<p>I have a 3.75 GPA at Davidson and will have taken 4 300+ level classes. I am currently a freshmen and will be applying for sophomore standing. I have strong ECs as well, primarily that I took a gap year before coming here and studied at a German University for a year on a government scholarship. As well, all of my other kinds of extracurriculars fall into the same international relations category, which was exemplified by that government scholarship, so I have shown determination/linear progression in that field of study.</p>
<p>Obviously, as well, recommendations really aren't an issue. In terms of my high school standing, I was in the top 15%-20% of a prestigious private school and have a 2100 SAT score (720 CR, 660M, 720 WR)</p>
<p>My weakest point is probably my highschool transcript which, though still very solid, is just not as excellent as I have been doing since that time. Also, my SAT scores are only okay, but I was wondering since I took that gap year if, since it has been 2 years since highschool, the admissions will look at me like a sophomore and therefore will put less emphasis on my highschool transcript.</p>
<p>Anyway, with all of this, I was under the impression I would have pretty strong transfer chances. But I was wondering...do schools realize that not all College grading policies are the same, because Davidson is a real ball buster so I hope they realize that. Anyway, please let me know what my chances are. Thanks so much.</p>
<p>Georgetown University (Please chance me for both the College and SFS as I have not yet decided which one I am going to apply to)</p>
<p>Davidson is known for being a very academically rigorous college. Competition for transfers is tough, however having a solid 3.75 from a notoriously challenging institution is a + in your favor. Also, I would recommend only applying to SFS if you have things to place on your application that indicate devotion to foreign service.</p>
<p>The difficulty in assessing your chances for transfer admission is that you have not shared a convincing reason why you want to transfer to Georgetown; this lack of a compelling reason to transfer is amplified by your statement that you aren't sure whether you will apply to Georgetown's SFS or CAS.
Your college GPA is fine for Georgetown as is your 1380/1600 SAT I. You may want to ask Georgetown if they want three SAT II test results for transfers as they do for freshmen.
Why do you want to leave Davidson?
Did you attend Andover, Exeter, St. Paul's or Groton?</p>
<p>The reason I desire to transfer is because, despite Davidson's excellence in many fields, it lacks the same kind of strength Gtown has in international relations. Davidson is a great school, but it is mainly geared towards training pre-professionals and thats just not what I am going for. Thus, I feel my reason for transferring makes sense since I desire to broaden my academic opportunities which are rather constrained in this environment. I attended another prestigious school in Washington D.C.</p>
<p>Will they look at my scores that intensively though, despite the fact I took a gap year and will have been out of high school for 2 years like a sophomore standing student?</p>
<p>Georgetown will certainly look at your SAT I score & your college GPA & your reason for wanting to transfer to SFS most closely. I suspect that Georgetown will also want to see your prep school transcript & your transcript from Germany. Georgetown may also require 3 SAT IIs. Your Washington D.C. based prep school may be able to help.</p>
<p>You mention that "...[Davidson] lacks the same kind of strength Gtown has in international relations. Davidson is a great school, but it is mainly geared towards training pre-professionals and thats just not what I am going for..."</p>
<p>As one who has many friends who are GU Alumni interviewers, some of whom read applications, I remind you--Georgetown isn't pre-professional? With a School of Foreign service, being a breeding ground for the State Dept and Federal Agencies, the MSB focusing on finance/corporate jobs and Nursing school placing into the medical sector, saying you desire an environment less focused on "training pre-professionals" is an unfounded statement. All of those schools, respectively, are professionally-focused. Less pre-professional schools would be a Davidson/Amherst/Williams. I'd encourage you to more fully develop your reasons for wanting to transfer.</p>
<p>With an acceptance rate for transfers at about 13% last year (2007-2008), the most clearly thought out reasons are probably those which get admitted. Good luck!</p>
<p>Does anyone know what are the credit requirements for transferring into SFS? As in, can I have any generic group of classes or do I have to have specific course credits in order to be considered for acceptance? Thanks</p>
<p>lotrfan, whil you're certainl right that the MSB and SFS are rather pre-professional (although the SFS somewhat less so), the deans I've spoken with in the college almost use the term as a dirty word. There really is a different attitue between schools in that regard.</p>
<p>DCforMe, are you surprised that the liberal arts college of Georgetown maligns its peer schools within the University? Such intra-university bashing is common elsewhere, yet it is the MSB and SFS that generate alumni donations, so the claims are largely unfounded, as an English major (nothing against them), is not likely to generate the earning power of a finance major or an SFS grad who goes into the private sector. So, yes, you are correct in asserting the College's feign for its pre-professional counterparts.</p>
<p>However, with regards to the initial post over the Davidson transfer student's inquiry into Georgetown, he cites an interest in the college and the SFS. Both require an entirely different essay and explanation of interests/motivations/etc. Thus, when the Admissions Committee reads an application, they hope its appropriately tailored for the respective program. Citing the SFS as being too "pre-professional" is a seemingly inaccurate assumption and, in my opinion, cast the applicant as uninformed and ignorant. </p>
<p>I would encourage the applicant to take a hard and deep look at Davidson's curriculum vis-a-vis Georgetown's. What is different about them? Aside from the overall mantra of each respective university, what else draws one to Gtown?</p>
<p>So if I decide to apply to SFS and can think up a good enough reason do you think I would have a shot at SFS? I am basically wondering if my credentials, based on how hard I believe SFS is supposed to be, can give me some kind of chance of getting in. Do you guys think my SATs or high school record will stop me from getting accepted there? Do you think I would have a better chance of just applying to the college?</p>