Top 20 Transfer with Low GPA

<p>Hey all, wanted to get some insight about my chances at transferring. I'm currently at a top 20 school (WUSTL) and am looking to start fresh as a junior elsewhere, but with my grades, I'm really not sure where I should be looking.</p>

<p>College GPA is a 2.7x, (2.7,3.3,2.3 semesters - planning on making a 3.5 or so this semester)
Moderate extracurricular involvement in college/HS
Strong essays, can easily explain the fluctuation in my grades
680/800/660 (CR/M/W) SAT
3.7 GPA at a top private school
significant community service, jobs, honors</p>

<p>Can I even imagine looking at schools like Northwestern, Columbia, Penn, NYU?
Or can it be more like Tufts, BU, Nova?
Or at this point is it best to stick it out at WUSTL because it's a top tier school and anywhere else would be such a big step down that I'd be shooting myself in the foot.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>1) how is applying to Columbia/Penn “a big step down”?
2) what school at NYU?</p>

<p>Sorry for the confusion, when I said big step down, I meant that if you guys thought I wouldn’t be at all realistic to apply to a top 50 school. Penn and Columbia would obviously be steps up and Northwestern would be at least a lateral move, if not better. </p>

<p>And I’d be looking at Arts & Sciences</p>

<p>your gpa is too low for an upward, or even a lateral, transfer. I would suggest just sticking with your current school and finishing strong, as WUSTL is a fantastic school.</p>

<p>No offense, but your GPA is really low for the schools you’re considering. Is WUSTL really unbearable for you, or are you just trying to “transfer up?” If the latter is the case, then I think you should just stick to your current school.</p>

<p>Thanks for the responses.</p>

<p>WUSTL is fine for me, academically speaking (I realize that my GPA does not reflect this), and no I’m not looking to just transfer up. WUSTL just isn’t the right fit for me on a few levels, and most importantly, I’m really looking for an opportunity to start over in at new school with a clean slate, socially, academically, and otherwise.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>With your GPA, the only schools you’d be able to transfer will be way below WUSTL, so just stay where you are, and try to get better grades before you graduate.</p>

<p>I encourage you to broaden your experience at WashU. We all know that it’s a GREAT school. If you’re less than ecstatic with your experiences, look for new ones! There are a million avenues. If you look diligently, you will find the ones that work for you!</p>