Schools where I would fit in well?

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I am going to transfer from big state school to a smaller private school preferably. </p>

<p>Here are my stats:
High school:
- Homeschooled
- 3.79 GPA
- No AP courses offered as home school student, but took 7 honors courses.</p>

<p>College
- 4.0 GPA
- 5 Honors courses of my total 9 courses taken</p>

<p>Hobbies:
- Piano
- Art
- Poetry
- Playwriting
- Journalism
- Study of ancestry</p>

<p>Club Involvement:
- President of French Club
- Vice president of Debate Club
- Young Americans For Liberty
- Circle K Club
- History Club
- Tennis Club
- Outdoor Pursuits (outdoor activities such as hiking, rafting, camping, etc)
- Up til Dawn
- Society of International Affairs</p>

<p>Volunteer Work:
- Daily Humane Society
- Orphanage
- Elephant Sanctuary
- Library
- Art museum volunteer</p>

<p>Work experience:
- Cashier at Publix, current
- Local Rec, current
- Cashier at pizza place, high school
- Hostess at restaurant, high school
- Privately commissioned graphic design, high and middle school
- Internship with Shakespeare company, current
- Internship with public history museum, current
- Political campaign internship, upcoming</p>

<p>Unclassified:
Currently starting up 2 non-profit organizations to help issues that I am really passionate about, but cannot give much information on here. Also, hosting an outside-of-school fundraiser for humane society in October. Planning several fundraisers for school pertaining to my club involvement.</p>

<p>Standardized test scores:
1400 M and CR, 2150 total </p>

<p>Intended major:
Comparative Literature
If not, History and English double major.</p>

<p>Any schools?</p>

2

<p>What state are you located in? One that jumps to mind is William & Mary though not private. I’m not sure I’m pegging you right, though. Bard, Oberlin, Sarah Lawrence, Macalester, Mount Holyoke, Smith, Beloit.</p>

3

<p>I’m in Tennessee; what sort of things would help determine where I would best fit in?</p>

4

<p>Also, what else could I do that would improve my chances of acceptance at a really nice college?</p>

5

<p>Skidmore (NY) and Kenyon (OH). Best of luck!</p>

6

<p>I think you’re doing exactly what you should be doing in terms of getting in. You are working hard academically, which is the most crucial factor, and your community involvement is obvious. You seem very spread out in terms of what you have focused on. I wonder if it may be better to focus passionately in just a couple areas (I’m talking EC’s), then look like you are spreading yourself too thin. They may wonder, “how is this possible that she has all the time for these EC’s and has a 4.0…does she really have time to give something meaningful her full focus?” I am not saying that your resume is embelished, I’m just trying to look at your resume from their perspective. I think you are starting to develop that sense already though by starting this advocacy org. you are already working towards. So yes, that IS what I think they’d like to see. That you are finding your way, that you have a sense of direction, that you are passionate about what matters to you. </p>

<p>Poi always has great suggestions, and my sister loved Kenyon! Add that one, and maybe Kalamazoo too.</p>

7

<p>What is missing for you in your current school?</p>

8

<p>Many times transfer students lose financial aid! Freshmen usually get the best FA packages. </p>

<p>Look before you leap! Best of luck to you!</p>

9

<p>My eldest sister transfered from Northwestern to UCBerkeley, and then my next sister first went to UCSD, then Dartmouth, then transfered to Kenyon! Both were very happy with their later schools. </p>

<p>Who knows why kids transfer. I was at the same school the entire time, but then I am someone that just makes the most of where ever I’m at (“no matter where you go, there you are…”). I can understand it though and it was certainly the right decision for my sisters. Good luck to you, OP!</p>

10

<p>I always intended to transfer as I was prevented from going to a school that would be best on par with my academic range due to sudden family and financial issues that presented themselves upon my graduation from high school. I graduated from high school as a homeschool student a year early. I was not a fortnight past my 17th birthday and my parents hadn’t even looked at colleges when I graduated. I had looked at colleges and was so excited, but I had no idea of the process of applying to college. Despite my great academic record and my determination to attend a university that offered opportunities that could really challenge me, the combination of being ill-prepared, lacking strong backup or much encouragement from my parents, sudden family troubles, and no college savings in combination with a perceived 20,000 EFC that was truly non-existent, I was incapable of applying to anywhere that really offered the sort of academic level and challenge that suited me best.</p>

<p>I am now really ready. Shortly after I began attending the only college that I could, I realized that I had to make my own opportunities. I always planned on transferring once my financial and family situations had been resolved, and now I am ready. </p>

<p>I understand that transfers loose financial aid, but if I can find just ONE school where I am welcome and appreciated and am challenged above all, then that will have been worth the effort of finding it. </p>

<p>However, I truly feel that I would be throwing away many opportunities to foster my talent and academic ability if I do not transfer. I am currently attending a school of 30,000 students who do not care that they are in school, have no desire to work, have no academic interests, or want to grow, and I am anything but any of that. I need to be at a place where I can really grow, feel challenged, work hard, and go places. If I can find opportunities, I know that I will take advantage of them and really appreciate them more than so many people.</p>

11

<p>You sound like a wonderful prospect for the schools mentioned. You’ve overcome alot, and it seems like you now have your feet under you again. </p>

<p>For more ideas, take a look at [Colleges</a> That Change Lives](<a href=“http://www.ctcl.org/]Colleges”>http://www.ctcl.org/).</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Private schools are going to run you $40K-$50K per year. Without aid, how would you pay that? You might contact schools that sound interesting – before you begin applying. Explain your situation briefly and ask if there’s a possibility that they would extend need-based aid. Also ask if there is merit aid available to a transfer student. My sense is that the small LACs are a bit more flexible on just about everything, and you might at least get an audience there. There is a cluster of LACs in the midwest that aren’t household names, but offer a really wonderful education for someone like you.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>ETA – I agree with jkiwmom – slim down your list of ECs to the ones that are most significant to you. And unless you’re asked, I’d advise omitting the work history except for the 3 internships .</p>

12

<p>Thanks for the advice LasMa.
I am looking at Emory especially. It is one of my favorite schools; I have visited and I really feel at home there. Supposedly, they offer just as much aid to a transfer student; however, I am afraid that despite their “need-blind” label, a transfer student with such a low EFC will not be all that welcome. What can I do to stand out and become a student that schools want even with those labels?
Other schools that I have looked at, thankfully before I knew of their “transfer-friendly” epithets, are Brown (I know it a reach for almost anyone) and Vanderbilt. I know Brown is very selective, but they supposedly offer admission to a slightly higher percentage of transfers than freshmen.
But I wanted to know what kind of schools seemed like the RIGHT kind for me before I stated which ones I’d been looking at.</p>

<p>I’ll try to streamline my ECs. Where would it most make sense to take my focus away from / to focus on? I am in love with english and literature, and I cannot become less involved with the French or Debate Clubs. But which things look best to keep on a college application?</p>

<p>Lastly, does anyone know of any colleges that extend just as much need-based financial aid and at least some merit aid to transfers?</p>

13

<p>Any more ideas?</p>

14

<p>I think you look good for:
Rice
UChicago
Emory
WashU
Vanderbilt
Northwestern</p>

<p>…also maybe a couple of top LACs like Amherst, Williams, Bowdoin, or Middlebury. But they tend to be harder to get into as a transfer, however, than the schools mentioned above. Rice might be a great bet. Perhaps Duke as well.</p>

15

<p>Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania - intense academics, [Swarthmore</a> College :: Comparative Literature :: Comparative Literature](<a href=“http://www.swarthmore.edu/complit.xml]Swarthmore”>Comparative Literature :: Swarthmore College)
University of Chicago
Wake Forest - has a minor in journalism, along with your majors in English and History
Oberlin College - half conservatory, so you’d be around lots of other musicians</p>

16

<p>and no college savings in combination with a perceived 20,000 EFC that was truly non-existent</p>

<p>Are you certain that your EFC is now low? </p>

<p>Was it higher because a parent was working and is now unemployed?</p>

<p>Schools like Emory use CSS Profile.</p>

17

<p>Take a look at Reed in Portland, OR, it is not your average LAC. They are very intellectually focused and love interesting life stories. Rigorous and demanding, so it’s not for everyone, but because they lose some along the way they have room for transfers and I’ve heard of some they have given significant aid to. Don’t take your work history off your resume, that helps tell your life story and shows you have fortitude. Those that find Reed a good fit absolutely love it.</p>

18

<p>Thank you that’s very good advice. I have considered Reed before, though not thoroughly. I will look into it more now.</p>

19

<p>Whatever you do, don’t cut your ties with your current college until you have your FA package from your new school and know how all costs will get paid for. </p>

<p>FA packages for transfer students can come kind of late…so continue to register for classes at your current school and so forth.</p>

20

<p>Thank you, mom2collegekids, I won’t cut of any ties or anything. What kind of experience do you have with transferring? You have a lot of good advice.</p>