<p>Just wondering if anyone else is out there!</p>
<p>I’m applying!
Well, I’ve applied, interviewed, etc. I just have my Midterm Report to send in as well as financial aid requests.</p>
<p>Same here! All I need to do is to send in my mid-term report.</p>
<p>So, provided all of our materials are in, we should know by the end of March. </p>
<p>Where else has everyone applied? </p>
<p>I only applied to Smith, Mount Holyoke and Hampshire.</p>
<p>Wow! The end of march? That’s a lot sooner than I though! Do we know and exact date yet?</p>
<p>And I am applying to a wildly random assortment of schools
Smith, William and Mary, Whitman, Wellesley, and SMU</p>
<p>I didn’t get an exact date,
“If your application is complete at this time you will receive an admission decision at the end of March.”
Was the response I got, I sent that 4 days ago or so. </p>
<p>I’m applying only to a few:
Smith, Mount Holyoke, and Hampshire</p>
<p>I wish you luck! Where are you transferring from?
I’m coming from a community college in Berkshire country (Western Mass)</p>
<p>I am a current freshmen at St. John’s College in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It a minascule very alternative Liberal Arts college. I really hope I get in too! Good Luck!</p>
<p>I hope that you are accepted, and everyone else here who is passionate about Smith College. </p>
<p>I have to admit, I am extremely nervous and am not looking forward to waiting 1-2 months to hear back from Smith College. It’s really the only school I want to go to, which I understand is a limiting and damaging way of thinking, but it’s also honest. </p>
<p>I am in my third semester at Berkshire Community College now, and I have a 3.89 GPA.
I am a financial aid recipient, I have few EC’s outside of work study, working full-time and a club at CC. I think that my essays were convincing and well-written.</p>
<p>But, I also have a GED- I never completed high school, I even failed my junior year.
I’m so worried. ;_;</p>
<p>In any case, I really truly hope that you two are accepted, and anyone else here who has applied as a transfer to Smith. </p>
<p>Good luck! Take care of yourselves during this high-stress season.</p>
<p>I hope for the best for everyone else.
I’m pretty nervous too. I got an email from Smith a couple of days ago telling that I’m missing some of the requirements like my schools officials report, references and transcripts from my college and HS.
I was literally freaking out because I had sent all that in during mid January. I called the school and they couldn’t find any of the information.
So I spent the last two days to get all the forms. Thank goodness that Smith gave me a deadline. </p>
<p>I really hope that this wont hurt my chances of getting in. It was just a scary feeling.
Anyway, I wish you guys the best of luck.</p>
<p>Oh my gosh! That’s terrifying. I hope that you were able to get copies of everything, and I don’t think that it should hurt your chances of getting in. Especially because now, all of your application materials were sent in at once. If anything, it may help you.
My application pieces were sent all at different times, from November to March 1st!
I think that admissions, if they have a preference, prefer to see everything all at once. </p>
<p>But don’t worry too much about it, now that it’s settled! I wish you the best of luck as well, honestly. </p>
<p>So, what does everyone(well, you two ladies, and any others who see this!) want to major in? </p>
<p>I’d like to do an Education major with an East Asian Languages, Linguistics, Cultures minor. Or double major, but I haven’t decided yet!</p>
<p>Hi everyone! I was a transfer to smith in the fall of 2011, and I absolutely love it here. If you have any questions about Smith please feel free to ask me or PM me!</p>
<p>I am a community college student that wants to transfer to Smith for Fall of 2014 admission. I’m here to send everyone some virtual good vibes.</p>
<p>Eelizabeth, I took the scenic route in high school (five different high schools) and I didn’t earn my high school diploma. I plan on getting my GED this year. How do you think they review high school transcripts from transfers?</p>
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<p>I know that you’ll do well on your GED! Good luck, in any case. </p>
<p>And I really know what you mean, I didn’t go to 5 different HS, but I went back and forth with two, it was a really stressful situation- so I can only imagine the back and forth.
The good thing about the Common App is you can write about your “Education Interruption”, you can submit a paper you’ve written about what went on in HS and between the time that you decided to go to CC. </p>
<p>If I get accepted, of course, we’ll really know how Smith looks at “traditional” non-traditional transfer students (such as you and myself), and I’ll be able to help you through the admissions process much better.</p>
<p>To everyone who has a GED and/or a very low HS GPA: really, don’t worry about it. As a transfer what counts is what you do in college - Smith does take HS into consideration, but not nearly to the same degree as it does for “traditional” students. Your performance in college is much more relevant to the admissions committee. </p>
<p>I, too, attended several high schools and eventually decided to home school in my junior and senior years. I dealt with some pretty severe health issues in high school as well, so making the most of my time in order to get into smith was pretty low on my rung of priorities. I had barely any ECs. I had an okay GPA, but my transcript was a hot mess. FWIW, I was actually waitlisted straight out of HS. </p>
<p>At the time I applied to transfer to Smith I had a very high GPA, wonderful recommendations (I assume, since I waived the right to read them!), awesome ECs and I worked extremely hard on my essays. IMO I think the essays are possibly the greatest defining factors in admission - obviously I can’t speak to that from an admission’s officer’s perspective, but just in my opinion that seems to be the case. </p>
<p>Again, for what it’s worth, my roommate and good friend (who is now a senior) got here with a GED and she transferred in from community college (where she got her associates in liberal arts). I know many people here who didn’t do spectacularly in high school but transferred in because they showed they were able to excel in college.</p>
<p>Eelizabeth: Smith is an absolutely wonderful school. I plan on just transferring from my community college in California. I will be applying as a Study on Women and Gender major. What would you like to do with your degree? </p>
<p>That’s such a relief to hear but I wish that my high school transcript was the only thing I was worried about. I’m also concerned about my current GPA. My grades from my first semester (fall 2010) through spring 2012 at four different community colleges were pretty dreadful. All throughout high school and during my first years of college, I was really struggling with bipolar disorder. It was difficult to show up for class when my depressive cycles took over my life. Currently, I’m doing my best to thrive and I have been seeing a therapist. I hope it is okay that I’ll be posting my grades/stats. I’d really like some advice.</p>
<p>Fall 2010 (College #1)
Mass Media & Society: F
Math 353 Learning Assistance: No grade or credit
Voice II: W
American Government: F
Model United Nations: A
Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality: F
GPA: 1.00</p>
<p>Spring 2011 (College #1)
The Psych of Gender: F
Intro Women’s Studies: F
GPA: 0.67</p>
<p>Spring 2011 (College #2)
American Government: W
Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality: F
GPA: 0.00</p>
<p>Summer 2011 (College #3)
Ethics: W
GPA: 0.00</p>
<p>Fall 2011
Fundamentals of Biology: F
Choreography for Dance Majors: W
Environmental Geology: F
Introduction to Theatre: W
Showcase: W
GPA: 0.00</p>
<p>Spring 2012 (College #4)
The American Cinema: F
Intro to Dance Appreciation: D
Elementary Japanese I: W
Forensics: B
GPA: 0.75 </p>
<p>Fall 2012
Art History-Mexico: B
Chican@s in Contemporary Society: W
Women in US History: B
Sociology of Women: A
Musical Theatre History: A
GPA: 3.5</p>
<p>Spring 2013 Schedule
Intro to Women’s Studies (College #1)
Mass Media and Society (College #1)
American Government (College #1)
Psychology of Gender (College #1)
Psychological Aspects of Human Sexuality (College #2)
Environmental Geology (College #3)
Logic and Critical Thinking (College #4)
Political Science Internship (College #4) </p>
<p>Summer 2013 Plan
Fundamentals of Biology (College #3)
Intermediate Algebra (College #1)</p>
<p>Essentially, I’m retaking all the classes that I failed. I’m really hoping that Smith will take this as academic renewal by course repetition as the University of California system does. I’m also worried with how they perceive Ws. Also, I’m not asking for anyone to chance me or anything. I just want another “traditional” nontraditional student to give me some suggestions on how to describe my situation to Smith.</p>
<p>My ECs include being the Founder/Chair of the FIRST Club (Furthering Initiative to Route Student Transfer), secretary of LAMBDA (Gay/Straight Alliance), and secretary/national award winner of Model United Nations. I’m a provisional but very active member of PTK and a member of various other clubs as well as an intern at my college’s transfer center. I am the chief organizer of an upcoming Disabled Students Forum. I am also going to present a paper on the connection between slut-shaming and violence at a conference. I plan on getting certified to volunteer as a sexual assault counselor and being a part of a human trafficking survivors’ foundation. </p>
<p>I feel like my ECs and hopefully my essays will be the strongest features on my application. I know Smith cares about the GPA and I know I can get a high one if they accept the new grades that I shall get for the classes I previously failed. </p>
<p>Ultimately, I know I’ll have to e-mail them so I guess my question is: where do I start and how do I phrase it? Anytime, I attempt to compose an e-mail to their California representative, I freeze. Any suggestions would be BEYOND appreciated. </p>
<p>My high school transcript is 2.7 weighted and 2.6 un-weighted but I am missing a whole year of English and math as well as 27 elective credits. I hope that I do well on my GED. Congratulations on the high scores! It’s unfortunate that high school was so stressful for us. I was planning on writing about my circumstances in the extra comments section or whatever it’s called. Is the paper submission something separate? </p>
<p>This also comes down to also being extremely fearful of the stigma attached to mental illness. I don’t want Smith to feel like it’s some sort of a crutch. I really didn’t have the resources to cope with the challenges for a while. Fortunately, I’ve been reaching out for help and things have been better. I’m still afraid of their reactions and I can’t seem to find the words. How do I tell Smith that if I’m accepted as a Smithie, I will fight for mental health awareness from a position of knowledge and experience? How do I tell them that I believe that being a student at Smith will provide me with an education that I’ve always yearned for? </p>
<p>Thank you so much for offering to help, I am so grateful. I really hope that you get accepted!</p>
<p>radiosonde: Congratulations on being a Smithie! What are your stats and/or your friend’s stats? You don’t need to be as descriptive as I was but it’d be interesting to create profiles to configure an idea of what Smith is looking for. Thanks!</p>
<p>Also, an OPEN CURRICULUM?! That’s dandy for freshman applicants but how will transfers know what classes to take for their majors? I’ve been taking everything associated with women/feminist studies/ethnic studies for my major. Is that sufficient?</p>
<p>Hello everyone! I am also a prospective transfer student and have decided to join this thread as we await our decisions!</p>
<p>@Daphums: I feel as though you should state it just as it is. What might also help is getting your therapist or someone who has seen your mental health improve to send Smith a letter stating your improvements (such as a doctor, etc). I took a year off of school due to some health issues as well, and I explained that in the extra comments section (or I forgot what section it was, really…but I explained it somewhere haha). Smith e-mailed me back within a week asking for a letter from a doctor stating that I’m cleared to return back to college studies. They might ask that from you, too, and if they don’t it never hurts to send them one anyway. Although I commend you on working hard now, best of luck!</p>
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<p>あああ！きみがよみますか？はなしますか？ Sorry, I’m a total novice!</p>
<p>If I had gone to college when I dropped out of high school, I think that I would have had a very similar situation. I think that you and I are really alike! I have been struggling with a personality disorder however, so I feel as though what you’re dealing with is on a much more overwhelming level. I’m so happy to hear that you’re getting helped. Now, on to some of your questions…</p>
<p>give me some suggestions on how to describe my situation to Smith…
In the CommonApp application, there are many different areas where this would work out. I mentioned earlier the “education interruption” section; here, you can check off all the apply, things like, “took a gap year”, “received GED”, “changed secondary schools”. Below this, it states" Provide details on the item(s) checked above." Here you can submit a page describing what happened. I wrote a couple long paragraphs about my situation.
Then, you get your prompts. Think about these while you have the time! </p>
<p>*Please briefly elaborate on one of your extracurricular activities or work experiences in the space below (1000 character maximum). </p>
<p>*Please provide a statement (appr. 250-500 words) that addresses your reasons for transferring and the objectives you hope to achieve.</p>
<p>Here, you can write these things- How do I tell Smith that if I’m accepted as a Smithie, I will fight for mental health awareness from a position of knowledge and experience? How do I tell them that I believe that being a student at Smith will provide me with an education that I’ve always yearned for?
As well as in the Smith supplemental “essay”(short paragraph haha).
What specific aspects of Smith College will better meet your academic goals? (Limit your response to 100 words.)</p>
<p>On the whole e-mailing bit, I say e-mail early. Send the representative a few questions about what they expect from a transfer who is in your situation. I think that they would take the time in the spring/fall to give you much better advice than we could here on CollegeConfidential. </p>
<p>I hope to hear back from you soon!</p>
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<p>And, of course, welcome!</p>
<p>I’m planning to pursue English. I was studying English at my old college and I know that Smith has a really good English program! Yourself?</p>
<p>And I’m transferring from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. It’s also a women’s liberal arts college, so that’s where my focus is on transferring.</p>
<p>And nice to meet you too! :)</p>
<p>That’s so cool! I hope that you’ll be joining me in the northeast then~!
It’s certainly a great place to be. </p>
<p>I’m planning on a major in Education, with a minor in East Asian Languages/Linguistics and such. I want to teach English, so I think that I will be taking a lot of English classes!</p>
<p>What made you decide to transfer?</p>
<p>Yeah Smith’s English program is wonderful from what I can tell! I really hope to be in the Northeast too. And that’s so neat! I’m really interested in taking Japanese, wherever it is I choose to go. I love foreign languages. Did you apply anywhere else other than Moho and Smith??</p>
<p>And I decided to transfer because…I just wasn’t happy where I was. Haha. I wish my reason for transferring would’ve been much more interesting, but it’s just as it is heh.</p>