<p>Intended major: Economics
Current College: Top 30 US News
Previous: Transferred from another Top State School
Current College GPA: 3.45
Previous College: 3.6
Credit Hours: Over 90 (I know they won't all transfer)
Course load: Heaviest (including 500-level honors courses)
SAT: Retaking in January (previous 1960)
High School GPA: Very low (but remember, I'm a junior in college currently)
ECs:
- 4 internships in my field (finance) one in corporate finance, venture capital, commercial real estate, and marketing
- Held a separate unique job (don't want to disclose as it would give away identity to anyone who knows me) for over 3 years working over 10 hours/week every week of the year
- Cofounder of a society at previous institution
- Continued membership in College political party club aiding in campaigns
- Volunteer at local church
- General member of several career and hobby-oriented clubs at current institution</p>
<p>you seem very qualified, but as much as I know, the schools you listed will be considering your reason to transfer very heavily as well - and if you’re at a Top 30 School already, and have transferred before too, you must have a VERY good reason – and even if you do, it slims down your chances SIGNIFICANTLY. Your GPA does not seem like the right range either - and for transfer it is the strongest indication of a “good student”, as awesome as your professional experience is.
Also for UCLA, I know that they do not give priority to out of state, 4-year colleges - they prefer students from CA community colleges. </p>
<p>I’d just wait till grad school - sorry if this is depressing, just sharing what I know But you seem like you’ll go far anyway.</p>
<p>I agree with everything you said. I know that colleges always claim to care about what “unique experiences” you will bring to campus and I was hoping that my hook could be my professional experience, but maybe that is more important in getting into graduate school, like you said. </p>
<p>I have been in contact with an admissions officer from Vanderbilt who claimed that prior transfers and excessive credit hours will not be viewed positively or negatively in the admissions process. She pretty much said I would be treated the same as a Freshman applying for transfer. So maybe that won’t hurt me so much at certain schools? Who knows, but I can see the admissions conversation going: “Wow, this kid can’t make up his mind; I wonder where he will transfer after Vanderbilt.” </p>
<p>As far as GPA, once again I agree with you, it is well below the average, but averages are just that. I think Notre Dame claims that their average GPA is 3.7 for transfers, if they accept a large number of 4.0, 3.9, and 3.8 students, there must be a significant amount of students with below a 3.7 that are pulling the average GPA down… I guess? </p>
But you seem like you’ll go far anyway.</p>