<p>I ended my first semester at cornell with a 3.0 gpa, but this is highly because of a really really big crisis that went on at home, that I could definitely convey in my essay. For a number of reasons, along with the fact I really need to be closer to home to be with family after this, I really want to transfer to Columbia. However, on the website it expresses that a minimum gpa of 3.5 is needed to even be considered. Do they hold true to that or can that be overlooked if everything else is strong? I had good grades in high school, etc. Another possibility is me taking a gap year to bring up my gpa while doing some volunteer work. Which risk do I take? apply now with a higher chance of rejection or take a gap year, after bringing my grades up this semester and risk not getting in, thus wasting a year of my life? I am really unhappy here.</p>
<p>What were your results for fr admissions? Were you accepted at any schools at the same level as Columbia? If not, a 3.0 (even with a good reason) for your only full sem of college work does not bode well for a soph transfer.</p>
<p>A gap year is not advisable if it is looked at as ‘wasting a year’ of your life.</p>
<p>There are other colleges in NYC that you could consider.</p>
<p>The best school I applied to last year was Cornell, so no. But I ended high school with strong grades, despite my senioritis.
As far as the gap year, I was considering joining some type of community service organization, traveling or working so it definitely won’t be a waste.</p>
<p>As far as other schools in NYC, I don’t want to transfer to a school worse than here. I considered NYU but their financial aid is notoriously awful, so that sucks.</p>