<p>I'm going to be a sophomore at UMass Amherst next semester. I'm in the Isenberg School of Management (business school) there.</p>
<p>During my freshman year, I took mostly introductory classes and classes that I was good at to achieve a good gpa.</p>
<p>High school gpa: 3.2 (horrible I know I don't plan on including this when applying for transfer)
UMass gpa: 3.98 (I will try to maintain my gpa next semester)
SAT: around 2000</p>
<p>ec's
- 200+ volunteer hours
- taught english in china
- M.E.E.I lab internship
- restaurant cashier
- YMCA band
- database analyst (current job at Umass)
- catering position (this summer..maybe)</p>
<p>These are all my ec's throughout high school and first year of college. I know it's nothing spectacular and unfortunately I couldn't find an internship this summer.</p>
<p>I took about 38 credits of classes my freshman year (average is 30).</p>
<p>I'm thinking of applying to:
Columbia
University of Chicago
NYU (Stern)
Washington University</p>
<p>What are my chances at these schools? Also are there any schools within the New England area that I should consider? My major is business. Thanks a lot!</p>
<p>Just a note: some schools may require you to send your HS GPA, but will not really give it much weight. As for chances, a 3.98 puts you in a good position provided you write great essays.</p>
<p>Very solid GPA, of course, but the rest is pretty weak for Columbia/Ivy League. Your high school GPA, even though you will be a junior transfer, is a serious liability, and your SATs are mediocre at best. I would spend the time crafting a perfect application and getting the best possible recs you can, because you can’t change the hard factors this late in the game. Stack the deck in your favor by making every other component of your application as solid as it can possibly be.</p>
<p>Any recommendations on who I should ask to write my recs? Because most of my classes last year had a few hundred students so I barely got to know my professor. However, there were only like 20 students in my English class but she’s a graduate TA.</p>
<p>Yale allows you to retake the exam as a college student. I know because I asked for myself.
I, personally, don’t think that your SAT score is mediocre, but if that’s a concern for you, you might want to retake it to offset your high school GPA.</p>
<p>Even though it’s not a 4.0, your college GPA and test score, essay and recs would be more important. Since you can’t change what you did in HS, focus on what you can do and improve.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m going to retake the SATs because I personally think that it will be a waste of time and I won’t do much better. However, I do think that my SAT scores is on the lower end for the schools that I’m applying to. How much do they weight SAT scores and hs GPA?</p>
<p>I have been thinking about Cornell, the thing is that it’s in the middle of nowhere (major reason why I don’t like UMass) and it’s really sad there…heard it has the highest student suicide rate in the nation. As for Tufts, I probably won’t apply to because the business program there isn’t that great.</p>
<p>Also, I have a major concern in transferring from a state school to a top tier school. The courses at UMass (at least for my freshman year) isn’t that rigorous. If I transfer into a school like Columbia I’m afraid I won’t do nearly as well. The last thing I want to do is to graduate with a mediocre GPA even if it’s at a top school. For the people who transferred schools, was this a problem or am I just being paranoid.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m going to retake the SATs because I personally think that it will be a waste of time and I won’t do much better. However, I do think that my SAT scores is on the lower end for the schools that I’m applying to. How much do they weight SAT scores and hs GPA?</p>
<p>I have been thinking about Cornell, the thing is that it’s in the middle of nowhere (major reason why I don’t like UMass) and it’s really sad there…heard it has the highest student suicide rate in the nation. As for Tufts, I probably won’t apply to because the business program there isn’t that great.</p>
<p>Also, I have a major concern in transferring from a state school to a top tier school. The courses at UMass (at least for my freshman year) isn’t that rigorous. If I transfer into a school like Columbia I’m afraid I won’t do nearly as well. The last thing I want to do is to graduate with a mediocre GPA even if it’s at a top school. For the people who transferred schools, was this a problem or am I just being paranoid.</p>
<p>There are many great schools between UMass and Columbia.</p>
<p>Trasferring to an ivy from a much less selective school is not going to be about a high GPA. You must get to know profs for meaningful recs. Significant work outside of the classroom will be important. The whole picture, from high school grades, SATs and everything current is important at very top schools.</p>
<p>from your list, my guess is that only Stern is a realistic reach (only if you can afford it though). You might consider schools like UVA and UNC which have much beteter business programs than where you are but are not only taking a few percent of applicants.</p>
<p>^ that’s true, especially I found out that the transfer rate into those ivies are sub 10%. Also, do you guys advise me to apply to schools that doesn’t have a business program (despite the fact that I want to major in business) like Vanderbilt?</p>
<p>Will my business class credits from UMass transfer over to schools that doesn’t have a business program?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Will my business class credits from UMass transfer over to schools that doesn’t have a business program? </p></li>
<li><p>Can someone give me some tips to write the transfer essay? Should I write a generic one or a custom one for each school?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I agree with Wayward - impressive stats for one year, but I would not expect admission into the schools considered. A bit arbitrary, I know, but your SAT score is still going to hinder you, despite the fact SATs are not valued as much for junior transfers. The competition is just too fierce now, compared to what it was just four to five years ago. </p>
<p>I encourage you to apply - but I certainly would not build your hopes up. An entire year of waiting until May is not worth it.</p>
<p>@stewartudall: i agree that my chances aren’t high for those schools…it also won’t be the end of the world if i don’t get into any because i wouldn’t mind staying at umass.</p>
<p>but can someone answer my 2 questions?</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Will my business class credits from UMass transfer over to schools that doesn’t have a business program?</p></li>
<li><p>Can someone give me some tips to write the transfer essay? Should I write a generic one or a custom one for each school?</p></li>
</ol>
<p>You are definitely competitive for Stern. Stern WILL want to see a custom essay, only because it is to your benefit to mention how being in NYC will help you professionally. You will also want to mention what facets of Stern’s philosophy appeal to you. Write about the opportunities that Stern will give you that UMASS will not. </p>
<p>All in all, I would definitely give it a shot. It bears repeating that our transfer financial aid SUCKS so keep that in mind. Good luck!</p>