Hello,
I am currently a freshman at Stony Brook University looking to transfer Spring of my Sophomore to ILR. I did HORRIBLE my first semester and got a 2.6 GPA. However, I am really devoted to give my all and get a 4.0 this semester. I am currently a Political Science major and was wondering if any the Political Science courses could fulfill the Western Intellectual distribution requirement? Especially, Intro to American Politics and Intro to Political Theory since I am planning to take them this semester.
I am also taking Microeconomics since it is one of the requirements. I am also taking a composition course as well.
I was planning on just taking one political science course but there is always a chance that I may not get accepted thus my decision to take two political science courses so I don’t fall behind in graduating on time.
Any tips, motivation, and help is greatly appreciated!
I am not an admissions officer but a prospective transfer student too (tbh I don’t count on seeing myself getting in though). So take with a grain of salt.
To begin, with a 2.6 gpa your first semester, unless you a proper reason for your bad grades, I can’t really say your chances are going to be high, especially if you don’t do better the next two semesters. GPA is only one component of a transfer application however, it’s really pushing it if you’re not getting at least a 3.3+ or even a 3.0+ at your current university. For you, you’d need a 4.0 the next two semesters to get a 3.53 to transfer into the spring which I think is a good enough gpa for the admissions office to at least not to be taken back by.
So what the hell did you mess up last semester? Did you party too much? Did you not manage your time? Was there anything that bothered you?
Also, ILR is very fit based. I don’t have much experience with the program but I’m just regurgitating what I constantly read about it. You need to kill the essays. Literally. you gotta slay it. Write why you are such a good fit. Look at the ILR mission statement, everything they want. You have to be a pro at understanding what ILR is and how they need you too. And You need good ECS, that could show your commitment to ILR (such as debate team and etc).
There’s so much too it and in your situation, balancing all those ECS while trying to maintain a 4.0 gpa is going to be very difficult. Honestly, I would try your best and if everything does not turn out the way ti does, then don’t hurt yourself. You don’t need to go to cornell. There are many successful people who have graduated from Stony brook. And you cn even apply as a junior if you improve your gpa.
As for the requirement part. ask the actual admissions offiers. Call them (they’re in charge of that information).
@HereToTransferr As a prospective transfer student yourself, why do you count on not getting accepted?
And the reason behind my poor GPA is that I initially started off on the pre-dental track, but decided to it was not for me and decided “pre-law”. I took Orgo Chem which obviously I was not ready for. I was only focusing my time on that one class which affected my grades on the other classes. So in short, I guess you could say it was due to poor time management.
Besides “slaying” the essays, having great ECs, and a high GPA, what else are you doing to prepare yourself for ILR?
Also, when you called the admissions officers, did you have to schedule a phone call? I’ve sent them several emails but figured they were not available since it’s still winter break for them.
I’m not applying to ILR but the CHE. As for me not counting on getting accepted, I’m applying for the fall of sophomore year (HS grades weren’t the most stellar imo) and I’m trying not to get my hopes up (that and I messed up the phone appointment lol). I currently have a college gpa of only a 3.63 (I wanted it to be higher but oh well) so I think i’m on the lower end.
To prepare myself for CHE, I am trying to join organizations and events that pertain to what I want to do which in this case, is the PAM at Cornell. And I am taking the required coursework (CHE is big on required coursework). Also, I’m trying to do better this semester (hopefully mid term report will help my grades). There really isn’t anything else tbh.
As for calling the admissions officers, Idk about ILR but for the CHE, they had a phone number that I was able to schedule a phone appointment with.
At the bottom is Ian’s phone number. It’s a weekend so they’re probably not there but I know that people in the past have contacted him about questions. You can ask him.