I don’t see a thread started, so just want to start one.
btw feel free to post your stats here so that prospective transfers in the following years may benefit.
I’ll volunteer to post my stats first.
Current college: University of Pennsylvania, College of Arts and Science
College Major Applying to: Philosophy and Education
Current major/minor: Philosophy+Education minor
Entering as: Junior
HS GPA UW: 3.98/4.0
HS GPA Weighted: My HS doesn’t weight
HS ranking: 1/75
College GPA: 3.92; Major GPA: 4.0
SAT: 2010
Most of the courses are taken in philosophy and education
Extracurriculars:
Started a company in HS and recently sold it to a larger tech company for a few million dollars
HS student government president
Education club
etc.
Miscellaneous:
Dean’s list for all the semesters
Essay:
transfer main essay: 8/10
Why brown: 7/10
Academic interest: 9/10
*Just a subjective rating
Recommendation:
One from philosophy professor and one from education professor. Didn’t read but should be great.
Why applying to Brown:
I admire the academic freedom there.
Impressive you started your own company and sold it. What is the name?
I certainly think you could get into brown.
Reply for a Reply?
Hi everyone and good luck if you’re looking to apply!
Some info on me…
Looking to transfer to Brown from Sarah Lawrence College
College GPA: 3.9 (projected, calculated by myself through a form given by the college. Grades aren’t a big thing here. It’s all about the written evaluations teachers give at the end of the semester)
HS GPA: 3.98
SAT: 2010 (620 Reading; 650 Math; 740 Writing)
SAT Subjects: English Lit = 690; Math II = 650
ACT: 29
AP: Comp Sci 5; English Lit 5; Euro History 4; Calc BC 5; Gov 4
The school I’m at currently doesn’t have majors and only 3 classes a semester, so my studies are in Writing, Latin, and Anglo-Saxon Lit currently (and a film class last semester). Would love to explore archaeology and medieval studies which SLC doesn’t have much of.
High School ECs:
Editor of Literary Magazine
Organizer in French Club
Black Belt in Karate (also teaching classes)
Archery
Guitar Lessons
Soroptomist Award
College ECs:
Martial Arts Club (Self-Defense Leader)
Christian Union
Screenwriter’s Workshop
Yoga classes
Rock Climbing Club
Recommendations:
Writing Prof / Adviser
Latin Prof
Reasons for Transferring:
Academically, I need somewhere where I can get hands-on archaeological experience. Socially, SLC has a small campus and student body. Not quite enough stretching room (especially with diversity).
I’m also applying to William & Mary and Wesleyan. Thanks for reading, and once again, good luck to other applicants!
@Melody2015 Out of curiosity, does the academic freedom refer to a particular major you have in mind?
Current college: Miami Dade Community College
College Major Applying to: American Studies/Modern Culture and Media
Current major: English
Entering as: Junior
College GPA: 4.0
HS GPA UW: 2.4
HS GPA W: 3.8
HS ranking: 67th Percentile.
SAT: 2140
Hooks:
First-generation college student. Hispanic. First-generation immigrant.
Other Stuff:
- I work for a unique, well-known nonprofit organization; I started out as a volunteer when I was sixteen and was offered a job last year. I have worked on many campaigns including a victory against child slavery, a victory for net neutrality, a deconstruction of the culture of silence surrounding economic inequality, an annual book drive raising over 200,000 books for underserved communities, and more.
- I was involved with my school’s newspaper throughout high school, working my way up from staff reporter to editor-in-chief. I led a complete redesign to attract a new, wider audience. I won dozens of awards through our state scholastic press association, including first place, all-state, and best-of-the-best awards at the state level. After graduating, I was invited to speak at the annual conference. I also served as president of Quill and Scroll.
- I attended a selective three-week journalism workshop at the University of Miami.
- I write for an entertainment news site, but have taken a break from it this semester.
- I’ve been published in a book.
Among other things, I’ll be writing to explain why my high school situation was as terrible as it was (home life, father’s declining health, previously undiagnosed and untreated clinical depression) and how I’ve grown since that time in my life. I think I’ll have at least decent letters of rec from my professors and a good one from my boss at the nonprofit I mentioned.
I’m very, very aware the odds are against me and am prepared for rejection. I just want to make sure that I’ll never have to say it was for lack of trying.
Good luck, guys!
Glad someone started this up! You all seem like amazing young adults who have accomplished a lot. Best of luck to everyone; I feel like I’m entering this process basically preparing myself for rejection too, but also have been reflecting a lot on my plans for after this semester. It’s been a hell of a ride, and I’m glad applications will be in and out of my hands soon.
Current college: Top 25 LAC
Current major/minor: Undeclared
Entering as: Sophomore
HS GPA UW: 3.6/4.0
HS ranking: Does not rank.
College GPA: 3.85, hoping second semester will be better!
SAT: 2330
Extracurriculars:
Research assistant for a prof in a project he’s looking to publish
Small leadership position in another nonprofit
Position in a nonprofit
MUN president in HS, smaller officer position in my college’s MUN team
National and state creative writing titles from HS
Paid jobs
etc.
Misc:
I think I made dean’s list? lol. ORM and from an overrepresented state.
Essay:
transfer main essay: …no clue how to rate this thing. lol
Why brown: 8/10
Academic interest: …also don’t know how to rate. I think I had strong academic reasons like all of you. It is Brown after all xD
Recommendation:
Didn’t read either tbh. One of them is from a prof that tried to talk me into staying despite my academic reasons for leaving, which could be a good sign or a bad sign
Why applying to Brown:
Programs in my fields of interest
@HapyPilot Sorry please allow me not to disclose the name here as that’ll let people know my real name in 5 seconds lol Hope folks in Penn and know me don’t check this thread though…
@jellymuffin It refers to the both general ed requirement and major. Penn doesn’t have an edu major and the distributional requirement is not as flexible as Brown’s open curriculum.
Guys you all seem super amazing! I think Brown take ~120 transfer students every year so hopefully we all get in 
How many of you wrote the optional essay?
I did. I talked about studying Japanese. Don’t know if I should’ve, though…
Glad we’ve got this going. Everyone here seems like a great applicant. Good luck to all
Current College: George Washington university
Current Major: Economics
Entering as: Sophomore
College GPA: 4.0
HS GPA: 3.4 UW 4.0W
SAT: 2100
ECs:
Worked as a researcher at a congressional research division in Washington
Undergraduate Economics Association
Philosophy Club
Pre-Law Association Writer
Hired as an intern at Merrill Lynch for this summer
Awards:
Winner of Economics award given to freshman with the highest average out of 200 students
Nominated for School-Wide award for Individual Excellence, awards ceremony in April
Essays:
I think my why transfer essay is very strong
Brown Supplement is solid
I’ll throw my stats in.
Current College: University of Maryland
Major: English
Entering as: Sophomore
College GPA: 4.0
HS GPA: 3.8
ACT: 33
ECs:
Not much!
Taught English to Japanese students at a local Japanese school.
Intern for Stars and Stripes
Some stuff from HS
Essays:
Decent - pretty Brown specific. I think we all get desensitized to our essays after spending hours with them, though. I wrote all three for Brown.
Great to meet all of you who have such a great taste for colleges 
Loving the variety of interests. Best of luck to all. Let the waiting begin…
Has anyone received a login for an application status portal yet?
@Melody2015 wow I see… btw I think your stats look great! Oh right… I had completely forgotten Brown accepts a little more than the other ivies (excluding Penn). That makes me feel a LITTLE better haha 
@20transfer17 I haven’t received one either… maybe in the next week?
@20transfer17 , @jellymuffin
I got it on Feb 20th. But I submitted the application in early February or so.
What are everyone’s thoughts on financial aid? Do you think Brown takes financial into serious account when making a decision, and conversely, do you think not applying for financial aid actually helps a candidate?
@Transfer1011 I looked through the transfer thread of the past few years and I concluded that if you apply for financial aid, it’s gonna be much harder for you to get in.
I don’t remember where I see this stats, but it says that 50% of the applicants applied for financial aid while only 14% of the admitted are those who applied for financial aid.
If one school says they received my high school transcript and final report, one says they only have my transcript, and the other says they have neither, do you think I should resend these documents or just give it a little more time? I sent them the first week of February which is why I’m worried.
@20transfer17 Don’t worry too much. It takes time for schools to sort all your documents; sometimes it can take a few weeks.
If they still don’t have your transcripts by April you may want to resend though.
prospective junior transfer here. I wouldn’t worry about them not receiving stuff now. I sent in my high school transcript (+final year report) as early as mid-Jan. Also, I spoke to Brown’s admissions and they said we will get an online portal where we can track documents in approximately one week.