Potential Transfer to Very Competitive School - Advice and Feedback, please

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, everyone! I'm currently a freshman at BYU-Idaho, but I want to transfer to a more prestigious institution, and I'm currently preparing to do so right now. I've done some research, but I'd like to get a better idea about what my chances actually are. Some of the schools I would like to apply to include all the ivies, Stanford, U of Michigan, UCLA, UC-San Diego UC Berkeley, USC, MIT, Duke, University of Chicago, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Washington University in St. Louis, and CalTech. In short, do I have a chance at the most competitive of schools? If it helps, I intend to study Economics and, if they'll allow it, a few courses in political science. Out of the schools I just mentioned, what 5 have the best economics programs? And if I were to state my intention was to defer enrollment for two years if possible, would that help or hurt my chances or neither, especially if I was bilingual by the end of those two years?
Also, if you have to ask, yes, I'm a Mormon, but lets please keep that out of this discussion and focus on what my chances realistically are. If you don't have anything constructive to say, please refrain from saying it.</p>

<p>My stats:
College GPA: 4.0, please assume 4.0 both semesters for the intents of this post
Total credits this semester: 20
Next semester: ~18-20
SAT: 1840
ACT:28
High School GPA: ~2.7 unweighted, ~3.0 weighted
While I obviously can't change my hideous high school grades, I could easily improve my ACT or SAT scores. I took them both cold with the flu and without sleep, as well as with my mother yelling obscenities at me as I left for the test.
AP Tests:
English Lang/Comp, 3
AP World History, 3
AP Environmental Sci, 4</p>

<p>Extracurricular/Service/Awards/Background:
-AP Scholar
-Some fancy award for personal finance from good ole' Uncle Sam, might get name later, probably irrelevant
-Somewhat accomplished violinist (was in a group that topped traditional classical billboard charts)
-Play violin regularly in retirement homes and elderly in neighborhood
-Assisted many friends with Eagle Scout projects
-3 of my aunts attended Stanford (I don't know if they donated or not)
-My grandfather is a Yale graduate (he donated a little bit to Yale, I think)
Will I get that legacy status boost at either Yale or Stanford?</p>

<p>Geographic Location/Demographics/Living Situation:
Race: Non-Hispanic white
From: Arizona resident, but live and attend school in Idaho
-Was in CPS custody from home for about a year and a half and was removed from home for almost a year towards the end of high school
-My family's income is <$15,000 for 4 people
-My mother became mentally handicapped and unable to work as a result of an accident
-I was estranged by my father and his entire side of the family and disinherited since I was 13</p>

<p>Additional information:
I probably won't be applying for early admission. I will likely only be applying with 20 credits and midterms for next semester, but I want to apply as a sophomore. Do I have a shot or will I have to wait? If anyone has any suggestions on how I can improve between now and January-February of next year, especially for Yale, please give me some advice.
Also I would like to know which of the private institutions I named are not need-blind.</p>

2

<p>My first question is why do you want to apply to these universities, is it just for the prestige? Regardless of whether you can get in I think you need to ask yourself is it worth it, many of these schools have exceptionally high tuition for out of state students or in general because they are private institutions. I am also looking to transfer and although many of the schools you listed are very known for my major I crossed them off the list because of finances. </p>

<p>In terms of advice, if you would really like to get into the ivies I would suggest taking a look at what type of courses they would like their applicants to have completed upon enrollment. Try to model the classes you select at your current university after the curriculum of the university you wish to apply, in fact thats true for all the universities on the list. For the UC’s they give preference to in-state students as well as (California)Community College Students. If you are certain that you want to transfer it may be in your best interest to go to a community college. At a community you can save money, the classes are generally easier which means you will have a good chance at maintaining a high GPA and many universities are partial to CC students because they realize that they have to transfer in order to receive a four-year degree.</p>

<p>Another thing to consider is that the ivies as well as a few other schools on your list requires SAT/ACT scores and yours are a little on the low end of what is expected. Be prepared to retake. Also many do request high school transcripts and although you can take the SAT’s until your hand falls off your high school GPA will always be what is at this point. They will also require letters of recommendation so start building a positive relationship with your Professors now. Quite frankly I don’t think these schools are worth all the hoops they make students jump through and statistics show that the most successful well adjusted students graduate from top state universities like the UC’s, U of Michigan, U of Maryland, U of Virginia etc. I think that if you stay on the right track you will definitely have a shot at a few of those schools. I can’t speak for all of them but I know many of them don’t require SAT scores or even High school transcripts if you apply as a junior. With that being said all you have to focus on is taking comparable courses to their curriculum, maintaing your grades, and getting involved with EC’s and Work (Internship/Research) relating to your major. </p>

<p>In terms of legacy I think that applies specifically to children of graduates (some one please correct me if I am wrong) so you wouldn’t apply for your Aunts but you may for your grandfather.</p>

3

<p>First off, I appreciate the feedback!
To start with, I would like to say that I have considered good state schools like U of Michigan. They’re fantastic schools. U of Michigan in particular is good at pretty much everything. What I’m inquiring about are schools that I’m unsure about, or the schools that I would choose over state schools (barring the UC’s, which are just very competitive state schools). I think I’d have a very good chance at getting in to U of Michigan, but ivies are obviously questionable.
I have thought about my reasoning, and I’ve come to the conclusion that, aside from the desire to go to a prestigious institution for the sake of prestige, learning, and networking, it is what going to such an institution would symbolize to me that makes attending such a school a priority to me, and with your patience, I will elaborate. Following in the footsteps of someone I knew, loved, and respected is something that is very special and slightly challenging to fully describe. My paternal grandfather was spontaneously abandoned by his father at the onset of the Great Depression, and my great-grandmother was left to raise my great-uncle and my grandfather on her own with little means to do so. Despite this obvious handicap, my grandfather gained acceptance to Yale and earned a degree from there by his own merits and hard work, rising to great success against great odds. Likewise, my father disowned me when I was 13 – just a few years after my grandfather’s death – and caused me to be subjected horrible things of which I’d rather not speak. Attending an Ivy League institution, especially Yale (for hopefully apparent reasons), would give me a sense that I have come full-circle and brought redemption to myself and my family, defying odds as my grandfather did. It is where my grandfather chose to demonstrate what he had become through his trials, and I desire to prove myself in the same way and the same place.
Anyways, I don’t know how rigorous BYU-Idaho’s curriculum is compared to other schools, but I know that, just because of its nature as a 4-year institution, it is easier to transfer from than a community college, and it’s almost as cheap, although you are right that I’d have a slim chance at the UC’s, but that’s not too big a deal. I also don’t foresee any more than one B on my transcripts; more likely than not, there won’t be any.
Regarding finances, I suspect that, while my grandmother dislikes me, she would not be unsympathetic to my desire to attend an elite school, and would either loan or give me the ~$200k required to attend (assuming I received no scholarships). I also have other connections with plenty of money who would probably help. As for my SAT/ACT, I know I could easily get scores in the Ivy-range if I bothered to try, but I have seen mixed ideas as to whether it’s really worth it to retake at this point. I don’t feel that I’m too far off for them to simply disregard my scores, but at the same time, I’m no expert on college admissions, hence this whole post. Before I make my final decision on whether or not to retake, I’d like to see a few other responses on the subject.</p>

4

<p>Apply. I just read your most recent post, and your story is compelling. I really enjoy the family history. I believe that the legacy will definitely give you a boost. Getting an ACT score probably won’t prove to be difficult since you’re already enrolled in University (standardized tests usually want to see whether or not a student is prepared for a college curriculum). It seems that the make-or-break for transfer students is the personal statement. Like I said, your story is compelling. Transferring to a major university can be tough, even more so than freshmen admission, but I believe you have a good shot.
University of Chicago has a fantastic economics program. All of the Ivy Leagues do…
I believe Wash U is “need-aware”, most of the Ivy’s are need-blind.
Please chance back.</p>

5

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<p>Transfers to those schools (any?) have neither a deferral option or early admission.</p>

6

<p>^ Yes, forgot to mention that. No such thing as early action at ivy leagues. Brown accepts students for Fall admission, but admissions can also consider you for Spring semester if you weren’t accepted into Fall.</p>

7

<p>Even for freshman admits, you’d only get a one-year deferral. Other than having to get your recommendations lined up now, and the hassle of getting stuff done internationally, there’s no issue with submitting your application while you’re on your mission. Even if you had the option to apply now, I’d suggest waiting - you aren’t going to be the same kid then that you are now.</p>

<p>I would suggest retaking the SAT / ACT (and subject tests, if needed) now. There are fewer test opportunities overseas, and for the vast majority of people, it’s much easier to say, “I could get Ivy-quality SATs” than it is to actually get those scores.</p>