<p>At the moment, I am still a high school student. I’ve just accepted my offer of admission to SUNY Binghamton, but I’m already planning on trasferring; it’s a long story, but the main points are that my parents wouldn’t allow me to go to my top choice for a variety of reasons, and I don’t think I could see myself staying at the remaining schools for four entire years. Of course, if I end up liking Binghamton, I’d probably end up staying, but I’d still like to explore other options…</p>
<p>What I need help with is a game plan, so to speak; I’m not sure where to begin or how to prepare, so I came here for advice… There are some schools I didn’t apply to this past year (multiple reasons, but for the first two, I felt that I’d have no chance of getting accepted): CalTech, MIT, UCBerkeley, and UCLA, mainly. However, despite the fairly low transfer-acceptance rate, I’m more than willing to give it a shot, since I won’t repeat the mistakes I made in high school when I’m in college. I do have some questions, though…</p>
<li><p>Would I be able to re-take the SAT, once in college, and submit it to schools I intend to apply to?
For transfers, CalTech doesn’t require SAT/ACT scores, and I don’t think they require SAT II scores, either. But MIT does, and I don’t think mine make the cut (2120 composite: 730 reading, 720 math, 670 writing; 660 chem; 640 bio E). I don’t have a math SAT II; would I be able to take and then submit that? If I can – and do – retake the SAT, should I send the (hopefully higher) scores to CalTech? What about the UCs?</p></li>
<li><p>Exactly how much weight does the secondary school transcript holds for transfer applicants?
My cumulative high school GPA is about a 90, maybe 91; I believe this converts to a 3.3? My grades, however, have improved in my senior year. I’m also hoping that my science courses will help to compensate a little, as I’ve done very well in every science course… Also, I have taken and am taking college courses now, and my GPA is a 4.0 for intro environmental science, a 3.7 for intro economics, and a 3.3 for a humanities seminar… I’m hoping this shows that I am able to work on a college level. If I show consistently high grades in college (i.e. 3.5+ GPA?), and have an essay between “decent” and “very good,” would my high school transcript still break my chances?</p></li>
<li><p>What other factors would I need to watch for? How much of a part do school activities/clubs, volunteering activities, and the following play?</p></li>
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<p>Thanks greatly for any help anyone can offer; I really will appreciate it!</p>