TIPS to apply as transfer during freshmen year to Columbia?

<p>I'm a HS senior and i was rejected from Columbia, but i kind of want to apply as a transfer next spring because it has literally everything i could ever want. </p>

<p>By that time, i'll have 8 AP's and (hopefully, probably) all 4's and 5's (so nat'l AP scholar?). i'm a national merit scholar, 2330 SAT (740M/790CR/800W), and significant EC's are national art honor society, writing, and classical indian dance. 3.83 GPA unweighted. (i'm indian & female, from a public school in NY state). class rank = 8/334. I'll have some credits from APs, plus credits from Harvard Summer from '09 in intro psych and modern dance. </p>

<p>i'm hoping to do a lot of independent studying this summer, does anyone know something more that I should do to make myself a more attractive applicant (other than get the highest grades possible in this coming year)?
Some things I'm planning now are: SAT tutoring business, learning more Spanish, teaching myself Hindi, and teaching Indian dance classes. </p>

<p>On Columbia's website, they said they admit about 100/1300 transfer applicants a year.
will i be disadvantaged significantly coming from a private college (Tufts)? Are they looking more for students transferring from community colleges or state schools who are looking to "upgrade"? </p>

<p>My major reason would be that Columbia has stronger programs and Majors (where Tufts only has minors, or nothing) in 3-4 subject areas that I have strong interests in. I feel like I would be able to do it, I just need to know what to do in the coming 8 months! Please help :)</p>

<p>How about attempting to love Tufts first?</p>

<p>Being so set on something might hurt you.</p>

<p>i’m only set on it because of academics, i know i’ll love tufts…</p>

<p>and i need to start planning now, or i probably won’t have a chance!</p>

<p>You know, Columbia and Tufts’ academics probably won’t be DRASTICALLY different…</p>

<p>did you read my first post…i don’t mean that just because i’m at an ivy my education will be a million times better, </p>

<p>columbia has a major in education, a major in business, hindi classes, and the core. tufts has none of those things. i am very interested in all of those things. </p>

<p>how about you read a little before you judge me as one of the typical whiny ivy-tinted-glasses college confidential poster? thanks.</p>

<p>it does not have a major in business, though it does have hindi.</p>

<p>to other folks: your comments here are not necessarily helpful. he/she must simultaneously love Tufts, and be open to loving other places - in case transferring doesn’t work, but also to give him/herself best chance to transfer. and guess what? the OP already knows this!</p>

<p>to the OP: you have a solid head on your shoulders, get over the fact columbia does not have a business major, and you’ll have a solid shot at CU. :)</p>

<p>to be clear re: education, it is a tough major to finish in 4 years let alone in 3, so make sure you consider core-like courses while at Tufts, and get some hands on experience in education that might feed into the application a sincere interest.</p>

<p>of course the big question is are you just upgrading, make sure that you give it your all at tufts to sort of clarify this isn’t the case, make sure you form a really good relationship with a prof who can speak to your talents, become involved, and above all write strong transfer statements that strike a balance between loving Columbia, desiring more, and not denigrating Tufts.</p>

<p>I understand where you’re coming from. I’ll be in a similar situation at Northeastern unless I get in off the waitlist. First of all Tufts is an amazing school. Somehow I was waitlisted at Columbia and rejected at Tufts, and I would have loved to go there, so know that this is definitely not a bad thing. But if it is not what you want, which is totally understandable, than take classes in those areas and challenge yourself outside those areas as well. Get involved and dominate your classes. One thing we both need to be careful of though, is not going into Tufts/Northeastern with a negative attitude. I understand it isn’t what you want, but you have to take this school seriously enough and engage yourself in the community as if you were staying there for 4 years. You will be able to make the most out of your freshman year this way and give yourself a better chance of transferring. Good luck.</p>

<p>where in upstate are you from, feel free to PM.</p>

<p>admissionsgeek: first off i’m a girl haha, thanks for the solid shot-ness</p>

<p>the business thing: oopsey! somehow i saw that in their course categories and thought those went by offered majors. regardless, there are a few specific divisons within economics that i would look into, and a dance major (through barnard, so that won’t be too emphasized) </p>

<p>for the hands-on experience in education, i’ve already done that for 2 years so i will definitely continue as much as i can. </p>

<p>trf1021 & admissionsgeek - thanks for the helpful advice!</p>

<p>anything else? </p>

<p>summer ideas? </p>

<p>i like dance, art, music, writing, (haha too many arts), reading, math, econ, cooking</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>It’s called Tufts syndrome, in case you haven’t heard.</p>

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<p>Look, I think the posters above have given you all you could possibly know. Frankly I don’t what else to tell you that would help you get in. Just don’t assume Columbians are wizards who can tell you exactly what you’ll do that’ll get you in. You know yourself and your situation best; do what caters to your interests/strengths/specialties which will show how committed you are.</p>

<p>If you find that cure to cancer, you’re very likely in. Does that help?</p>

<p>Have a 3.8X+ first semester GPA, participate in some organizations/publications/activities, obtain two positive letters of recommendation.</p>

<p>In your application to Columbia, be sure to explain thoroughly and convincingly your “compelling academic reasons.” The more clear and focused your goals are, and the better you can express them on paper, the greater the chance you’ll have. Demonstrate serious knowledge of specific departments and faculty members at Columbia, to show that you’ve done your research and know what you want, but don’t bash Tufts.</p>

<p>That’s it, really.</p>

<p>thanks kwu! :D</p>

<p>Its possible if u set your mind to it.
As stated above just keep ur GPA high i mean really high like 3.9
Get to know professors and get involved.
I know what really helped me was a great recommendation from my theology professor.
Also try and show that u have a plan and that u are working to fullfill it.
For me that meant interning all throughout the year. First at Citi and then a private investment bank. Sure it was hard but now I look back and it was def. worth it.</p>

<p>Plus ur stats are much better than mine were.</p>

<p>Good Luck :)</p>