<p>I'm starting to get a bit worried about my 2008 transfer chances. The schools that I am most interested in are going to be long shots for the most part and I can't find any match type schools to include on my list of schools. Even with immaculate grades in fairly difficult classes, I still have the feeling that I'm aiming to high.</p>
<p>The point of this thread is to find some good schools, preferably LACs that have good reputations in economics but aren't in the "really hard to get into" league.</p>
<p>I'm looking at the university of pittsburgh and Boston University right now as my Safe and Match schools respectively but I'd like to find respectable LACs with around (little harder or little easier) the same stats as BU.</p>
<p>ps. I'm transfering into late sophmore/junior status depending on how many credits would transfer so it kinda rules out Reed.</p>
<p>Hamilton in NY is a great LAC with ~50% transfer acceptance rate last time I checked.</p>
<p>as cliche as this sounds, don't let anyone tell you that you are aiming too high. I got some surprising transfer results this year and my stats are definitely not "stellar." </p>
<p>Anywho, the only LAC I can think of that has over about a 20% acceptance rate is wesleyan, although it might have gone down this year.</p>
<p>Most LACs have about ~10% acceptance rates, but don't let this discourage you from applying. I think your essay will matter a lot. Mine was about 2 pages long single spaced.</p>
<p>If you need help, feel free to ask.</p>
<p>Jimmy - you're right a/b Wesleyan but wrong a/b most LACs. The majority of even top LACs don't have ~10%. Here are acceptance rates for some of the top LACs (2006 stats):</p>
<p>Williams 8%
Amherst 17%
Swarthmore 17%
Wellesley 29%
Middlebury 4%
Carleton 11%
Bowdoin 9%
Pomona 8%
Haverford 7%
Davidson 27%
Wesleyan 23%
Vassar 22%
Claremont Mckenna 11%
Grinnell 39%
Colgate 30%
Hamilton 3%
Colby 7%
Bates 24%</p>
<p>As one progresses down the "rankings" of top LACs they will find that most top LACs have around a 30% transfer acceptance rate. Also, I think the applicant pool to all but the very top LACs (Amherst/Williams/Swat/Pomona) is not quite as strong as that of top unis like Penn/Northwestern/WashU/etc.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that LAC transfer rates are typically very random. Colby, for instance, took around 30% in 2005 and Hamilton really did take nearly 50% in 2005, but took only 3% last year! Similarly, Wesleyan took 40% in 2005 and only 23% last year. Your best bet is to apply to the LACs that fit you and that you have in-range stats for as the transfer rates don't help so much.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info brand. This year was a bit hectic, so brand is also right about the randomness in admissions.</p>
<p>Just some updated info for some other schools:</p>
<p>Pomona took 10/182 - ~5%
Bowdoin took 3/200+
Amherst took 11/200+
Williams took about 7/100+</p>
<p>Thanks guys. I'm looking for an open environment but I don't want to feel like I'm in some foriegn learning environment. The two big Penn (my home state) LACs that I looked at, Haverford and Swarthmore tend to be considered two of the most competitive liberal arts colleges and any university for that matter. Reed is still on the fence for me only because I'm a bit uneasy about the education I would recieve due to my junior transfer and thier senior policy. </p>
<p>my problem is, the situation I was in at my first university is making it almost impossible to determine where my stats will really fall. I was suspended for a year due to non-academic reasons and I feel this could hurt me at larger universities and more conservitive-minded schools. perhaps I am overthinking and should try my hand at ALL of the schools I could see myself at.</p>
<p>I think you should try everywhere that you can see yourself. And about your suspension, as long as you can show that you've learned from it and are ready to move on, I don't think it will hinder you.</p>
<p>A note about choosing schools: it's better to be less picky. If you find a school that you think you'll like, put it on your list. In the end, it's much better to have more schools on your list because inevitably you'll probably end up getting rejected by some and others won't give you the necessities that you want (good financial aid, housing, good class choices, etc.) I got lucky that I got into my top choice in the end but I really feel that I should have applied to more just in case.</p>
<p>I have a fairly big list but most of the list are very tough to incredibly tough schools to get into. also, I don't want to apply to 15 schools as a transfer student but I didn't do this process as a highschool senior. I applied to one school and went because I knew I could get in.</p>
<p>as of now I'm looking to apply at
Brown, UChicago, NYU, WUSTL, and my safer schools BU and PITT (with again the possibility of REED and/or some other LACs). With NYU's current "only accept 20 students" thing for CAS, UChicago not being the best for Community College transfers, WUSTL's infinite Waitlist and Brown is just plain hard to get into all the time, its leaving me with BU and PITT and while Pitt is a good enough school, I really don't think I'll be motivated there. I wanted to find maybe 2 more schools I should add, maybe cut back some, or maybe I should stick with what I have.</p>
<p>and since my suspension I've excelled at CC and become involved in this entire school process trying new things, starting a local CD distribution label that I'm picking up, worked as judge of elections at the local primaries after 3 years of working all other elections. I'm joining clubs that interest me, and I'm going to be cross enrolled at PITT or CMU for 1 or 2 econ classes.</p>
<p>anyway, I know I'm rambling but this whole process is new to me so anymore advice, ideas for schools, questions or anything would be great.</p>
<p>what are your stats?</p>
<p>First I'll tell you my major is math/econ.</p>
<p>my highschool stats were abismal</p>
<p>I was in the bottom (WHAT??) 50% with a graduated 2.3 I believe. I took all College Placement classes and did no EC activities besides community service.
My first college I attended was Indiana University of PA. I finished out a whole semester there with a 3.4, with my lowest grade, a C in Anthropology.
I'm now at a CC where I finished my last semester, 5 classes with a 4.0 and I am enrolled in Calc I right now for summer. Will make it to Calc II and III before I would transfer unless I use next summer for some extra math.
My SATs were a 1850 or 1280. I did just retake them but I don't feel like I improved much so we can work with my old scores.</p>
<p>If you're at a ccc, try UCSD. I know of plenty of people who were accepted there with 3.5's, and I hear their econ program is good.</p>
<p>no, I'm in pittsburgh PA and my grades are the only thing that will be very good so that's not the problem anyway. I have about a 3.75 if the two school's scores will be added together with two more semesters to go.</p>
<p>Try and make it clear that you've really changed in your essays. WashU is probably one of the nicest schools for CC transfers, though it's still a reach given your current stats.</p>
<p>I understand where I stand with reaches and matches and all, that is why I was wondering about some unique-thinking schools such as chicago, brown, and reed (although they are in different ways) that might have better transfer chances but a respectable education and name for grad school.</p>
<p>Chicago and Brown aren't any more transfer friendly despite their uniqueness. Reed is a very good choice.</p>
<p>I know, perhaps I'm wording my question wrong but I appreciate the help.</p>
<p>If you're referring to more "self-selected" schools, I definitely think Reed is one of them and they really look for fit. Chicago and Brown do this too but get a lot more applications. There are probably more schools like this that place more emphasis on the personal factors and reason than the stats. I think Wesleyan is kinda like this too because they waitlisted two or three people on here that really should have gotten in but didn't for some reason.</p>
<p>I've had an interest in Wesleyan and I know you held it up with brown personally Brand. maybe I can look into it more and restructure my transfer list. thanks for the help.</p>
<p>perhaps I am worrying too much about grad schools and how they look at your undergrad career. I think my fear is to end up like so many others from pittsburgh PA. attending Pitt, Masters in Pitt, staying in Pittsburgh. not only do I want out of this city but I want to know I will look good three years down the road. thanks for the help guys, I'll start some more research soon.</p>