One more chances question!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Race: Middle-eastern</p>

<p>Hey, i've posted here a couple of times, but since im on my christmas break, I thought i'd start filling out my applications and have them sent by early janurary.</p>

<p>Background Info:
My high school record wasn't all that great. 3.215/4.0 GPA, 1020 SAT (520 math, 500 verbal) Rank was 213/621.</p>

<p>However, my college record has been excellent. My GPA for my first semester is a 4.0 with 21 hours. I hope to have atleast 36-39 hours by the end of my first year and predict another 4.0 for next semester. I've taken all the basic classes such as, history, math, science, govt, english, arts, econ, etc.</p>

<p>I have alot of extra-curriculars like manager of a store, head counselor for a camp in '05 and '06, computer resources manager, high school basketball, track, and cross-country, member of DECA and MSA, VP of a youth club.</p>

<p>I was wondering if I have any shot at any top 30 and under or top 25 and under school. Although it is my first year and I will have more than 30 hours of coursework, so hopefully colleges don't focus on my high school record too much. My main choices are UNC-Chapel Hill, NYU, and USC. If yall think I can get into any other top 25 school, leave me suggestions!</p>

<p>As for my major, I want to major in finance and international relations, but going into a top notch business school is very hard. I plan to apply for an "easier" major such as american studies or international studies or history or something like that and then do a transfer once I get there, except for NYU which doesn't let you transfer to stern if you transfer into another college. Would I have any shot of getting into NYU as an "Undeclared" major? Give me ideas yall! Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Alright, here are a few things:</p>

<p>1)You seriously need to stop posting chances threads. You've posted about 4 on the Rice forum and at least 2 here.</p>

<p>2)How were you able to take 21 hours as a freshman? You must be an Architecture student because most freshman aren't allowed to credit overload in their first semester. In that case, why not apply as an arch. major, something in which you are interested.</p>

<p>3)Your high school record is not at all good. Did you take any honors/AP classes? One thing that may bring you down is that your SATs are very low. Thus, colleges may want to wait to see another semester to make sure that your first semester grades weren't just a comparative fluke.</p>

<p>4)Many universities expect applicants to have a firmer idea of what they wish to pursue academically. I think selecting "undeclared" would actually be a disadvantage. I think because you're only doing basic, first year courses (honors?) you might be a ranked a bit lower than applicants who have already pursued upper level, or multiple courses in their interest.</p>

<p>5)I wouldn't expect history or international studies or a similar discipline to be an "easy" major to transfer into. "Easy" majors are less popular majors. One applicant here indicated that he wished to study Slavic languages and culture. THAT would be an easy major considering he also knew 5 languages along with a host of other related classes.</p>

<p>6)Your college marks are fantastic. Why aren't you considering staying for another semester and then applying. If you wanted you could even do a spring transfer next year?</p>

<p>7)What are your COLLEGE ECs? Most of the listed ECs are HS level.</p>

<p>8)UNC looks better than the other options you listed. I don't think they consider state of residence for transfers which is good news!</p>

<p>Now, PLEASE leave and either:
1)go work on your applications
2)relax after your break
3)volunteer somewhere this week before christmas
4)prepare for the coming semester</p>

<p>=)</p>

3

<p>Yeah, I did take 21 hours total this semester. Including winter classes and summer classes. And I don't know about your school, but at University of Houston you can take however many hours you want too, unless your on probation or something, which im not. No im not an architect major. And what do you mean just 1 semester worth of grades? Don't colleges ask later on for spring semester grades? You suggested that I wait another semester, but why risk the 4.0? I know people who have gotten into Harvard after their first year with a 3.7 and into USC with a 3.5. I guess you just gotta show the school how bad you wanna go there. SAT scores do matter, but obviously they can't focus JUST on that.</p>

4

<p>Ok...</p>

<p>1)I didn't realize you were including summer classes. In that case, it's extremely doable. And yes I do attend the University of Houston and only the Architecture undergrad program allows students to take 21 hours as a freshman first semester student, otherwise freshmen have to petition for credit overload with their dean and you had no basis for doing that.</p>

<p>2)Yes, colleges do ask for spring grades, but remember the mid semester is not the same as two FULL semesters.</p>

<p>3)Having a full year's worth of grades SERIOUSLY reduces the impact of your SAT scores and HS record on your transfer application. As most people who are applying for junior status will tell you, the high school record at that point is less important than it would be for sophomore applicants.</p>

<p>4)I don't doubt that people get into Harvard with a 3.7 or USC with a 3.5. However, those students are tremendously gifted in SOME unique aspect. Many of them are tremendous researchers, musicians, volunteers, interns, athletes etc. </p>

<p>Ultimately it comes down to this:
You have taken basic classes and not shown an interest in an academic area. Nevertheless you have done well in these classes (what math did you take?/ are any of the classes above freshman level?). Colleges will still evaluate your HS record. Although I am applying this year and have not been through the process, I would think that one FULL year of grades would show colleges that your SAT is irrelevant.</p>

5

<p>Look, no major is "EASY." Be it what might be easy for one person may be difficult for the other. Likewise, I always considered psychology to be "EASY" but I was dead wrong...especially when you come into cognitive statistics! The same goes for International Studies...there is an impeccable amount of reading, analyzing, conflicts, theoretical analogies, applications, and social physics etc. that goes along with this program...of course this all depends on the school you go to...but what I want to emphasize is your application for the word "EASY!"</p>

6

<p>What I mean by "easy" is applying to the college and talking about that major in my essay the "Why do you want to transfer to ____?" essay. Obviously lets say if i applied to USC as a business major, ofcourse it is much harder to get into a business major than an american studies or history major or something "easy" like that. No doubt every major requires work. And plus, im applying as a sophomore transfer, so I can always get into the college and ask them to change my major or rather call them if I get accepted and tell them to change my major to undeclared. Adding to that, the major I will be applying to and writing about, my school does not offer. I took all the basic classes such as, math, govt, english, etc. So they cannot think that I am simply making my essay up to just get into the school. I've done research on the schools I want to apply to, so I did not BS the essay.</p>