ALL colleges believe that they offer “good academic caliber.”
But you are just not listening: No college, I repeat, no college, wants a transfer application from someone just so they can experience an “unfamiliar environment”. That is really naive, and auto-reject.
(Hint: you need an academic reason for transferring, and one of the best reasons is that your current school does not offer a major program of interest.)
So, you’ve never visited these schools?
Cornell is a very interesting campus. My dd chose not to go there after seeing the campus because it just wasn’t the right fit for her. Her classmate got stuck there twice during the holidays (snowstorms).
Need-based means they’ll give you what THEY think you need, not what you actually need. This typically includes a lot of parent loans. Expect to pay full fees. The FA offices have already budgeted their funding for those students who they wanted as freshman.
Before you throw your money into something that will probably not work, you need to ask your parents how much they can provide for your education.
@Nocreativity1 Thanks for the response! Will take it to mind and contact you should I have any further questions about Brown!
@“aunt bea” Thanks for the response! I am familiar with how need-based financial aid works as I have been working closely with UVA’s office of financial aid to ensure the most affordable college experience. I have not visited the campuses of these schools due to their distance, but was planning to this spring. I am doing my best to learn about these schools online, but thank you for the insight about the snowstorms!
@bluebayou Thanks for your response! I was referring to schools of similar caliber to UVA. I know that all schools believe to be of superior caliber. And thank you for your concern about my broad reasons for wanting to transfer. I need to find better ways to verbalize my intentions and feelings as I feel I may be vague. Thanks again!
Not at all; they are very clear – and of ZERO interest to colleges. Those tippy top schools want to know what YOU bring to the table, not the other way around.
@bluebayou Awesome! Thank you!
@“aunt bea” your commentary about financial aid isn’t accurate. As someone who gained admission to 4 ivies as a transfer I can share that packages were very generous. Don’t worry about financial aid if your family qualifies OP
@thestandard Thank you! I knew it would not matter but your reassurance helps
Your first semester grades are not poor. They ave very good. Your high school record will factor in more, since you have only one semester of college under your belt My advice is to proceed with what you view as best for yourself. You know yourself best. Consider how and why your current school is not working for you. Then choose ones you think will work better for whatever reason.
People on this site might speculate about ulterior motives. There can be a tendency by some people to resent others if they think someone does not think a particular school is good enough or if they sense someone is seeking a “better name”. But of course nobody on these posts knows a thing about you so the validity of such speculation is likely to be lacking.
I understand your feelings about UVa. Sounds familiar to me! My kids grew up close to one of the Ivy League schools–a school most other students would give their eye teeth to attend. They and their pals from high school all wanted out of the area. I often heard about parents insisting or begging their kids to apply to the neighborhood Ivy along with the other schools the kids had already chosen. The fact that the school is in the community’s backyard meant many parents in the community had some connections to the school; thereby elevating their kids’ chances of being accepted but there were also a range of other reasons parents wanted their kids to apply. But the students would have nothing of it. They would prefer to go to a lower ranked school than stay and play in their back yard. And while UVA might not be literally in your backyard it is very familiar to you. You want different. I can understand that.
OP. We get that you had to take a humanities course or two. But your grade isn’t an A. And you have no reason that will compel a tippy to to want you over the handful of others. And I’m surprised you needed to “found” a service org at a big school like UVa. Or that it supposedly ‘took off’ in one semester-? It’s only the first big school break right now. Plus, that seems to be the only EC in college.
Everyone wants to be, “surrounded by the peers and resources” they think they need. Those colleges are used to (and bored by) how many kids say things like that. It doesn’t show perspective, what those colleges want, and that you add anything to their community.
You have work to do.
Don’t thank me. This is on your shoulders.
Adding- this “CS major with interests in politics as shown by model UN interest and desire to complete pre-med reqs” is confusing. MUN isn’t enough, not when we just had an election year. No math-sci activities now? One needs to be a superstar to consider transferring to an Ivy a reasonable shot.
Sorry we’re loading on you. But this is a lot tougher than what you want or your own confidence.
@lostaccount Thank you so much for your feedback! This is one of the many reasons I want to transfer and you’ve superbly verbalized it!
@lookingforward Awesome feedback! Really dug in there. I will be sure to hone in on a particular subject when I apply as to best suit my strengths and demonstrate my spike.
I’m no expert, but your HS GPA, test scores, and ECs look great! I would recommend trying to raise your GPA with grades next semester, especially if the schools you’re applying to ask for mid-year reports. But I think you have a really good shot!
Make sure those essays are strong! Best piece of transfer admissions essay advice I’ve seen is the reminder that they’re not asking you to write an essay on why you want to transfer, but on why you want to transfer to their school. If you can replace one school name with another and have your next essay, you do not have a strong one! Research the schools and find some specific information you can include. Mention something about their computer science program that you love, and perhaps show interest in a particular on-campus organization. Let them see that you’re already planned out your academic journey there and are not likely to go elsewhere if they accept you.
Whichever school you ultimately end up at, I’m sure you’ll do great! Good luck, and I hope you get all the acceptances you are looking for!
@Lelila Thanks so much for the feedback! I definitely plan on raising my GPA and will take your advice to mind 