So...(general question about chances)

Transfer Students
1

<p>So I did alright in high school (graduated with around a 3.2 UW GPA but took enough honors classes that it ended up around a 3.8 W) and got around a 1940 on the SATs. I applied to a wide variety of schools but I ended up going to my local state school because I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do at the time. </p>

<p>I'm now in my sophomore year of college, and my GPA is looking to be about a 3.6 (or possibly a little higher if I keep doing well this semester). I'd like to transfer to a bit of a rigorous school, but I don't know if I'd really have a chance at any of the places I'm looking at. I was considering:</p>

<p>Grinnell
Reed
Macalester
Colorado College
University of Wisconsin
College of William and Mary (would be in-state for me)
University of Virginia (would be in-state for me)</p>

<p>and a couple other colleges that I'm pretty sure I'd have a good shot of getting accepted out. Now, keeping in mind that my current school isn't exactly the most rigorous of colleges, do you think I'd have a shot at any of those places with a convincing essay and direct contact with the admissions people, showing my interest? ..(writing is, and always has been, my strongest point) If not (which is most likely the case), could you recommend any schools with a similar feel that I'd have a better shot at?</p>

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<p>
[quote]
Now, keeping in mind that my current school isn't exactly the most rigorous of colleges, do you think I'd have a shot at any of those places with a convincing essay ..

[/quote]
Yes.</p>

<p>Your current school not being rigorous is a strong point in your favor, as it gives you a very strong reason for transfer.</p>

<p>My guess is that contact with admissions people is of less importance than:
*good college GPA
*good recs
*good essays.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

3

<p>All of those are selective; try to increase your GPA, as you have already mentioned. Check our the transfer acceptance rate for those schools (collegeboard.com); Grinnell, where I transferred to, has a high transfer acceptance rate, compared to its peers (and is GREAT because it has no distribution requirements and thus it is no headache to transfer and graduate on-time). You've got an advantage at UVA and W&M, as well. Think about re-taking the SAT, if you didn't meet the school's average before. I don't know how much it helped me, but being above the 75% for the school couldn't have hurt.</p>