<p>I have finished 4 semesters at cc and got 3.2. I heavily invested my time at my father's business for last 5 years and it is going to be my essay topic. I got into University of wisconsin Madison but I want to try something smaller and studying environment. So I am considering following schools. Do I have a chance? If so, how much? Thank you guys in advance...</p>
<p>Pomona
Claremont McKenna College
Wesleyan
Macalester
Grinnell
Washington & Lee
Oberlin
Colgate
Occidental</p>
<p>You might have a chance at those schools. (I never heard about half of them though) lol. Good luck :)</p>
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<p>Occidental maybe...</p>
<p>All of the LACs on your list are among the most selective in the United States. I would think that unless you have other factors in your background to offset it, a transfer applicant with a 3.2 community college GPA would have a difficult time getting into any of these schools. The freshmen admitted to most of these colleges are near the top of their high school classes with average ACT scores close to 30 and average SAT scores in the 1300 - 1450 range ( 1600 scale ). </p>
<p>Grinnell which is much less selective than Pomona, Claremont McKenna, or Wesleyan only admitted 37 of 122 transfer applicants in the fall of 2005. </p>
<p>The University of Wisconsin - Madison is a great school. If you really would prefer an LAC, I would add some less selective LACs to your list. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Sunada,</p>
<p>It will be quite wonderful if you are able to cogently argue in your college essay about the impact that your five-year investment in your dad's business has had on you. A powerful essay will undoubtedly help the admissions committees at these LACs put less weight on your GPA, as constant working---if for a good cause---is a fair reason for it being the modest GPA that it is. Also, be sure to address the issue of why a LAC is ideal for you, and in particular, why the LACs that you are interested in are ideal ones.</p>
<p>Really, you haven't given much information concerning your SATs/ACTs (some of these LACs weight SAT/ACT scores as important for transfer students as potential freshmen), extracurricular activities, or more importantly, your passions/interests, so I won't try to give you an answer more exact than I can, given your information.</p>
<p>I will say---and it is quite similar to Medusa's advice---that your list looks a bit top-heavy. It seems like it's filled with LACs for which entrance into might be difficult for you. Given your current list, Occidental is your best shot. The others will all be reaches or big reaches (probably, but who knows for sure) and less of a match for you in terms of "can you get in". This is not to say it's impossible, so don't give up hope. </p>
<p>Also, perhaps you should, if you are truly interested in a LAC, look for some that aren't quite as competitive as these. For example, Depauw, Lawrence, Centre, Wabash, St. Olaf, Beloit, Earlham, Pitzer, Knox, and Wooster. These colleges are at or below the level of competitiveness that Occidental is approximately at.</p>
<p>I should add that Grinnell is the self-selecting school on your list, so while its acceptance rate is probably the highest amongst all these colleges, so are its statistics of its entering class (SAT 1390, ACT 31, 93% in top 25% of their high school classes). The applicant pool is just such that most people who apply are indeed qualified.</p>
<p>If you're still thinking about UW-Madison, despite your LAC interest. I want to let you know that you have good reason to be doing so. UW-Madison is a well-respected institution, and it is by no means a school that can be looked over by any admissions committee throughout the nation. Congratulations for that acceptance already!</p>
<p>If in doubt, and if at all possible, please look into visiting the LACs on your list and perhaps some of the LACs I've suggested. They are quite different from one another, and the question you need to be asking yourself is, "Which LAC is best for me?" Indeed, there is no outright best in your list; all are subject to your impressions of it and your needs as a student.</p>
<p>Best of luck,
Tom</p>
<p>sunada - just to give you a comparison, i've got a 4.0 at a CC right now and would consider Pomona a reach. Claremont takes a/b 30%, but even then I think it's a reach. Wesleyan is the highest ranked LAC that takes a good # - 40% last year.</p>