Should I do more? If yes, in what areas?

<p>I'm thinking about transferring to a top 20 private college. I'm very nervous about the process right now because I see so many great applicants here who didn't get into the schools of their dreams. I would greatly appreciate your advice on where I could improve to increase my chances. </p>

<p>I'm currently attending a public university that's ranked about 100th. I have a full ride to this school. I have a 4.0 GPA, and I'm one out of 600 people who gets the Dean's Scholarship. My high school GPA was 3.96 (unweighted), and my SAT score is 2130.
I have an internship at the International Students Office because I'm trilingual. I'm the only freshman in the history of the school who got a research fellowship from a professor in my department. I also work as a coach at a learning center in the college.
In high school I applied to UChicago and Columbia but I was rejected...I've been trying to do better since.</p>

<p>I want to transfer because my school right now is an engineering school, and I'm a social sciences major. I'm also looking for a school in a urban/suburb area, where there's "civilization" as my friends and I joke. I see so many excellent applicants here at the forum and I think there's a lot of room for me to improve, but I don't know where to start.
Thanks in advance!</p>

<p>Have you read the Transfer Admissions 101 sticky thread? Do what you read about there in terms of crafting a transfer application and enhancing your chances.</p>

<p>You certainly have a great head start and sound like a great candidate to me. Don't worry about other folks who sound great here but didn't get in. Has nothing to do with you.</p>

<p>Now, if you apply only to schools with very very low acceptance rates, it could happen to you, as well, because excellent candidates don't get in when there are so few slots.</p>

<p>Don't have a "dream" school. Rather, find several schools which have the major you want, the type of location you like and a range of selectivity. You will surely get into some, maybe all or almost all.</p>

<p>Be aware that financial aid for transfers is limited. It sounds like you are having a great experience where you are, but if your chosen major isn't available there, I see the problem.</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

<p>It sounds like you're headed in the right direction. You have a good reason for transferring, your grades are excellent and you are doing research. Some possible areas to think about: take challenging courses and get to know your instructors as you will need good LORs. Your SAT is in the lower end of being competitive, but since you're going to transfer as a jr, it won't be as important as what you do in college.</p>

<p>As you know, when it comes to UChicago, your essays will be very important, so give yourself lots of time to work on them when the new prompts come out.</p>

<p>x-posted with Andale, good advice as usual.</p>