<p>I am completing my second year of college and will have 90+ credit hours under my belt by the end of the current semester. I had been a late bloomer in high school, which is a prestigious, all girls Catholic Academy, but once I found my passions in chemistry and math I came to the realization that my grades had to improve in every subject in order for me to attend the colleges that would offer me that I wanted. With a new-found focus, my grades steadily improved from a 2.6 in my freshman year to a 4.3 in my senior year; my final high school GPA was a respectable 3.3. My SAT scores were equally respectable: SAT (taken Junior year): V: 580, M: 630, W: 600 (total: 1810). Unfortunately only one school seemed to give me much credit for my steady improvement, which is why I enrolled where I did. However, I have made the best of the situation and am enrolled in a 3/2 dual degree program at my current school, which means I am on track to receive a BA here and a BS in chemical engineering from Columbia. </p>
<p>I do like my professors as well as the curriculum here, and my overall GPA is again steadily improving each year. Overall I have a 3.4, which includes the freshman second semester 3.2 in which I took 22 credit hours. By the end of this school year I will have accumulated 93 credit hours. But after two years on the east coast, I have come to realize that this is really not the place for me. Even the lure of moving on to Columbia receiving an engineering degree is not enough to make me want to stay here on the east coast.</p>
<p>I have looked into a few other schools that offer similar 3/2 dual degree programs, notably Dartmouth, USC and Washington University in Saint Louis. Of these three schools, Washington University offers the best curriculum as well as the benefit of a high caliber of student that will challenge me. Although I have a couple transfer applications still outstanding, I have been accepted at a school that participates in a dual degree program with Washington University. Additionally, not only is this school accepting 90 of my 93 credit hours, it has also offered me a substantial academic scholarship, which is quite a change anything I received my senior year of high school. </p>
<p>So whats the problem? I realize this is really a stellar offer, but it means I would have to transfer a third time to get where I want to go. Additionally, I have just been offered a summer internship at the National Renewable Energy Lab in Colorado, and my assigned advisor there has heartily endorsed my plans to pursue a chemical engineering degree at Washington University. However, he has just suggested that I apply directly to Washington University now and skip the middle man.</p>
<p>I know I could handle the work right out of the shoot, but after having faced so many rejections the first time around, I guess Im still of the mindset that I need a back door opening to get the opportunity to prove that I am not only capable, I have the drive and passion to achieve my dream.</p>
<p>So the bottom line is: should I also apply directly to Washington University (their transfer application deadline is April 15th)? And, if I do, what could/should I do to present my case in the best possible light?</p>
<p>Thank you for your help.</p>