<p>Hey, everyone. I'm new to these boards, but I joined because I'm thinking about transferring next fall. I'm really trying to get a perspective on national universities since I'm not sure what my chances are, based on my circumstances. I was hoping that someone could help me out by suggesting a couple places that sound like "good fits."</p>
<p>Firstly, stats: 4.09 (unweighted) GPA in high school, currently holding a 4.0 at college, ACT: 33. As far as national recognition, I was a National Merit Scholar Finalist. I received a couple of school-wide awards for math and sciences and the humanities. I was valedictorian of my class, but I went to a small, rural school -- my graduating class was around 70. </p>
<p>Extra-curriculars: I'm currently publications editor for the Math and Computer Science Club at my college, which is the University of Wisconsin - Superior. I'm also the News Editor for the college paper. In high school I was in Math League, Chess Club, Concert/Pep Band, and Knowledge Bowl -- my Knowledge Bowl team placed third in regionals went to state two years in a row. I attended the Summer Writing Program at Carleton College in the summer of my junior year (for writers of advanced expository prose). I was Editor-in-Chief of my high school's literary magazine, The Otter Creek Review, which I kickstarted in my junior year and maintained through my senior year. I worked for two years at a green house, seasonal work in the spring, 15 - 23 hours a week. I also worked in a children's library for a year.</p>
<p>Anyhow, like I mentioned, I'm currently going to the University of Wisc. - Superior, a very small, unimpressive liberal arts college in northern Wisconsin. I chose this school for a myriad of reasons, the most because I was engaged to be married to a student here and because I was a hardcore fundamentalist Christian who wanted to stay near her home church. I was also afraid of forcing bills and debt on my family, which is very low-income (my father supports me and my four younger sisters on an income of less than 35,000 a year). Now I'm no longer engaged and an outspoken atheist, and I'm absolutely kicking myself for wasting my potential here. So, that's my background in that area.</p>
<p>As far as interests, I planned throughout high school to go into Linguistics. However, when I made the decision to come to this school, they didn't have such a department, so I became a Mathematics major (another love of mine). This semester I've taken classes in German, Russian, and Calculus, as well as two classes from the core curriculum. Next semester I'm taking Calc. 2, Intro to Abstract Math, Linear Algebra, Astronomy, and second-semester German and Russian. I'd still really, really like to study Linguistics, but I'd like to do so at a school with a strong math/science focus. A school like MIT with a strong science core curriculum and an incredible linguistics department would be perfect for me, but I know that their transfer rates are absolutely dismal. I've heard that Berkeley is good, but their transfer applications are already closed for the year, and it would be completely wasteful for me to spend another year here. </p>
<p>I'm a decent writer, and I feel that I can craft a good essay. I'm a little worried about my recommendations, because I'm not very in touch with my professors and don't feel that I've made enough of a splash to be noticed. </p>
<p>On the topic of essays, I'm also interested in Yiddish and Jewish Studies, as well as Biblical Studies. After a year of struggling with "spiritual" issues about the Bible, I did a LOT of reading, which has resulted in quite an active interest in Biblical history and criticism. I feel like this would be good essay material if it weren't for the fact that religion is an off-limits topic for a college essay. A part of me would like to further the field of linguistic Biblical criticism by doing analysis on the original languages of the Bible, but that is a faraway dream.</p>
<p>I've also heard good things about UC-Santa Cruz, Stanford, UPenn, and a couple of other places. I really don't know if I have a chance at any of these schools since I'm a transfer. My list so far also includes Carleton and University of Wisc. - Madison. I am concerned with prestige to an extent, but only in that I desire that the programs I'm in are solid and *challenging<a href="I'm%20bored%20out%20of%20my%20skull%20here">/i</a>. I'd also like to spend some time out of the midwest -- the west coast really appeals to me. The northeast is okay. I'd prefer to stay out of the south.</p>
<p>So, if you can help me by giving me tips, hints, suggestions, a splash of cold water in the face -- I'd appreciate it. I probably sound picky for being a transfer student from a small college, but I just don't want to regret my decision again. Thanks!</p>