and show three semesters of excellent performance. Apply during the spring semester of your college sophomore year and you'll get in if you can demonstrate a 3.9+ GPA. As a matter of fact, to places like Cornell CALS/arts and Sciences; they won't even required your high school grades if and only if you apply as a soph. at ur current college. Stay back for a year and work hard and you'll make it. Don't apply know w/ only 1 semester college performance cause 4 years high school poor performance won't be covered up for that.</p>

<p>as a matter of fact, many brown/cornell/berkeley/ucla students go to community colleges and study like hell for 1.5<->2 years and get a 3.9+ GPA and then apply and get in. Stay back and focus and after some time, apply.</p>

7

<p>eternity_hope2005 - I suspect that you may be right. The question is, however, do I have anything to lose by applying for transfer now? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that if I am rejected by the schools I apply to right now, I can still reapply later on. Obviously I shouldn't get my hopes up now if my chances at admission are slim, but I still think it might be worth a shot? Maybe I am still being far too optimistic. Would applying now really just be a waste of money, or do I have a chance if I emphasize my extreme uptrend in GPA/attitude/organization, get good recs, etc.?</p>

8

<p>you can always apply now....then if, by chance, you get rejected...just improve and reapply...</p>

9

<p>I applied to lafayette college for transfer for admission in fall 2005 and i was declined. When i went in for an interview for when i was applying for this spring semester the lady said that me applying again shows drive and determination. She made it sound very positive that even though i was declined i reapplied. And hey since i was applying to the same school they waived all fees for that application for when i applied this time. Id definately say apply and if u get declined try again.</p>

10

<p>It's called the 2/3 , 1/3 rule. </p>

<p>If the candidate applies in his first year of college, 2/3 emphasis is placed on high school record; only 1/3 emphasis is placed on college work. If the candidate applies the second semester of his sophomore year in college; 2/3 emphasis is placed on his college work and only 1/3 is placed on high school performance.</p>

<p>BTW, pomona is unrealistic for anyone - they don't like accepting many transfer period. I talked to them (adcoms at pomona) and they said out of 400 transfer applicants, they accepted 15. Don't apply there.</p>

11

<p>is this 2/3, 1/3 rule true. I hope so.</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
It's called the 2/3 , 1/3 rule.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I would love to see the source for this one.</p>

13

<p>call up a bunch of adcoms at top schools and ask about transfer admissions and how they place they emphasis. </p>

<p>I'm not going to waste my time trying to find a website for you</p>

14

<p>
[quote]
It's also generally known that colleges tend to place more emphasis on high school work if your trying to transfer out the first year itself and more emphasis on college work the second year.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This is certainly true, but it is rarely, if at all, referred to as the '2/3 , 1/3 rule,' which misleadingly suggests that, first, it is a rule, and second, that the admissions process can be quantified in such a manner to allow for the application of such a rule.</p>

<p>And I have indeed spoken to admissions officers at Columbia, and while they admit that they place less emphasis on the high school record as a student progresses through university, never has it been referred to as a 'rule', much less 'the 2/3 , 1/3 rule.'</p>

15

<p><em>sigh</em>.........</p>

<p>When I said "rule", I didn't mean it explicitly. It's generally what they do and they are the ones who told me about the 2/3, 1/3 thing. </p>

<p>I guess I should have said, "the 2/3, 1/3 idea".</p>

<p>Are you happy now?</p>