Rare Case Transfer to Ivy League

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello. I completed three semesters at Emory University until February of 2012, when I took a medical leave for treatment of alcoholism and drug addiction. Before I left, I had a disciplinary record with the university for underage drinking and I was arrested once for public intoxication (trying to get it expunged from my record). Other than that, I have a clean record. I went to treatment and I now have a substantial amount of sobriety and will near 10 months by the time I apply. I am also homeless; I live and work at a Salvation Army in Minneapolis - a treatment center for those with substance abuse problems. - in exchange for room and board. I am on the Federal Food Stamp program. I am applying as a transfer in Spring 2013 to Yale, UPenn, UChicago, and Brown. I'm hoping the admissions committee will see that I have made major changes and have conquered my disease. If anything, I think this real life experience strengthens my application and character. Anyway, here is some more information. Also, I'm a first-generation college student. I'll be applying for aid as an independent student. </p>

<p>---High School---
Rank: 22/237, public. Final GPA: 4.48 (mostly As, but a few Bs freshman year)
Courses: Full IB Diploma program (English HL, Psych. HL, History HL, Biology SL, Spanish SL, Math SL) + AP Calculus AB as an elective. All honors classes freshman/sophomore year.
Scores: 32-33 ACT (all 33s on practice tests; about to take, but lower than a 32 would surprise me; avg. of practice tests: 36 English, 33 Math, 32 Reading, 30 Science)
IB: Eng: 4, Psych: 5, History: 5, Bio: 5, Spanish: 5, Math: 6.
AP: Calc: 4</p>

<p>---College---
Majors: English/Creative Writing, Linguistics
GPA: 3.62 (3.25-->3.72-->3.85, Dean's List)
*I explain in my essays that my GPA would've been a lot higher, but I was heavy in addiction and drank a bottle every day. Both my teacher recommendations and school report can attest to this. I was also hospitalised and this impacted my performance.
Extracurriculars:
Theater- lead/supporting actor in four full-length performances, one of which with a professional theater company. I did set construction for five shows and stage/house managed for three others. I received P/F credit for a special playwriting project and one of the productions in which I acted.<br>
Writing- I am primarily a creative writer. I've taken two workshops, received As in both, and I have been published twice in the university paper for my short stories, once in a university literary magazine, and one of my plays was performed by a professional theater company at the university.
Activism: I was an organizer for a protest against Sodexho in which several of my classmates were arrested on the quad. I also rallied Emory students in the Atlanta march for Troy Davis' release. I was a student speaker at TedX with the topic, "Eliminating Discrimination in the Early School System."
Tour Guiding- I was a campus tour guide.
Languages: I have a passion for foreign languages. I am fluent in Spanish and proficient in Italian, French, and German. </p>

<p>---Essays/Recommendations---
Essay (why a leave from school): My struggle with alcoholism and how my time on the streets has strengthened me to appreciate academic opportunities and how fortunate I am to help others in their struggles with addiction.
Essay (Personal): How I find peace by a pot of marigolds on the deck of the Salvation Army and how I find serenity in their beauty and the realization that I can still find simple pleasures in the world.
Essay (Why ... University): Yale: strong English department and focus on non-fiction writing, access to the School of Drama and their committment to awareness of human rights. UPenn: Romance languages major and opportunity of development of individual academic plan. it also offers unique foreign languages. UChicago: major in human rights and excellent committment to the arts. Good linguistics program. Brown: open curriculum, major in Egyptology and a very liberal, intellectual approach to education.
Recommendations: One amazing letter from an Italian professor who will discuss my natural ability with languages. She describes me as a "superb student and extraordinary person." Other is very personal from my creative writing professor who can attest to my passion and drive for writing. </p>

<p>Yale is my top choice, but I want to know if you think I have a chance. I understand that they are holistic in all of the above schools, but I'd like some reassurance that I have a shot before I go through this process. I know it's unlikely at Yale and Chicago because their rates are around 2%, but I think I have a strong chance at Penn or Brown. Any opinions? Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Glad to hear you’re turning things around. </p>

<p>I honestly don’t know if what you’ve been through will be a red flag, and one many schools with a low admission rate will be loath to deal with since they have many highly qualified applicants, or if it will intrigue and impress them. It will depend a lot on what and how you write your essays, and I personally would warn against anything like this:</p>

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</p>

<p>Coulda, woulda, shoulda. It’s fine to say ‘see what I’ve done since’, but to say that you would have had better grades except for something that was within your control (not like a medical emergency), is not fair to all of those students that did work hard to make those grades.</p>

<p>Again, that’s my opinion, take it or leave it.</p>

<p>Note on B, if you are applying for FA, they are need-aware for transfers.</p>

3

<p>

Just so you know, your other options (Chicago, UPenn, Yale) also offer Egyptology programs that are either as good (Yale) or better (Chicago, UPenn) than Brown’s.</p>

4

<p>I wouldnt advertise myself as a “broken, yet gluing myself back together” candidate. You seem to have some true success in theatre, so I would focus more on that for the essays. Make yourself seem above and beyond, not having scratched the bottom and returned to normalcy because the competitive schools aren’t looking for normalcy, wherever its been before.</p>

5

<p>You guys are correct in how I should sell myself to the committees. I could really use some advice on how to present this to others. For my essay I felt like making a cohesive essay on how I am a “verbal graffiti” artist and how my love of words relates to stage performance and monologue, poetry, and activism. </p>

<p>In regards to my circumstances, I have written a draft of the “why did you take a leave” essay required for the Common Application. It discusses the danger to my health that alcoholism caused and it ends with a positive note that it’s taught me to have pride in myself. It’s taught me that education is valuable, that I can use my experiences to help other people, and I’m a better person because of it. However, I feel like I’m missing something. I’m a little stressed about how to do this. Any tips for someone with extenuating situations?</p>

6

<p>Well you have to tailor what you say depending on what the college asks for. Some colleges might only want a general essay, while UPenn asks for the general essay, a supplemental one, and then an optional short piece. You have to decide what you want to sell the most, which should show you are aware that you an above and beyond person. These schools aren’t looking for diamonds in the rough, they want to see a conscientious and able student who can make their school better. I agree that, although the essay idea has promise, it is missing that extra “hit me across the face with amazingness” factor that differentiates you from any person who’s had a struggle, conquered it, and will help others. I am talking exclusively about the essays you are writing, and tone is the key element in them because it can make you either look like a victim who deserves some kind of pity for having struggled, or as a triumphant conquistador returned from the wallows of human despair. Make sure it’s not just another rebound story.</p>