nyu --> columbia

Transfer Students
1

<p>** Background: **
I'm an underachieving high school student with few redeeming qualities. I participated in speech and debate, but didn't achieve much success in that activity, and didn't have many other notable activities (yearbook, cultural club, no leadership positions in either). I somehow got into NYU, but I feel absolutely awful making my parents pay for NYU (we don't get financial aid...we fall into the dratted middle class that's too rich to get financial aid but too poor to make paying for college easy).</p>

<p>Stats:
3.5 GPA unweighted, 3.8 weighted (HS)
SAT I - 770M, 740CR, 710W (2220 total, 1550 M+CR)
SAT II - 760 Math II, 630 Bio, 670 Writing (I HATE SAT IIs)
APs - World History AP (4), Comp Sci A AP (5), US History AP (4), Eng. Lang. AP (5), Env. Science AP (4), Euro AP (N/A), Eng. Lit. AP (N/A), Bio AP (N/A), Calc AB AP (N/A), Macroecon AP (N/A), Human Geo AP (N/A)
(N/A b/c AP tests are in May)</p>

<p>So I'm kind of happy with NYU, but I think the whole no campus thing plus the low prestige/fees ratio may leave me wanting to transfer. Columbia seems like the easiest (logistically) school to transfer to, just because of how close it is (same city and such). I'm also definitely putting an app into Penn and Dartmouth, because they've both been fantasies of mine for a while.</p>

<p>** Additional Info **
I was rejected from Dartmouth, but I haven't applied to Columbia or Penn before (if that affects my chances). Also, the high school I attended was pretty competitive Catholic school.</p>

<p>Rather than "chancing" me, does anyone have any specific advice as to what I should do while at NYU to maximize my chances of getting into one of these schools? I'm confident that I'm capable of getting a 4.0 at NYU (I went to a college prep school, and have taken AP classes since sophomore year). Setting aside my GPA, what else should I do at NYU? </p>

<p>Also, has anyone on these boards taken a similar path (NYU --> Ivy), and if so could they share their experience? I know I f'ed up high school, but I hope to make up for it :).</p>

2

<p>Why don't you take a year out and reapply to a bunch of uni's - your chances are surely much higher that way. I get the impression gap years are not very popular over in the US, but they are definitely catching on in the UK and I think they could even add to your application if you did something worthwhile during that time - volunteering, work experience/internship, travelling to interesting places etc.</p>

3

<p>NYU has low prestige? How so?</p>

4

<p>Here's some advice:</p>

<p>1) Take the Math 1 SATII. You'll ace it and it will replace the 630 in bio that's hurting you
2) Get a 4.0. Seriously ace your classes
3) Know your professors. Don't take all intro lectures. Take a couple small classes where you can get a good rec
4) Continue the same activities you did in high school but at a higher level. Maybe get involved in debate, student council, whatever.
5) Apply to enough schools. Dartmouth and Penn are awesome, but in no way is anyone sure to obtain admission. Hedge your bets with Columbia, Brown, Northwestern (easier transfer), Georgetown (easier transfer), and UNC (easier transfer)</p>

<p>My guess is you probably won't love NYU and you'll want to go somewhere with a real campus and community. Make sure you apply to enough schools.</p>

5

<p>hm... listen to slipper.. except his advise number 1.
GPA is everything for you.. because you have a decent grades for both SAT and SAT 2</p>

6

<p>What school+major are you in @ NYU? What major are you applying to in Columbia? These factors count, too. </p>

<p>Also, how many credits have you accumulated? Completing freshman or completing sophomore year?</p>