<p>What kind of things should I be doing in order to have a chance at a top 20 school? Other than the high gpa...</p>
<p>wanting to go to a top 20 school just because it’s a “top 20” school is not really a wise decision in my opinion. especially given that for the transfer students for these top 20 schools they’re looking for sincerity and genuine interest.</p>
<p>perhaps you should evaluate why you want to go to a given school more thoroughly before you let a rankings list decide where you’ll continue your education.</p>
<p>this is about education, isn’t it? this whole “college thing”? not just going to a highly ranked school?</p>
<p>Well Yale has always been my dream school, but from what I understand they have a 2-3% acceptance rate for transfer students, so obviously I’m not going to get my hopes up. Going to another quality school, regardless of its ranking, would be perfect :). I also hope to go to law school, and a top education will certainly help me with that.</p>
<p>Okay, what I would do is this. Since Yale is your school of choice, you should go to the Yale forum on this college confidential board and ask them questions about your chances of admission there. </p>
<p>I attend a tier 4 school and I have been accepted into Georgia Tech, UGA, and University of Maryland: College Park as a transfer already. Georgetown has given me some likely acceptances but I am not sure as to how that will turn out. My advice to you is this:</p>
<ol>
<li>Keep a high GPA (3.8+)</li>
<li>Retake the SAT if you have to and try to score a 2150 or above.</li>
<li>Do some work around your college, join clubs, aim for leadership positions in those clubs, do the alternative spring break program and tutor kids, aim for getting some volunteer hours. Basically, beef up your resume and do as much as your schedule allows.</li>
<li>Be a good student in college, come to class every single time, sit in the front, try to talk to your professors so maybe one day they can write you a letter of recommendation. Mines wrote me one for Cornell and he knows someone who works admissions there.</li>
<li>Construct your essays well.</li>
</ol>
<p>Actually, I wouldn’t suggest retaking the SAT. Some schools do require SAT Subject Tests though. </p>
<p>I suggest visiting some of the schools you are interested to get a feel for them. Do NOT go in based on a ranking. I know plenty of students that have gotten into very prestigious law schools from fourth tier universities.</p>
<p>Your resume should show the types of things you have a passion for, not just a bunch of clubs you joined.</p>