Several Transferring questions (including the dreaded chances post)

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am a social freshman at William and Mary, a school that I have definitely enjoyed and am content to graduate from. However, I like many others, feel I got a short shrift in high school; so I am debating a few points of transfering. Below is the link I posted for high school chances:</p>

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=42349%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/showthread.php?t=42349&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Recap of that, final senior GPA was like a 3.65, which went up from 3.63 as a junior and 3.44 as a sophomore (first year at a competitive school really). SAT was 1580 (800 m), had good-medium Sat 2s (690-740 range). Several good AP scores (5/4 split on BC calc, 5 on AP US, 5 on Stats, 4 on Modern Euro, 4 on English Lit, 3 on US Gov, 3 on Bio). Had good ECs, good recommendations, but ended up only getting into UVA (and my guidance counselor said she was pleasently surprised by that) and WM. Rejected from Harvard (deferred early), Duke, Penn, Amherst, Dartmouth and Stanford. </p>

<p>Anyways, first semester this year I had a 3.63 (A in a physics class, A in comparative politics, A in politics lab (1 credit class where 3 is the norm), A- in game theory, and B- in history and religion of Israel (Relg 389). I highly doubt the class average was more than a C+ there, so cant be too unhappy about that.</p>

<p>Before I ask my questions, I am an academic sophomore, with 28 credits coming in (based on a 30 credit per year average). 8 credits came from harvard summer school, 20 from AP. I plan on taking summer school one year in order to graduate in 3 years. I definitely like WM, but want to get my undergrad done with as soon as possible, since I figure I might as well. Anyways, questions are.....</p>

<p>1) If i applied to transfer now (to basically the same schools I didnt get into the first time around), and was rejected, would that hurt me if I applied to them again this time next year? Assuming I dont make an essay about how their school mascot is worthless, or something that they will remember. Also does it hurt since I got rejected by them last year?</p>

<p>2) In following up tot the previous question, does it make sense to wait to apply next year, since I will probably raise my GPA, have better college ECs (have done a few but will have done a lot more next year), and potentially haven taken the LSAT and gotten a 170+ (probably more in the 175 range). </p>

<p>3) Final question (for now at least). Does anyone know how colleges view the LSAT? I have taken practice tests, and got a 180s, which was good since I want to go to law school. But would it help me transfer? Just because otherwise, I will wait to take it, since there is no reason not to. </p>

<p>Thanks</p>

2

<p>Oh by the way, legacy at Duke and Harvard, and my father (who went to Duke med) now lives near Durham. Not sure that helps, but figured I'd throw it out there. Senior high school gpa was more like a 3.7 too</p>

3

<p>i like your post. so cogent and self aware. if only there were more
like that... Yet despite the excellent post, if I were you, I'd wait
and apply sophomore year.</p>

<p>I know that you have sophomore standing already, but the majority of
that seems tied up in AP credits, which colleges won't really give a
**** about past a certain point. they're indicators of college level
work, but mainly introductory college level work. you can pass out of
intro to whatever, but colleges are impressed by 300 level A grades.
what are your grades in Harvard Extension? If they're A's to B+'s,
perhaps you should still apply... but even with that, it'll do you
good to wait.</p>

<p>i think we're in similar boat as to why we feel like transferring and
why in some ways, we don't feel the same urgency as some others here
might. school is nice. it could just be better.... the big what if
definitely merits the big why not... apply?</p>

<p>Get your core requirements out of the way now. Hone in on your major.
Foster great relationships with professors. Get involved and high up
in some organizations. I'm a sophomore, I've done all that, and it's
gotten to a point where I'm questioning the value of leaving at all.
Sure, the kids are idiots... but I know for certain that I couldn't be
valedec or editor in chief at harvard.</p>

<p>Competitive transfers have 3.7-4.0's. Get yours up there. You
obviously can. The SAT's are fantastic, as is your school. That can
only help in terms of your competitiveness with other kids.</p>

<p>If you were miserable, I'd say, apply now. But you're not. If you
want to be confident of some acceptances, and positive that you're not
making the wrong decision, stay on for another semester, and then
think about this again. Luckily, creating a great transfer file and
creating a great grad school/undergrad experience at your existing
institution go hand in hand.</p>

<p>cheers</p>

<p>oops. i should have answererd in number form:</p>

<p>1: applying now and then applying again won't hurt, i don't think,
but it won't help you focus on getting into william and mary more
fully. and it might indicate to potential transfer colleges that
you're not giving it enough time or enough of a chance.</p>

<p>2: does it make sense? you answered your own question. if
everything improves, of course it makes sense.</p>

<p>3: i don't think colleges care at all about the lsats. law schools
do because they can post scores and rise in rankings. undergrad can't
and won't post your scores... perhaps they might think that you'll hit
up a great law shcool and they can pride themselves on that... but on
the whole, i think it's unecessary. they care about immediate
contributions to the school in terms of leadership, ec's, and good
grades (indicating you can do the work).</p>

<p>hope that helps.</p>

4

<p>thanks. the two harvard classes i got B+s in, which were intro to american government and social psychology. i actually am pretty much done with core classes needed to graduate, which is nice since i can pretty much do anything i want in the next few years. grade wise, im pretty sure my grades at wm would be identical at harvard, since wm is actually considered a difficult grade school. as for when i want to transfer, i mean its something where id like to go, but even if i got in id still have a tough choice ot make. thanks for the feedback, and look forward to more</p>

5

<p>oh also which of those 6 schools ar emost friendly to transfers? what about other ivies, or top lacs? thanks</p>

6

<p>I'm actually a freshman at William & Mary, and am also considering transferring. I'm in a very similar situation in that I don't hate W&M but feel like college life could be better. I am also from MA and going down to VA is a hassle. I went back and forth last semester trying to decide if I should transfer, and I finally decided to just put in applications anyways. I mean, why not? And if I have a great 2nd semester and decide I want to stay at W&M, I can always just decline acceptance to the schools I apply to. I think i just want to have the option open to transfer at the end of the year if need be.</p>

7

<p>yah thats where im at too;</p>

<p>anyone have chances or other assessment?</p>

8

<p>Just to let you know when you transfer between two schools as differnet as W&M and say harvard u might lose alot of credits. Some may not transfer into that school and you may end up (like me) taking an extra semester.</p>

9

<p>well not sure what you mean as wm and harvard arent that different (relative to other schools being differnet from each other). that being said, 20 are from AP, which would be differnet no matter where i went. 8 are from harvard, which would be accepted. besides, i could definitely take an extra semester, although id think im pretty much guarenteed to have enough to cover one year. </p>

<p>any other opinions on teh chances?</p>

10

<p>I'd include that fabulous LSAT, along with a powerful essay of why X ivy can get you where you want to be post-graduation. I mean, for those of you who don't know, a 180 is REALLY good, above the mid 50% range at Harvard law, I believe.</p>

11

<p>umm, escape, 180 is perfect. so it would be above 50% anywhere. and i would obviously include it next year, but that doesnt lhpe me this year too much</p>

12

<p>bump, sorry just looking for any more potential input</p>

13

<p>interesting question, im in the same situation almost haha, i was very surprised to see this post! what do you guys think on this post? I would like to see what someone else says.</p>

<p>THanks</p>

14

<p>Well, if you have any doubts at all about where you want to go if accepted, I'd say wait until next year. There's always lots of things to learn at college besides academics your first two years. You get to know yourself, and what you might really want. I was successfully accepted to some very good schools after freshman year, but I now wish I had waited to apply until I was a sophomore, simply because I wasn't THAT sure of what I wanted and where I want to go with my life. Also because I hadn't visited schools to get a really good comparison to the school I was currently at. Whether you transfer this year or next year, you will have to buckle down a lot more to maintain the same grades, and that may mean missing out on some aspects of college life that you're currently enjoying. It's your call though, whether this year or next year. </p>

<p>I think (or at least hope) that one rejection doesn't automatically mean a second rejection. I think all it means is that your application has to significantly improve in some way before you can be accepted the second time you apply.</p>

15

<p>what about chances at those places?</p>

16

<p>there is a guy with 2.0 HS GPA something like 3.9 in college with 1350ish SAT who applied three times at Harvard and got in. Best of luck.</p>

17

<p>third time's a charm</p>

18

<p>what college did this 3.9 three time applier go to?</p>

19

<p>ahh so 1580 should be easy then hah</p>

20

<p>
[quote]
what college did this 3.9 three time applier go to?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>UIUC, I think.</p>

<p>
[quote]
1350ish SAT who applied three times at Harvard and got in. Best of luck.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>He retook it and scored a 1400+.</p>