<p>After this term, I'm going to have a GPA of 3.7-3.8. I go to Dartmouth, and I'm definitely going to try and transfer out of here (turns out that it's not really the best fit for me), and so I have several reach-match schools in mind. However, for the Super Reaches like Stanford or Yale, is it even worth the time to apply? Or is it a waste without a high 3.8-3.9ish GPA? I'm just trying to figure out if I should even bother...</p>
<p>im sure your aware of how mind-blowingly hard it is to transfer into either of those schools...stanford took something like 20 transfers last years most of whom were cc kids</p>
<p>that being said</p>
<p>it really depends on all the other stuff on your transcript...if you can snag a 3.9 and have an ec that really sets you apart from other applicants, then it would be worth a shot...but don't get your heart set on it</p>
<p>good luck</p>
<p>when i hear stanford and transfer together i immediately think waste of time, i know the collegeboard stat says they accepted like 1-2%. being that youre at dartmouth w/ that gpa i think you could definitely be one of the few to get into yale as a transfer. i imagine they would love to "steal" you as well, im excited to see what you end up doing. if there wasnt so much work involved w/ each app. (including money) id say go for it but.. i think you should definitely try yale if you can</p>
<p>Thanks guys, I realize that there is a lot of metrics that go into making these admissions decisions, but considering GPA alone, I did wonder if applying to places like Yale would be a waste of time. I'm sure you all know that these applications require considerable thought into them, and that we all only have so much time in our lives...</p>
<p>But if something's worth a shot, then I might as well go for it. I just want to know if something isn't worth the effort to even bother with - and I'd be perfectly fine with that.</p>
<p>Also, one other thing: there's no way I'm going to be able to get a 3.9 before the 15th of March. We're on quarter schedule here, so if I perform really well in the Winter, then I can perhaps sit comfortable in the low 3.8's. </p>
<p>But there's no guarantee of that. Dartmouth is not exactly an easy school to get straight A's in (as the incoming transfers this year have been letting me know).</p>
<p>When I check out SA, it's not so hard to get A's at Dartmouth! That said, getting into Dartmouth was hard and from what I've seen the majority of successful candidates at top colleges come from other top colleges. I think your best chance is in having an exceptional reason for wanting to transfer--research being done at the school, a prof you want to work with, a major or concentration that isn't available where you are.</p>
<p>As a mom of a freshman, what don't you like?</p>
<p>Well, it's not hard to get B's or even B+'s, that's for sure. It's definitely harder to get an A here than say...at the University of Georgia. There's a difference between intrinsic difficulty and displayed grade inflation.</p>
<p>Though...it can be quite easy if you're the type who tries to game his or her class schedule (and sadly...that happens quite too often here).</p>
<p>I like Dartmouth for all of the things it boasts - close interaction with faculty, a relatively friendly student body, etc. But it lacks the intellectual spirit that I was looking for when I applied to colleges. I'm thinking about a PhD, perhaps a JD, and the like and honestly, nobody (as in, the students) really cares about that here. The atmosphere is quite preprofessional - way too much so for my liking - and you have people spending hours before their midterms and whatnot playing pong as if it was a sole passion.</p>
<p>Also, for my sophomore year, people spent <em>way</em> too much time obsessing over fraternity/sorority affiliations. It was absolutely ridiculous. As an independent with several affiliated friends, I still do enjoy the company of a diverse group of people - but it's just not the same feeling I get whenever I hang out with my friends from MIT.</p>
<p>The lack of campus activism is another thing. Dartmouth students are known for being very laid-back and apathetic, but after spending an entire summer doing some activist work - it's kind of a different feel here I guess. </p>
<p>Columbia, for one, would've definitely been a better fit given its crazy activist culture - but I didn't apply there back in the day.</p>
<p>There is a ton of things I could go into - but I suppose the bigger point is what certain schools offer, or what I can bring to those schools.</p>
<p>But all that aside, I just want to know whether or not - given the GPA range I've displayed - if it's worth it to apply to the "Super Reaches." If it's not, then that just means I'll have more time to consider the schools I know I'll have a shot at - like Columbia. All of the Super Reaches, especially Stanford, have some attributes that would strongly make me want to leave Hanover.</p>
<p>Thanks guys!</p>
<p>Just my opinion:</p>
<p>Apply to them. What do you have to lose? The application fee and some time looking up specific things about each school. </p>
<p>On the other hand, if you don't apply, you may regret not doing so while you wait for decisions from other schools, and potentially for a long time afterwards.</p>
<p>The only case in which I would say to not apply is if you are just throwing in a random app hoping you might strike gold. That doesn't seem to be what you are doing, and as long as you have solid reasons (which you seem to have) you should not hesitate to apply.</p>
<p>Much agreed with DarkStar</p>
<p>Sure, you'd be in range everywhere.</p>