<p>how do I show that I have passed proficiency tests (I passed general chemistry and calculus 1) in my applications?</p>
<p>thanks a lot entonom. you’re a great help! (I may keep on asking questions here till 15th of March lol!)</p>
<p>^You’re very welcome, ask away! </p>
<p>You can note it in the Additional Information section. Is it possibly marked on your college transcript?</p>
<p>I’m planning to visit my old high school tomorrow to get a transcript sent to a school on which I have already submitted part of my application and fee (has the earliest deadline). I figured since I’m already going there, could I also send transcripts to the two other schools in which I plan on applying even though I haven’t submitted anything else for them yet? Or can you only start sending in forms once you submit the application for the school and/ or payed the fee?</p>
<p>You can submit any part of your application at any time. When a school receives something from you they will start a file under your name. They will then wait to evaluate your application until everything is complete and you have paid the fee.</p>
<p>Just make sure that your name is consistent for all pieces of your application, so that they don’t get put into different files.</p>
<p>@entomom
I think I’ll ask my dean about those proficiency tests.</p>
<p>I’m still confused whether I should ask my mathematics professor for LOR or not. he doesn’t know my name. I have taken the math final and currently my grade is 90.94, I don’t know if it’s an A or A minus yet, still waiting for the curve. The final exams week in my college is almost over, last one is on the 18th. </p>
<p>Would it be awkward if I suddenly come to his office and ask for LOR? What should I say? or should I ask my next semester’s professor for LOR? though it will be very risky coz some of the deadlines are on 1st of march and my spring 2010 semester starts on 17th. that’s too little time to be known by a professor.</p>
<p>If you ask your math teacher, don’t just suddenly go to his office, instead send him an email asking to make an appointment to see him as you want to discuss a LOR from him. This gives him a heads up to what you want to talk to him about. </p>
<p>As far as who to ask, go to classes on the 17th, give yourself that first 2 weeks of class to scope out your new profs and see if you might find one who’s easy to get to know. You’ll also want to check when your tests are for each class, I can’t imagine any prof would be willing to write a LOR if they don’t have a test or two to go by. That gives you until Feb 1 to either ask your math teacher or a new prof. </p>
<p>Sorry I can’t give you a definitive answer, because there really isn’t one :(.</p>
<p>thank you very much for the insights! </p>
<p>yes this is really confusing ><</p>
<p>ummm… I got 700 in SAT II physics and 800 in both Math I and II. if a college only asks for 2 SAT IIs, will sending my physics score as an ‘extra’ harm my chance? or am I better off sending just my math scores?</p>
<p>You should send them all, usually schools want two different subject tests and will only consider one of the Math subject tests.</p>
<p>A few more questions heh…</p>
<p>I’m just about finished with my essays and am getting ready to send everything in, hopefully right before Christmas :). I was just wondering how I go about sending my high school transcripts? My family moved after I graduated and I no longer live anywhere near where I went to high school (8+ hours drive back there heh) so I’m not sure how to get them sent. I remember last year, I just dropped addressed envelopes at the guidance office and they would just send em off. How should I go about doing this now? On a similar note, how does my current college send gpa/transcript to the one’s I’m applying to? Do I need to request them to get sent? </p>
<p>Thanks in advance!!</p>
<p>You can always try to call the school and ask them the best option. When I was in New York I needed a transcript from my high school and my dad was able to go in the office and get it taken care of. Most of the time they just need a signature or some type of approval. If no one can physically be there they may send you the transcript form and have you fax/mail it back.</p>
<p>As for your college you have to make a request at the registrar office to have it sent to whatever school(s) you are applying to. The usually have a couple options of request; one in which you can go in person and request it and another by mail. Check on your school website and check under transcripts. It should explain the procedures specific to your school.</p>
<p>Thanks for the answer :). I guess I’ll just call up my high school and see where it goes from there. Regarding college transcripts: I just checked their site, but grades for this semester won’t be posted until January 29 and therefore won’t be reflected on the transcript, but the deadline for one of the colleges I’m applying to is January 15. This is the only semester of college I have, so would it be okay if the transcript comes in late?</p>
<p>^I would give the college you’re applying to a call and explain your situation. They need to know that a college transcript sent before the due date won’t show any grades, only the courses you took this semester. Most applicants don’t have this problem as official grades are available earlier, since your situation is different, call them.</p>
<p>I have a question related to AndrewB2351’s…
I don’t live near my high school and from what I understand many private colleges require a secondary school report with the high school transcript. I went to a big high school and don’t have relationships with any of the counselors there. How important is the secondary school report in the application process?</p>
<p>More important if you’re a soph transfer, much less so if you’re applying for a jr transfer.</p>
<p>What if I’m a freshman in college but I have enough units to be considered a junior? (I took a lot of community college classes in high school and did well in them)</p>
<p>Here’s a question I’m not sure was answered yet in here: is it ok to send materials before I’ve submitted the application? Will they just start a file on me?</p>
<p>Banana,
I’d guess that the HS Secondary report would hold less weight in your case because you have more of a college record than most soph transfers.</p>
<p>af,
Yes, you can submit pieces of your application in any order and they will start a file under your name. Just be sure that your name is the same on all materials.</p>
<p>Hey entomom,
I’m a freshman at a top 10 LAC thinking about transferring because it’s really, really expensive. I’m also looking for greater breadth of classes in math and science. I’m looking mainly at my state school but also at a few private schools that are generous with aid (MIT, Grinnell, Brown, Northwestern). In my essays for the private schools, is it OK for me to say that money is one reason I’m transferring? Or should I just steer clear of that topic and focus on the math/science bit? And when I ask my professors for recommendations and they ask me why I’m transferring…is it OK to tell them as well, or is that not a good idea?
Thanks!</p>
<p>That’s a good question, and while money is a practical consideration, I haven’t thought much about bringing it up in a transfer essay. </p>
<p>I don’t know which LAC you attend and am not familiar with all of their COA and FA policies, but I have a hard time imagining that cost will be very different between a top 10 LAC and the schools you’ve listed. Seems like most, meet 100% of need, and as a transfer I don’t think merit aid is involved (unless Grinnell has merit for transfers). Is there something concrete that makes you think these schools will offer you more FA if accepted? Particularly B which is need-aware for transfers AND states that it doesn’t have a lot of FA for transfers.</p>
<p>That may be a moot point, as I think that you probably shouldn’t discuss the money aspect even though it is an important factor in attending college. I don’t think you want to bring up the possibility that a school thinks you’re transferring for their money. In a sense, the reasons for applying to a school as a fr and transfer are similar (you just have more information about college and your needs as a transfer), and you would never think of saying as a fr that you’re applying due to their generous FA policy or lower COA. Of course everyone knows how much schools cost and which schools give more FA, but it’s not something that’s stated as a reason for applying.</p>
<p>As I said, these are really my first thoughts on this, and if someone has similar or contrary opinions, please speak up. I’m not sure I’ve looked at your question in all possible ways, and I don’t want to steer you wrong.</p>
<p>Well, I applied early decision and my package was pretty slim…I think when you apply ED you get less money, b/c the consensus among my friends that applied ED is that school is very expensive, while everyone else got generous packages. So it’s on this basis that I assume I’ll get more money if I apply from a nonbinding position (Grinnell also has a much better policy regarding merit aid/loans for me, and I used an EFC calculator on MIT’s website and came up with an EFC about $11,000 less than what I get right now.). </p>
<p>I think you’re probably right about the essays. My other question was, to apply to Grinnell and MIT, I have to ask 2 professors (as well as my high school counselor) to write recommendations for me. I’ll probably ask my math and science professors, and I feel almost…mean…to tell them I’m transferring because solely because their respective departments are bigger and better at Grinnell and MIT. Should I mention that cost is also a factor, or is this something sticky that is better left unsaid? (I mean everyone knows it is, but it’s also pretty personal and I don’t want to make anyone uncomfortable). What about with my high school counselor?</p>