Premature Advice?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi! I need some advice about the incoming years but first some information about my backround (please bare with me! :) )</p>

<p>I'm currently a senior at a public high school in CT.
I started out freshman year in honors classes but generally slacking (not doing HW, etc.; classes were easy and I was use to them being easy so I coasted) GPA - 3.3 UW I believe.</p>

<p>Now, sophomore year was absolutely HORRIBLE for me. I for some reason, fell into a slump and actually believed that school was pointless, I didn't want to go to college, etc. I skipped A LOT the last two quarters and even though I had gotten A's and B's (except for in math - D's), I ended up failing 4 of the 8 classes I took because of absences. My GPA for that year was below 1.0, probably around .6 -.7. (!!!)</p>

<p>So, junior year began and I began feeling guilty, regretful, stupid and just wished I hadn't effed up so royally the previous year. I was always in advanced classes my whole life and being in regular classes just didn't feel right for me. I was bored and uninterested. Despite feeling guilty about soph yr, I began skipping again because I felt I couldn't catch up at that point. So, after many personal issues and being diagnosed with depression and going to therapy (I had previous depression issues but none to this extent), I ended up being put into a tutoring program at my school so I didn't have to go to regular classes.
I took three classes (English, US His, Algebra 2) and passed with A's. Out of the classes that I began junior yr taking, only those were offered by the tutoring program. So that year, I basically got my s hit together. Both mental, emotional, and my school work.</p>

<p>Senior year, I came back with a venegance and currently have a 3.5 GPA for the year. (I'm taking the full 7 classes, though they ARE 'easy' and no honors)</p>

<p>So, my final high school GPA is going to be around 2.8 UW, 3.1 W. I did get into all 8 colleges I applied to (3 state schools and others) but I feel like I didn't reach high enough when I applied because of course, my grades had fallen drastically and my GPA at that time was a 2.4. </p>

<p>I am going to college in the fall (Eastern CT State Uni) but plan to transfer after a year or two. Now, here's my dilemma. (for those who have stuck around and actually read/skimmed my whole post, thank you! LOL) I was originally planning to go to ECSU, then hopefully transfer to UCONN or a SUNY and from there transfer to a better school, like Northwestern, Emerson or maybe even Cornell (while maintaining a 3.5+ GPA and doing ECs).
My question is, do you guys think I should try to transfer immediately into UCONN after freshmen yr and then transfer again junior year? Or should I stick out the two years at ECSU and then transfer?</p>

<p>I have given this a lot of thought (obviously; I overthink A LOT) and I believe pretty strongly that while ECSU is a good school, it's also not very challenging. I have friends that went there and they've told me this. I know I haven't even begun college and am already thinking about junior yr and transferring but I am the kind of person that likes to have a plan. I make a ton of lists! LOL.
I also want a school that focuses more on my intended major English/CW track/concentration or CW classes. Clearly, I don't know how I will perform academically at ECSU or even at UCONN but I believe that for the first time in my life, I am ready to actually TRY and commit myself to my education, especially since my parents and I will be paying for it.
Also, when applying to Emerson or Northwestern my junior year, I want to have good grades in hard, challenging classes; hence, the question in wanting to transfer to UCONN sophomore year and do really well in their classes. And since UCONN is known as a good school, with smart kids going there (mostly) and has a solid academic rep, I thought maybe it would look better on my transcript to have taken classes there and have gotten good grades in them. Better than at Eastern. Maybe I'm wrong, or maybe I should just see how the classes at Eastern are like. And go from there?</p>

<p>OTHER INFO
Female
First Gen
Hispanic (Mexican American)
SATS - 620 CR, 460 M, 600 V = 1680/2400. Bad, I know! I plan on re-taking them by Oct/Nov next year. I didn't prep AT ALL, so this time I plan on prepping (esp. math)
EC's - Had a job sophomore year, volunteered a bit, participated in Rites of Passage Program. Horrible, not much. I plan on becoming involved in a few clubs at college.
Awards - I've won a few writing ones but nothing big.</p>

<p>Also, any other recs/schools I could transfer to (soph/junior yr)? I heard SUNY Paltz's writing/English program is good. I know NW and Cornell esp. are extreme reaches right now; I guess I just want an idea of what schools will be good for me.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance! I know it's a lot to process and understand but you'll be doing me a huge favor! If you have any questions, feel free to ask away.</p>

2

<p>Also, I know Cornell, Northwestern, Emerson, etc. are going to be huge reaches. Just want some feedback/advice.</p>

3

<p>A lot of information in this thread. Btw, I know a couple of people who are going to Eastern as well. If I were you, I would stay at Eastern for two years and then transfer. I understand what you’re saying about UCONN but you can still take some hard classes at Eastern. </p>

<p>The reason I said two years, is because those are some top notch schools and you’re going to need the time to demonstrate you’ve turned it around. Anything is possible, as long as you have the will and desire you can do what you want. Also, a lot of these schools have requirements before you even apply so make sure to check those out.</p>

<p>I would also try emailing the school and getting some advice about transferring. They’re not going to make a complete schedule for you, but you can at least see the courses students at X school take and so on. I would try to model it as close as you can to the schedule.</p>

4

<p>Thank you, dbroncos3, for the advice!
And yes, I am researching right now to the max, because I know during college, I won’t have that much downtime. I’m pretty much just trying to compile a list of schools that I would like to transfer to because I didn’t do that well enough the first time around.
I’ve also heard the whole transferring process is a hassle and time-consuming so if I wait two years to do so, it gives me more time get everything done in time and settle into my schools.</p>

5

<p>No problem. Just trying to help you out. I’m also going the transfer route as well but I think I’m going to CC. It’s good you’re retaking your SATs. I’m doing the same. Think about taking some subject tests in subjects you are strong at. They can only make you’re application look stronger. I see your Hispanic. Try taking the Spanish one. I got a 750 without any real studying or anything. I’m sure you could pull it off. (I’m also hispanic, didn’t want you thinking I was sterotyping haha.)</p>

<p>It’s good you’re taking the initiative. I think UCONN has articulation with all the state schools, so try matching your schedule up. If worst comes to worst you can auto transfer into Uconn and just finish your Undergad there and if you really want to go to those other schools, there’s always Grad school.</p>

6

<p>I don’t think that you should transfer twice. Transferring into a top rate school doesn’t have so much to do with where you’re coming from - rather the level of the classes that you take and the grades that you’ve gotten in them and your involvement outside of class. I agree that you should take the next three semesters to get your gpa up and get some good work in ECs, and when you apply to college the spring of your sophomore year you can write about how you turned your life around when you entered college and you’re looking for a much more challenging and intellectually stimulating college experience for the next two years. :slight_smile: Based on HS it would be difficult, but if you work hard I think you can make it!</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the advice guys! I think I’m going to wait until junior year to transfer - for some reason, my mind was just set on only spending a year at Eastern. But now, I realize that it only gives me more time to improve my grades and participate in EC’s and show the colleges I’m interested in that I am looking for a more challenging college.</p>

<p>And dbroncos3, haha yes I’ll probably end up taking the Spanish subject test, along with a few others. You got a 750? Wow. Was it hard? I speak Spanish pretty well, I just always feel like it could be way better.</p>

8

<p>@writer1992</p>

<p>Yeah it wasn’t that difficult. I didn’t do that much studying either. I just looked over some questions from SAT. I speak Spanish pretty well but my writing is okay. I thought it wasn’t that bad because it was all multiple choice. I don’t know about you but when I hear a sentence, I can determine if it sounds right or not. I don’t know if that makes sense but anyways check out the links below. If you can do those sample questions then you should be good.</p>

<p>[Spanish</a> SAT Subject Test - Spanish Practice Tests & Questions](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>

<p>[Spanish</a> with Listening SAT Subject Test - Spanish Practice Tests & Questions](<a href=“The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board”>The SAT – SAT Suite | College Board)</p>

9

<p>@drboncos
Same, my spanish is pretty good but my writing is just okay. And I get what you mean about know right away if a sentence is correct or not.
Anyways, thanks again !</p>