<p>Hello all,</p>
<p>I just graduated from Penn CAS (took an extra year) and was a junior transfer from USC. I've been on these fora for a few years now and have gotten some really terrific (and, on occasion, some not-so terrific) advice - I'm eager to return the favor and give my .02 to any prospective transfers for next cycle. Feel free to PM me.</p>
<p>1) do you know if upenn is forgiving if you had a TERRIBLE HS record…if you’re applying as a junior transfer?</p>
<p>2) how did you adjust socially? Ive heard that upenn’s transfer orientations are nice.</p>
<p>3)how did you adjust academically?(i know that you transferred from a top school so maybe you were already used to it?
4)did you get to register for the classes you wanted or did you get thebshort end of the stick?
5)how would you rate how well upenn treats transfers overall?</p>
<p>btw, thank youuu so much for starting this thread! I would highly appreciate it if you could answer them :)</p>
<p>I second eastafrobeauty’s first question.</p>
<p>1) While it’s certainly true that the extra distance from your HS transcript/standardized tests can mitigate a less-than-stellar performance, it’s difficult to say exactly by how much. It really depends how good or bad we’re talking. Also, it depends on how much you improved in college and what else you can leverage on your application to outweigh your HS stats. I was a splitter - that is, my SAT I score was fine for Penn, while my GPA and courseload in high school was marginally above average and would not have been competitive for freshman admission.</p>
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<li><p>The adjustment was very slow for me, but I’m kind of a lone operator, so it was ok. (Also, I lived off campus.) Penn has PLENTY of options socially and so many different people, so if you’re worried about integrating socially, don’t - there’s a niche for almost everybody and you’ll find it, especially if you live on campus.</p></li>
<li><p>Academically, the adjustment was fine. As a BM student at USC, I didn’t have many core requirements done by the time I got here and most of my time was spent doing them, but they were generally very good classes and I don’t regret a single one. The music classes were certainly more involved at USC (as I was a BM student). I think it really depends on the major and person, however.</p></li>
<li><p>I never once felt shafted. I got into every course I wanted on the first go, but that could have just been me. USC was dreadful in this regard.</p></li>
<li><p>Transfers are treated very well. (I mean, no one knows you’re a transfer after like the first few weeks.) You get pitifully slim pickings in financial aid (all your years here) and with housing (at least your first year), but beyond that, it’s a great place to transfer and I don’t regret it for a minute. My academic advisor has been great and the Music Department (aside from curricular gripes) has been incredibly accommodating. I am a huge advocate for transferring and definitely leave Penn glad that I came.</p></li>
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<p>I thought that upenn offered good financial aid for transfers…my EFC=0 :/</p>
<p>Do they offer good, bad or average financial aid? (for transfers).</p>
<p>anyways,wayward_trojan thank youuu so much for answering all of my questions so throughly i really appreciate it 
I might be back with some more later … :D</p>
<p>Hey wayward_trojan, nice name by the way, thanks for tasking questions. I am currently a rising sophomore at a school in the South. Do you know of any specifics that Penn looks for in its transfer applicants? Also, how is the financial aid that they give. Have you heard of many complaints from your fellow peers about the cost of Penn?</p>
<p>@eastafrobeauty: I can only speak for myself and one other transfer in the Music Department. Perhaps it is better for other people? I’m really not sure, but generally, transfers get whatever is left after the freshman admits matriculate. </p>
<p>@Haitian: Such a hard question to answer - the million dollar question in ANY admissions scenario: what are they looking for? I hate to say it, but based on the diversity (in every sense of the word) of Penn’s student body, I think it best to take admissions offices (in general) at their word when they suggest that there are really no sufficient conditions to becoming admitted (save seven figure donations and other factors that don’t typically concern us mortals) and few necessary ones. Generally speaking (unfortunately I have to couch all of my advice in these terms - as should everyone), you should have your test scores and college GPA at least in the ballpark of admitted freshmen. (If you are a junior transfer, your high school transcript/test scores are less of a liability.) That’s really all one can say for certain about what Penn looks for, as I’m unsure they look for anything specific at all - I think the burden is on the applicant to make their case to Penn why they are academically competent to attend and why they would make the campus a more interesting place (also and MOST importantly, IMO, how one can specifically benefit from academic study at Penn). Everyone does that quite differently, hence the different approaches undertaken by many successful applicants. </p>
<p>Regarding financial aid, I thought it was pretty meager. It tends to be worse for transfers, but again, it’s a case by case issue and I’m sure there are exceptions.</p>
<p>Thank you for taking questions!
I am a student at Vanderbilt University, a school where there is currently a GPA deflation. What level of college GPA in schools like Vandy and Rice is ok for UPenn?</p>
<p>Very good question. While Vanderbilt is certainly a peer school (meaning that Penn would likely be familiar with your Common Data Set and any grading quirks), I’m really not sure how that would affect your chances of admission. How deflated are we talking? In general, 3.7 is thrown around as a magic number of sorts, but it really depends on what courses you’re taking as well as how many of them per semester. It’s a lot like any admissions scenario: a GPA out of context is meaningless. Sure, a 3.6 in physics at CalTech trumps a 4.0 in fashion merchandising at a state school, but the distinctions are rarely that clear. Clich</p>
<p>I will take intermediate econ，java programming,multivariable calculus,statistics and first year writting(I am a HSstudent) in my first year.Would that be ok if I get 3.8 in these courses?</p>
<p>Hi Wayward
I will be a sophomore transfer and I will most likely have a 3.85 GPA with a 2260 SAT. I’m from a top 20, hope it will help.
I just want to know that whether an interesting work experience during this summer could help me with the admission? I’m working for a start-up and would likely to be a partner next year if everything goes well.
Also, is it possible to take a semester off before going to Penn (if admitted)? Like, do they consider the academic record of the second semester of sophomore year when deciding the admission?</p>
<p>@psiovana: Yes, a 3.8 is excellent. I wouldn’t be thinking about transferring this early (or your potential GPA), IMO. </p>
<p>@blackni: Though ECs are less important for transfers, generally, they can only help you. You could certainly leverage your work experience in your application (especially if you’re a Wharton transfer).</p>
<p>As for taking a semester off, I really just don’t know - I would call the admissions office and just ask. As for your second semester record, you have to send them midterm grade reports signed by your profs, so yes, they do consider it.</p>