Ok, so I sent in my apps, chances?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I know I shouldn't be so neurotic since there isn't much I can do at this point, but it would help set my mind at ease. I'm in at Suffolk, so at least I'm going somewhere :)</p>

<p>Schools applying to:
Brandeis (I know it's a reach, but a girl can hope :))
Boston University
Simmons
Stonehill
Clark</p>

<p>Stats:
HS GPA: 3.4uw/~3.6w?
SATs: 1270 (540M, 730V)
ACTs: 30 overall
AP Exams: English Lit - 4; English Comp - 4
College GPA: 2.918 (after one semester. If you factor in my midterm grades it's a 3.5, but they're not final grades so I don't know how much they count for. This is my major concern right now)</p>

<p>Extracurrics:</p>

<p>College:
Nothing significant - I'm a commuter. But I'm a member of the honors program & I work 25+ hours per week. I'm also a volunteer coach for a high school debate team (I chaperon trips & judge as well).</p>

<p>High School:
My hook is debate (I'm hoping this will help with Brandeis in particular because they have a competitive team & I've been in contact with the president (out of genuine interest, I do miss competing)). </p>

<p>JHS Speech and Debate Team (9, 10, 11, 12); Points Chairman (11), President (12), Member of the National Forensic League (Degree of Superior Distinction - 810 pts.), Varsity Letter awarded (12, 11, 10), Ranked 1st all-time point earner for JHS, Debater of the Year, Ranked 1st Overall (10, 11, 12), Qualified for and broke at numerous national tournaments (including states & catnats), etc. Founded the "Summer Classics Series" (debate camp for middle schoolers) and coached a middle school debate team (10, 11, 12), currently a "volunteer coach" for a high school debate team.</p>

<p>JHS Mock Trial Team (11, 12) - President (12)</p>

<p>JHS Law Club (11, 12 ) - President (12)</p>

<p>Social Studies National Honor Society (11, 12)</p>

<p>Other:
I've tried to show as much interest as possible, and submitted packets of supplemental materials (resume, course catalog descriptions, a syllabus for each of my honors classes, graded work, additional essays (Brandeis doesn't require one), and additional letters of rec) so I'm hoping that maybe this will help a little? Obviously, I can use as much help as I can get!</p>

2

<p>Anyone? Bump....</p>

3

<p>I think the standard deviation is pretty great for transferring. For example, the school I'm trying to transfer in to makes me take two transfer exams and they won't let me know of their decision until late May. They don't even care about high school stats. </p>

<p>Your HS stats look impressive but I'm wondering about your college stats. I think the schools would like to see that you either improved or at least maintained your work ethics from HS to college. </p>

<p>I'm wondering what your reasons are for transferring? Because I'm going through the same thing and everyone is telling me to not transfer.</p>

<p>I'm at UVa and trying to get into Caltech. UVa doesn't fit me at all.</p>

4

<p>Yeah, my biggest concern is definitely my college stats, though I've been told that since I'm applying as a freshmen with only one semester of grades, that my high school record/ecs will still count for a significant amount (I think someone suggested a 2/3, 1/3 rule of thumb, that for individuals applying prior to their sophomore year, generally schools place 1/3 of the emphasis on college level work and 2/3 on things not related to college, and vice versa after sophomore year).</p>

<p>I was considering sending a letter explaining the reasoning behind my poor GPA, do you think this would be appropriate? A small portion of it is attributed to a processing error which changed a graded course to a nongraded course, and so I recieved "satisfactory" credit instead of an "A". The rest is related to my reasons for transferring; I recieved a "C" in Astronomy, in part because I don't feel that I excel in large lecture courses (300+), especially if the professor is inaccessible and there is no T.A. or other person to refer to for assistence (I'm also simply not a science person in general). My honors courses (graduate level) were much smaller, however, and I pulled A's and a B and I'm getting all A's in my social science classes this semester (my intended area of study). I also have a really hard time allocating enough time to study because I spend ~15hrs per week commuting to and from school, and an additional 25+ working. The long and short of it is that if I'm at a smaller school, with smaller classes, living on campus, I know I can be successful academically, but the environment I'm currently in just is not for me. I also hate florida (I've lived here my entire life) and would much rather live near Boston, and I want to be able to make connections through networking/internships that I would be unable to down here (I'm planning on combining an IR/polysci degree). And I'm not going to lie, I want a school with a good reputation at least with graduate schools in the northeast if not the general public, and I can't stand being at a no-name school with a weak (at best) polisci/ir department and apathetic student body. I could go on for pages, but I'm pretty set on transferring to anywhere but here :)</p>

5

<p>I would definitely send in an explanation like the one you just posted. All of your reasons seem logical and persuasive. It doesn't seem like there were anything you could've done to improve except what are you considering, which is transferring, :). Sending in an explanation would be showing interest, persistence, and of course, a justification.</p>

6

<p>Thanks so much for your feedback and support, I think I was just concerned that I would sound like I was making excuses instead of taking responsibility for my grades, and I didn't want to come across as whiney and immature. :)</p>

7

<p>I think you should branch out with your extracurriculars. Get into some other things. Everything being from high school and being related to debate doesn't show diversity of experience.</p>

8

<p>^ She's transferring as a Freshman from a commuter school, a school that offers next to nothing, what did you want her to do, even so, it's already nearly April, she's not going to join something now when she's leaving in a month.</p>

9

<p>Anyone have any opinions for her?</p>

10

<p>Anyone have any opinion?</p>

11

<p>Anyone at all? She additionally sent an explanation letter for the grades 1st semester, along with a letter of "love" to Brandeis.</p>

12

<p>If she really wants to go to Brandeis, then she will get in, one way or another. </p>

<p>Not knowing this person at all, and basing everything I say on what she has written (which I'm guessing would be similar to the pov of someone on the adcom), there are a few things I've gathered:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>She is determined to make college work and has tried to at her current school but failed not because she slacked off but because of inherent problems with the education standards. </p></li>
<li><p>Her high school stats and activities are, in my opinion, average. However, since she was consistent in many of her high school activities, her recs probably come from teachers who are well informed of her potentials.</p></li>
<li><p>She seems like she could write extremely persuasive and passionate essays.</p></li>
</ol>

13

<p>^ Good, I hope her passion comes across and she makes it in.</p>

14

<p>I really appreciate your response, and I hope very much that the adcoms at Brandeis feel the same way. Thanks for giving me a bit more hope :)</p>

<p>And thanks duffman :)</p>

15

<p>Srcameron:</p>

<p>I really hope you get into Brandeis, or wherever you want to be. I certainly know how it feels to go to a school that is not really the one for you. </p>

<p>Best of luck!</p>

16

<p>Thanks, I hope you get into Caltech! :)</p>