Last year, as a high school senior, I was admitted to several top colleges (UChicago, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, etc.), but I ended up attending a lower school (top 50) because of a merit scholarship. Furthermore, I have been living at home and commuting (I live nearby). I would like to leave home and attend a stronger school. My first semester GPA was 3.95 with 19 credit hours and my SAT M+CR is 1550. I am primarily interested in Penn, MIT, Harvard, and Stanford, and UChicago. I am currently majoring in math, but also have an interest in theoretical computer science. My school is not very strong in either of these areas (most research is biology directed). Any advice would be appreciated.
Is money no longer an issue? b/c transfer $$ are thinner on the ground, and if your package from Chicago wasn’t good enough the first time, it’s not going to be this time. IIRC, Chicago is one of the schools that sends you a ‘we’re sorry you didn’t choose us but we will keep your file open for a year in case you change your mind’ note when you say no, thanks, to their offer- if you got one of those follow it up.
Your stats are obviously excellent, but the challenge (esp w/ HSM) is that there are simply so few transfer spaces. Your ‘why I want to move to your school’ essay will be important- the more you know about their programs and how they fit with what you looking for the better.
Are you applying to any REU’s for this summer? If so, you may be able to piggy-back some of your essays.