<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 (both SFS and the College b/c haven't decided yet which is harder)</p>
<p>The biggest problem you have is that most of the schools you are applying to are extremely prestigious schools, and you have taken very few courses at your current school (Davidson) up to this point. </p>
<p>When you have only taken one semester of college, the schools basically look at your high school GPA to see if you would have been accepted had you applied as a high school student. By your own admission, you would not have been accepted at any of these schools based upon that criteria--and the schools you have chosen are not likely to change their minds after a single college semester. The only thing that might change their minds is if you did very well in Germany--but since you didn't elaborate on that, I can't base my "chances" on courses you took there--and the schools are unlikely to base your chances on this school unless it is a very well-known one to them--which you didn't tell us.</p>
<p>I expect you will be rejected at all of the schools. On the other hand, if you can keep your GPA where it is for another year and apply as a sophomore coming into your new school as a junior, then you would have fair chances at Brown and Cornell, probably not such good chances at Duke and Columbia (where you probably need a 3.80 GPA minimum), and quite slim chances at Yale (where you would need about a 3.85 to 3.87 minimum GPA for admittance).</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>P.S. Most of these schools know how difficult the grading system is at other colleges--and do take this into consideration.</p>
<p>For how well I did academically in Germany, I successfully made Soldier 1st Class at Germany's prestigious Hein Uf Schelzu Institution. No one under the age of 25 had ever accomplished this feet and I made it at the age of 19 so I thought it would definitely give me a leg up.</p>
<p>The way I see it, wouldn't they treat my application like a sophomore standing student applying due to my gap year? Don't they realize that a year anywhere, much less another academic area, will allow someone to mature. I mean, for christsake I survived on the streets of Wukesong when these pansy kids being accepted to Harvard were still sucking on their momma's titties, and they don't think I should be accepted? I mean, it just doesn't make any sense when you think about. </p>
<p>Honestly, the majority of the kids accepted into these fine institutions are a bunch of embarrassing weaklings. People wonder why America is going down, well there is your answer.</p>
<p>If you did as well as you said at the German school--then yes, play that up and you might have chances at Cornell and Brown. After all, what you mentioned sounds like quite an accomplishment.</p>
<p>It sounds like you went to a school to prove your leadership--and that is something these schools do look for. I don't understand all of what you wrote though: Was this a military schoo?l--or a regular university?--since I don't understand the "soldier first class" designation you mention.</p>
<p>P.S. Being jealous of others' success is not a sign of maturity--nor is ranting about how life is unfair. Guess what?--mature people already realize this--and deal with it. </p>
<p>I'm sorry that you had to survive on your own at such a young age--but guess what, it happens--and, as you realize, it builds character. I went to a lower-ranked (Cal State) college at the age of 18, paid for it myself through odd jobs, and graduated before I was 20--because I had to--since my father simply couldn't afford it at the time. I was accepted to Brown originally--but had no money to go there. But guess what, I got through college, moved out even before finishing school and later got my MBA from UCLA and started my own successful business (although I now work as an executive for a regular firm).</p>
<p>My point is that you aren't the first one to have things tough, nor will you be the last--but if you are tough--and it appears you definitely are--then things will work out as long as you keep progressing towards your goals. But don't automatically assume that others didn't work hard for their successes. Maybe there are a bunch of students at Harvard that don't deserve it--but I'm sure there are others that do. "Rank" does allow some to have advantages that others are denied, but let's try not to generalize about everybody--especially when we don't know their situations.</p>