Narrowing down and researching transfer options!

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hey guys! I'm a former slacker turned strong student, now in my senior year of high school. The results of this are obviously going to be holding me back for this year's admission cycle. However, attending a strong institution where the average student is as bright as myself is essential to my college experience, so I'm looking beyond where I end up this year. It seems like a good idea to nail down where I want to transfer early, and set myself up for success. I'd like to have a clear goal that drives me in the future, beyond getting to medical school.</p>

<p>My current stats:
2.9~ projected GPA. 3.85~ in last year
30 ACT (32/32/25/30) and an 8 essay (I plan to retake this as I know I can get a 32-34)
My (private) school has a history of getting students into excellent schools without median students.
Can get a 4.0 in my first year, if I apply myself a bit more
I've been told I interview very well :P</p>

<p>Extracurriculars & Other Crap:
4 years of guitar
Internet editor for school newspaper; we won the pacemaker award last year, and 2nd/1st in state 4 years running
Tutoring children; I'm beginning to tutor deaf students as I perfect my sign language as well
Founder of our school's most popular club, GameCube Club
Planning on doing research this upcoming summer
1 year of pigeon raising and racing
1 year of honor board
I'm white, and the son of two doctors.
Skiing every twice weekly through the winter
Have legacy at UW (through parent's MD school) and St. Olaf (sister)</p>

<p>About me and what I want in a school:
Strong sciences (premed) and research
Can maintain a high GPA with science classes [grade inflation to get into MD schools?]
Funding/willingness to host my pigeon loft on campus
Not in the middle of nowhere (small town is fine)
Not near Seattle/Portland, preferably
Not super religious, liberal enough
Preferably private/smaller institution
Student's place academics first; not a massive party atmosphere (some is alright)
Welcomes more introverted people
I love cold weather and Boston/Chicago/hate California. No southern schools
I encompass a lot of the PNW stereotypes, but am seriously sick of Seattle, essentially. Smoking weed on occasion is A-OK with me.</p>

<p>Schools I'm seriously looking at:
Colorado College
St. Olaf (legacy)
Carleton
Emory
Georgetown
Vanderbilt
Whitman
GWU</p>

<p>X-Factor:
WashU (I love this school, but this depends on me scoring well on the latter two sections of the ACT)
Brown</p>

<p>Possibilities:
Boston University
Boston College
Villanova
University of Washington (legacy) as safety</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>I’ve bad news. Based on your current ACT and your projected GPA:</p>

<p>Emory, Georgetown, Vanderbilt, WashU, Brown, and probably Whitman are all high reaches. St. Olaf’s, Carleton, CC, and BC are not far behind. The rest are reaches to low reaches.</p>

3

<p>For some of those schools, how so? Here’s my compiled 25th to 75th percentiles on the ACT for those schools.</p>

<p>Whitman: 29-32
Georgetown: 30-33
WashU: 32-34
Brown: 29-34
St. Olaf: 26-31
Emory: 29-32
Vanderbilt: 31/32-34
Carleton: 29-33
Colorado College: 28-32</p>

<p>I’m within a moderate 50th percentile for Whitman, Georgetown, Brown, Emory, and Carleton. I’m on the higher middle end for Colorado College and St. Olaf. Admittedly, the lower end of the 50th percentile is constituted of more URMs, but it remains a good place for white students. Certainly after at least my 2nd year of a near 4.0 GPA, I am no longer a reach—and so long as I keep up and form additional extracurriculars (EMT, shadowing physicians, research, starting a deaf student tutoring organization), express interest in the schools, and show community involvement, I’d be in a good place?</p>

<p>Additionally, I’m aware some of these schools are hard transfers; Georgetown and Brown specifically, but they’re hopeful schools that I’d look into more after admission. I’m not expecting an acceptance. As for my ACT scores themselves, this was after taking the test once, without preparation. In spite of my background, I haven’t done any tutoring for testing itself, but plan to prepare for later in the year anyways. As I said, I expect a 32-34, or at least an improvement to within WashU’s range in the later categories, as they superscore.</p>

4

<p>But no school uses just the ACT. When these schools read your app they’ll also see a projected 2.9 GPA. So you’re saying you’re within match range because of your 29, but you’re not seeing that most of the 30 ACTs will have GPAs of 3.5-3.8.</p>

5

<p>Except the large majority of schools care for two to three years of work before transfer; at this point, my freshman and sophomore years of high school become irrelevant. Three years of near 4.0 work in addition to one year of a 2.5 is nearing a 3.7 anyways. Additionally, after acquiring 30 credits, most schools (including Wash U) don’t require students to submit their high school coursework.</p>

<p>Regardless of all this, I have it on good authority that I will almost certainly be accepted to St. Olaf as a transfer, which is a top premed program as it is. My sister’s attendance (and strong academic record while there), as well as my relationship with the admissions director would likely help.</p>

<p>Sorry if I’m being combative, but I’ve heard from a knowledgeable group of people that these are good transfer options for me to look into. I’m looking for other options, and inspecting whether the aforementioned schools would be a good fit for me.</p>

6

<p>most of your schools will reject you simply based on GPA. The fact that you might get a higher test score and be within their middle quartiles is irrelevant.</p>

<p>Plus, even those with the 'correct GPA" and a high test score are not assured admittance. These schools reject many students with the ‘correct stats’. </p>

<p>Anyone with a below 3.5 (probably 3.8 GPA) and top 10% of their school is going to have a rough time getting into those schools. </p>

<p>now…if you go somewhere for TWO YEARS and then transfer, then you might have some options, BUT…many top schools accept few transfers.</p>

<p>PLUS…as a premed student, transferring is often a BAD idea. You need to know your profs so that they can write your LORs. As a transfer, you won’t have those relationships. And, you’d have to do a Glide Year…you won’t be able to apply between junior and senior year like other students because you’ll be too new.</p>

<p>Not in the middle of nowhere (small town is fine)
Not near Seattle/Portland, preferably
Not super religious, liberal enough
Preferably private/smaller institution
Student’s place academics first; not a massive party atmosphere (some is alright)
Welcomes more introverted people
I love cold weather and Boston/Chicago/hate California. No southern schools
I encompass a lot of the PNW stereotypes, but am seriously sick of Seattle, essentially. Smoking weed on occasion is A-OK with me.</p>

<p>If you want to be premed and go to med school, cut out the weed. My son just went thru undergrad and now is in med school and being a weed-smoker wouldn’t have cut-it…his grades would have suffered. You have to be a serious student.</p>

<p>As for “grade inflation”…lol…the premed prereqs & those STEM classes are WEEDER classes. A’s are LIMITED and grading is tough to “knock out” those who don’t have what it takes. Profs want those who don’t cut it, to move on to something else.</p>

<p>Can you clarify your finances. . How much will your parents pay each year?</p>

7

<p>“How much will your parents pay each year?”</p>

<p>Around $30,000 per year; if they contribute less than that, they’re setting aside the rest for medical school, or another graduate degree.</p>

<p>“If you want to be premed and go to med school, cut out the weed. My son just went thru undergrad and now is in med school and being a weed-smoker wouldn’t have cut-it…his grades would have suffered. You have to be a serious student.”</p>

<p>One can do both; I said in moderation. I’m fine with post finals partying, including smoking, is all. Schools like Colorado College have earned the reputation of student balance due to this. I do this once every few months anyways; its a way to relax post-finals, if friends offer it.</p>

<p>“Anyone with a below 3.5 (probably 3.8 GPA) and top 10% of their school is going to have a rough time getting into those schools.”</p>

<p>I go to a top prep school—I threw away a lot of my parents money by not trying until now, but this is one of the advantages of going here. Students from my school with 1800/3.5 are accepted to Whitman more than they’re denied. Here’s — imgur[dot]com/HNi9stl — the graph of student results to Whitman over the past 5 years. I’d honestly love to go to this school; their applicants are all the nicest people in my grade.</p>

<p>“As a premed student, transferring is often a BAD idea. You need to know your profs so that they can write your LORs. As a transfer, you won’t have those relationships. And, you’d have to do a glide Year…you won’t be able to apply between junior and senior year like other students because you’ll be too new.”</p>

<p>Firstly, I plan to take a year break between undergrad and applying to do research and unwind anyways. I’ve always wanted to, and my parents want me to as well. As for knowing professors, two years would be plenty I assume. What do you mean by a glide year?</p>

<p>“As for “grade inflation”… the premed prereqs & those STEM classes are WEEDER classes. A’s are LIMITED and grading is tough to “knock out” those who don’t have what it takes. Profs want those who don’t cut it, to move on to something else.”</p>

<p>That really depends on the institution. I know that wherever I attend, I can succeed with enough effort. That said, places like St. Olaf offer strong premed and sciences, without limiting the number of As they award. That remains true for Carleton, Whitman, and Colorado College—essentially all liberal arts institutions. They might be difficult classes (debatable, as recent high school graduates have said our quantitative courses were more difficult, and I’ve gotten easy As in them), but they aren’t limiting the grades they award.</p>

<p>Any recommendations for second year transfers? I’m also considering Villanova.</p>

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<p>

Did you fail to notice that none got in with a sub 3.0 GPA?</p>

9

<p>places like St. Olaf offer strong premed</p>

<p>What are they offering? </p>

<p>and I don’t know why you think that LACs don’t weed.</p>

<p>A glide year is the year after graduation. Students who aren’t doing a Glide Year apply during the summer between jr and sr years. You are taking a year break, so you’d be applying the summer right after graduation.</p>

<p>Doing research during THAT break year will not help your med school apps. If you do that “year break,” then your apps will be going in during the summer after graduation, so before any of that research is done…so that research wouldn’t be listed. You don’t list what you’re “gonna do.”</p>

10

<p>St Olaf is very strong in math and science and doesn’t seek to “weed out” students, in that classes aren’t designed to fail a percentage of students, but since the pool is very strong in these subjects, someone below the top 25th percentile in these subjects would be in trouble, and since the other classes are reading/writing intensive, it means the students need to be very strong overall. I’ve been told kids give up not because they’re weeded out (ie, their grades are okay) but in order to get that B or B- they had to work so hard they’d rather spare themselves the trouble, especially since a B won’t get them into med school let alone the Mayo Clinic Scholars program, or even if they got a higher grade, that it just “wasn’t for them”, especially those who thought “premed” was related to medicine and helping people.</p>

11

<p>“Did you fail to notice that none got in with a sub 3.0 GPA?”</p>

<p>It seems parents on this forum are incredibly obtuse. My point is they don’t even require a high school transcript for post-2nd year transfers; so long as I maintain my GPA, I can get in. That is for high school students, and I won’t be a high school student at the time I apply. </p>

<p>“What are they offering?”</p>

<p>Strong sciences—biology and chemistry specifically, recently renovated facilities, great mentored and external research, and accessible professors. Additionally, they have a cadaver lab, which I find fascinating. Small classes would be sweet as well.</p>

<p>“and I don’t know why you think that LACs don’t weed.”</p>

<p>I’m not saying the courses aren’t hard, I’m saying they don’t grade on a curve. Students who deserve As receive As, unlike at say, Princeton, where they have begun making testing increasingly obtuse, in combination with grading curves.</p>

<p>Also, you can do research and then apply; applications are read before August 1st. My goal would be getting whatever I’m working on published, and then applying.</p>

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</p>

<p>Wow, really?</p>

<p>Since you are so much better informed than the parents on this forum (especially the ones whose kids are actually IN med school) I’d suggest you start your own website where you might share your superior insight with lesser beings.</p>

<p>And by all means, keep smoking the weed since it seems to be working out really well for you.</p>

13

<p>“And by all means, keep smoking the weed since it seems to be working out really well for you.”</p>

<p>Holy cryptic condescension. Considering I never did until my grades began improving, that seems like a fine conclusion. As for my other comments, it seems like every response I’ve gotten has been from parents who can’t believe one can transfer to a better school within two years. Its pretty common knowledge that schools don’t require your high school transcript after a certain amount of credits.</p>

<p>“Since you are so much better informed than the parents on this forum (especially the ones whose kids are actually IN med school) I’d suggest you start your own website where you might share your superior insight with lesser beings.”</p>

<p>I’m not saying I’m better informed with regards to the medical school process. I have my fair share of knowledge from my parents, who are actually in the profession, in addition to my own research, but I never claimed that. I’m relaying things I’ve heard from my college counselor, who has a very strong reputation among the colleges on that list that I’ve visited. I’m asking about transfer schools which I happen to know are options after one or two years, and people are telling me things that directly contradict with the words of someone who does this for a profession. I’m trying to not burden him with my time, and do some independent research. As for his comment, it was obviously jaded or uninformed; I stated several times that I’m a transfer, and that those are the grades of high school students.</p>

14

<p>OP, I think that some of us are astonished by your sustained sense of privilege. We don’t know whether to laugh at your bravado or pity your ignorance. We wonder how a child of physicians could have reached this age without any ability to look in the mirror and see how cartoonish you look. This is a dialogue you need to be having with your parents and not us. I wish you all the best.</p>

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<p>One problem is that, based on your first message, you’re a senior in high school, I quote:
“now in my senior year of high school” first line of your first message.
For this reason, you have no idea how well you’re going to do in college. I’m sure you can do well but it’s difficult to know ahead of time that you’ll have a 4.0. Very few students do if they attend a very good school. Many students with good grades and good work ethics have discovered it’s much harder to get good grades in college than in high school.
You have two possibilities: community colleges with agreements (in which case, you choose your university now and attend the community college that is a “feeder” to that school -not all schools have that option) or lateral transfer, from one 4 year school to another - and again, in order to maximize the odds of admissions, you need to attend a second-tier 4-year school within the region of the university you’re considering.
For instance, Gustavus Adolphus or Luther if you want to transfer into St Olaf, Gonzaga or U Puget Sound for Whitman, etc.
Then, look at the CDS for each school and see how many transfers are admitted - a typical rate would be for 15-20 freshmen, 1 transfer is admitted. Some colleges have excellent retention and so admit very few transfers if any. You need to know what your odds are and create your list from there.
In addition, try applying to a few of the less selective 4-year colleges directly.</p>

16

<p>No condescension here. Great to hear that you’ve gotten serious. </p>

<p>I’m not understanding why you’re looking to transfer instead of applying directly to college. </p>

<p>Your $30K/yr budget is to low if it includes Room and Board unless you go instate. I don’t think University of Washington is a safety. Washington State maybe. Evergreen state is your public liberal arts college and is one of the Colleges that Change Lives. </p>

<p>As a child of two physicians you clearly aren’t getting FinAid. I don’t understand those schools on your list, most have sticker prices that are double that. </p>

<p>Frankly, I think you should be prepared to spend $40K/year and should be applying to flagship schools in states with lower admissions standards. </p>

<p>I don’t know your class rank, but both University of Iowa and Iowa State have automatic admissions. Depending on how bad your class rank is, you might qualify now. I think University of Kansas and also University of Arizona and Arizona State also have relatively easy automatic admissions. University of Colorado admits 84%. </p>

<p>These schools all have serious research and if you think you’ll be a top student, then you can get in now.</p>

<p>If you’ve gotten serious, take your best shot now.</p>

17

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<p>First, thanks for taking this seriously and not just saying “you can’t”. As for colleges, I’ve already been admitted to Lake Forest College (IL) early action, and this is what my college adviser has implied as well. I’m also applying to the College of Wooster ED II as a reach (my advisor has said my essays were some of the best she’s read, and my interview/faculty interaction was excellent, maintaining contact with my admissions officer, etc.), but I’d be surprised if I don’t finagle my way in with a letter of intent via the waiting list. I’m thinking Lake Forest, as St. Olaf sounds like a great community. Obviously this all depends, but I couldn’t think of anything I did wrong to create an impression, and definitely impressed the neuroscience major when we talked about research with regards to birth control’s effects on the brain.</p>

<p>Regarding a 4.0—I know this will be difficult, but I’d honestly be surprised if I didn’t get at or near this level of grades. Most science-y and intelligent people who leave my school find college courses to be easier or at worst, on par with our workload. Currently I’m the only person receiving an A in my quantitative physics class (~36 students total), and I can say similar things for a few other courses as well. Obviously this is all circumstantial, but I have high expectations of myself. Thanks again for the serious reply.</p>

<p>RockerDad; I have looked at these schools, and will be applying to a few. I’d really rather not attend a public institution long term though; I really dislike the large atmosphere, and struggle to make connections with people outside intimate environments (the “Seattle Freeze”). </p>

<p>I’ve also already received a few scholarships tantamount to $5,000, and have another $5,000 in savings from working. I’ll be working over the summers in addition to doing research, so this shouldn’t be a huge issue. I really don’t mind forking out a few thousand dollars for a set of experiences I truly enjoy. As for financial aid, my sister receives a bit from St. Olaf. Both my parents are in primary care and have a variety of expenses from home loans to paying for my sister’s graduate degree. I don’t know if I’ll get any, but I’d imagine I will.</p>

<p>As for UW, I’m a Seattle applicant who has legacy there in the form of both parent’s medical education, and my dad’s undergraduate in Astrophysics. He’s also on the faculty as an attending physician. I feel like a dick for using these to my advantage, but it should be a fairly easy admission. In state tuition is also nice.</p>

18

<p>I terms of advantages, being a faculty kid = legacy for admissions so unless you get sudden F’s consider you’re in at UW :slight_smile:
You could apply to St Olaf and see, too. It’s a huge reach so keep expectations low.
Congratulations on Lake Forest. If you can maintain a 3.7-4.0 you should be fine to transfer to St Olaf. I think they even accept transfers after the 1st semester.</p>

19

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<p>I’ve actually just talked to my college counselor today about St. Olaf, and I’m going to be applying Early Decision II there instead. Admittedly, its harder than Wooster, but I’d honestly love to attend here. The campus is beautiful, and unlike Wooster, the town isn’t a humongous pile of shi… I’m putting out all the stops to get into this school (Skype interview, contacting the NW region counselor, etc.). It might also help that my sister is on the admissions committee as a student…</p>

<p>I just wish I’d realized I had a chance at this school earlier in the year—I would’ve applied early decision I. Looking at my school’s acceptance history, nobody has been denied entry (if you care to see, look here: imgur[dot]com/EXbFefM). By the time I’m done with this quarter, my GPA will be a 2.75; that’s .3 lower than a student accepted with a 24 on the ACT. Admittedly, that could’ve been one of the few African American or Latino students in our school, but I’m doubtful. I also think I have enough special extracurriculars to garner some attention from them.</p>

20

<p>Your parents are physicians and your budget is this?</p>

<p>around $30,000 per year</p>

<p>That seems low for a child of two physician parents…that’s only $15k each. </p>

<p>You have a sister who is an UNDERGRAD at St. Olaf and receives need-based aid? or is it merit aid?? or is she a grad student.</p>

<p>I doubt that two physician parents (even in primary care) would have a combined income that would qualify for need based aid.</p>