Reasoning

<p>I'm a freshman at William and Mary looking to transfer to Penn. I'm looking to move back to Philadelphia because of some family problems and needing to be closer to home. I'd also love to study comparative literature, offered by Penn and not WM, but was wondering which reason for leaving to emphasize in my application. Do the family problems seem like a reason not Penn-specific enough to mention them? Here are my stats:
1st Semester: 3.76 (Dean's List) with mostly 100's and 200's (is WM really considered a grade deflator?)
I'm involved in 3 different community service programs and Young Dems with decent leadership
My recs will be pretty good but I really dont' know my teachers extremely well.
HS: 3.987 and 1490 SAT
Varsity/Captain of Crew and Swimming, Young Dems, Comm Service club, NJ Spanish Award, HS Foreign Lang. Department Award
This semester I have a heavy courseload with some upper level classes. And I designed it after speaking with Penn's Comp Lit Director. Do I have a chance?</p>

<p>I think you're fine, especially since both your college and hs records are great...i dont see a reason why family problems wouldn't be a good topic transfer-wise...</p>

<p>You should write about the topic that is most crucial to your decision to transfer.</p>

<p>Write about both, seems like a great shot.</p>

<p>Forgot to mention HS GPA is weighted</p>

<p>I'm at W&M and also looking to transfer...my GPA is only 3.15 though so my options are kinda limited...</p>

<p>any other comments on chances or essay ideas? i know that this year's supposed to be ultra competitive.</p>

<p>why, cause it's the year of the dog?</p>

<p>no, because of the five percent drop in admission.</p>

<p>Wow, that means -2% admission for Yale and -0.5% for Stanford. Tough indeed.</p>