Seeking Transfer Feedback

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm a Canadian who entered a southern US state university this Fall as an Early Admission student. I made the choice to forgo my last year of HS and enter University as an EA because my parents were moving overseas for my dad's job. Despite the fact I've made lots of friends here, I'm looking into transferring for Fall 2009 admission. My reasons for transferring are:</p>

<ul>
<li><p>classes are not all that challenging, including Honors classes, i.e., the school doesn't seem to be a good fit academically for me</p></li>
<li><p>unless it's a football weekend, most of my friends go home on weekends, not much else to do in the small, rural town where the University is located</p></li>
<li><p>I know I should have investigated this issue more carefully prior to enrolling, but I'm concerned about a lack of opportunity for research in my major.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>High school avg through Grade 11: 97 (HS offered no AP/IB classes, my classes were most rigorous offered, all "academic" or "university prep".</p>

<p>SAT: CR: 770 M: 780 W: 690</p>

<p>SAT II: Math 2: 760 Biology: 800 Chem: 800</p>

<p>ACT: composite 35 (36's in Math and Science)</p>

<p>College GPA: 4.0 (Honors Program, 17 hrs completed) </p>

<p>Major: Biochemistry/Molecular Biology</p>

<p>Noteworthy ECs:</p>

<p>-- participated in a Joint HS-University Future Science Scholars research project, won award for best project/presentation in region.</p>

<p>-- Captain of hockey team (Gr 11) and AC grade 10.</p>

<p>-- Student Government class rep, Grades 9-11, led fundraising drive in Grade 11 to support various local charities</p>

<p>Target Schools:
University of Michigan
Cornell
Colgate
McGill
Dartmouth (def long shot, I know)
University of Pittsburgh</p>

<p>I'm looking for some feedback on whether or not competitive schools will pass on me because I skipped Grade 12 and lack a HS diploma or if these type schools will over look my lack of HS diploma and base their decision on my test scores, HS avg, college GPA, and recs. I plan to remain here for the Spring semester and will have completed 36 hrs by the time of transfer admission. </p>

<p>Also, if anyone has any ideas on potential schools for me, fire away. Location is not that important although I prefer the eastern half of the US or Canada; rural or small town location is not necessarily a dealbreaker as long as it's not a suitcase school.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Check the schools' websites to ask for your high school issues. Also something to think about: financial aid? I am not sure how those schools' financial aids policies toward Canadian students (most occasions they are somewhere in between UC citizens and non-canadian intl students in terms of generosity). Dont know about how McGill works, but I would say that for UM and U of Pitt, you are in. They like out-of-state students to add diversity to their student body. Cornell you have a pretty good chance (I cannot say about the College of Arts and Sciences, but I assume that your major is available at the College of Agriculture, which is NY state-sponsored and is like a public college). I assume that you dont want advice on safety schools, since I think UM and U of Pitt are safeties for you already. I would suggest you to take a look at Duke and Emory. Duke might be a high reach, but never hurt trying if you are fine w financial conditions. Emory has a great program in the field you want to study. Good luck!</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the reply. I don't qualify for need-based financial aid, so that's not an issue. It would be great to get a merit scholarship or out-of-state tuition waiver like I have now, but I'm not counting on it. </p>

<p>Good to hear about UM and Pitt, I visited UM last summer and really liked it. </p>

<p>I will look into Duke and Emory, thanks for the suggestions.</p>

4

<p>Hey there, look into Northwestern, Georgetown, Emory, WashU, and UNC-CH. All are relatively transfer friendly...</p>

<p>LACs and Ivies are almost impossible to transfer into. But D is worth the shot.</p>

5

<p>University Of Pittsburgh is the best possible place you can go for biology, it's in an amazing city where the cost of living is very cheap, its biology program is amazing and well-known</p>

6

<p>PM-ed you.</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the suggestions, what I'm most concerned about is whether these more selective schools will reject me on the basis I skipped Grade 12 to enter my current University as an Early Admissions student. I think my stats are competitive and I can get great recs from at least 2 profs but I'm not sure how a highly selective school would view my lack of a high school diploma since they all ask about it and want a class rank, etc.. </p>

<p>Is this a legit concern or am I making a fuss over nothing?</p>

8

<p>You will have to call up the admissions departments and ask if you want to be sure, but I think that universities will not want to pass up a look at an applicant with a lot of excellent college work who happens to lack a HS diploma.</p>