<p>I’m another one of those students who didn’t do much in high school (3.1 UW GPA, 1940 SATs). Now that I’m in college, I’ve been working my butt off and in my first semester I’ve got a solid 4.0, and with the way my classes are going, it looks like it’s going to stay a 4.0 at the end of the semester.</p>
<p>Now:</p>
<p>I want to transfer to Reed, Oberlin, or Johns Hopkins. Clearly, my high school record is going to be somewhat of a burden on these hopes. </p>
<p>However, if I:</p>
<li> Retake the SATs as a college students and get around a 2100</li>
<li> Actually do maintain my 4.0 by the end of the first semester</li>
<li> Show strong interest in the three schools I want to apply to</li>
</ol>
<p>is there any way that I can still be accepted? I know that they’ll be pleased with my college record, but none of those schools are going to be thrilled with my high school record at all. Is it worth applying, or do I not have any chance at all?</p>
<p>You can always maintain the 4.0 during your sohpmore yer in college too and then you won't need to retake SATs and they will hardly look at HS grades.</p>
<p>I dunno if you want to trasnfer in Junior year though or if you really are set on getting there Sophmore year...</p>
<p>I'd really much prefer to transfer as a sophomore, but I don't know if that's reasonable in my case. Reed actually looks down upon those who transfer in their junior year (compared to sophomore), so I'll be applying there this year regardless. Maybe I should wait on JHU and Oberlin until after my sophomore year just to be safe.</p>
<p>What major are you planning/considering? Do you have good relationships with college professors such that you will receive two good recommendations? What courses have you taken so far in college? SATs are optional at JHU and my son was admitted there without submitting. He did have a strong hs record, so let's hear more about some of the details I asked and maybe we can make a better educated guess/strategy.</p>
<p>I'm considering Political Science or International Relations/studies with a minor in philosophy.</p>
<p>I don't have great relationships with any of my professors, but almost all of my classes are around 250-300 people. I'm taking a couple introductory courses, as well as higher levels in math (statistics) and English.</p>
<p>I think that the college recs will be very important. So, you have a couple of routes to go - if you have good relationships with a TA or two, they can collaborate on the rec with a prof in a large class. It is early in the term, so you can cultivate good reationships with a prof by asking questions, visiting during office hours etc. Or, you can wait another year when you can take smaller classes. Finally, if it is possible to take a seminar-style class in your current university next term, you could do that. Granted, you won't have a lot of time to get to know a prof - but most deadlines are around 3/15, so you could ask for a rec a few weeks into next term.</p>
<p>It would be nice if you could take a course related to your intended major, for the best possible type of recommendation.</p>
<p>Do you want to tell us what school you currently attend?</p>