I have applied to UCLA, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, UC Berkeley, Stanford, Columbia, Yale, NYU, USC, and George Washington University. Looking to find out my chances for each, and the chances of getting Regents Scholarships for UCs or scholarships at the others.
Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
Economic Background: Upper-Middle Class
Residence: CA
GPA: 4.0
Major: Political Science
EC: Student Government, College Newspaper, Student Ambassador, Religious Community Service, Community Service, Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, published poet, 2 internships at 2 different California State Departments, work experience.
Essays: Solid (I would rate 7-8/10)
Letters of Rec: 1 good , 1 OK ( professors sent me copies after they were submitted)
Let me know what I should be expecting!
Solid chances at all UC’s, NYU, and USC. USC is especially (comparatively, still quite selective) transfer friendly but only if it feels you have taken the right courses. Berkeley might be more stingy given their political science department’s prestige. Stanford and Columbia are doubtful because it is just as hard to transfer in as with regular admission, but maybe. With Yale, without more information, I think I have to give a flat “no”. They admit a number of transfers that I can count with one hand, and usually it’s only because they are the only place where you can continue the work you do. Essentially, it requires you to prove that your current university is limiting you, and more than likely will require a Yale faculty advocate who wants you to work with them (this is true at Stanford and Columbia as well, but to a less strict extent). I think you’re gonna have some good options though.
Ah, so turns out you do believe in the transfer process for some people.
To respond to the OP, you should get into most of the UCs, thought Berkeley could be tough. Stanford requires a major hook or faculty rec. Columbia not as much, but still in the single digits for admission rate (not going to be better than ~10%). USC is pretty easy to transfer into relatively so you should get in there (assuming you have sound transfer rationale which is imperative to all these transfer admissions - if your only rationale is “feeling” like your school isn’t right or something weak, you won’t get into a lot of places.
@CharlesDavis @ThisOneKid
So I should of clarified, I am a current California Community College student.
lol I think @CharlesDavis has a crush on me. And yeah, transferring makes sense if you’re coming from a community college, not if you are a full scholarship student at a top 25 university citing reasons that are ubiquitous with EVERY other major university. You want a specific program? Fine, do it, but don’t whine about not having opportunities (both social and academic) that everyone else utilizes.
Sorry this dude had to go and make your post about us @POTUS2040
I think I echo what most of the above posters said. Another important question are you a sophomore or junior transfer? I’m assuming you are a junior transfer but if you are a sophomore your test scores and HS GPA will still carry some weight.
I think you have a good shot at most of the UC’s + USC, GWU, and perhaps NYU.
On the other hand the ivy’s seem to be a reach. Especially for Stanford and Yale (they literally select a dozen kids). Good luck!
@ThisOneKid Dude there are so many transfer students from top 25 universities. If there weren’t, why would these universities even have transfer programs? I just talked to 4 kids who transferred out of USC today, 2 to Northwestern and 2 to Brown University. Get your facts straight bro. I never whined about things that everyone else utilizes. You going to tell me people are taking classes in Data Science, Machine Learning, Networked Systems, etc? That’s a straight up lie. Those don’t even exist at USC at the undergrad level, and except for 1 tiny graduate ML courses, classes in those areas don’t exist at all. Again, get your facts straight. My reasons are 90% academic, and they aren’t about things that exist at the school. If that was the case I’d probably be illiterate (unable to read the CS course catalog) and also stand 0 chance in my transfer apps since the colleges would say “hey this guy wants to transfer to find things that are already at his own school!”.
And regarding @POTUS2040 's actual post - it should help at the UCs if you’re from california cc. But again at the other institutions, it matters that you have sound transfer rationale. For me, I talk about specific courses and programs that I want and then specify those for each college. If your reason is too vague (general social discontent or general dislike of the school), then you won’t get in. But if its something specific (usually academic), then you should be good.
@CharlesDavis @ThisOneKid
Lmao. Ya’ll got more beef here than an In N Out.
@POTUS2040 LOL yeah tell me about it.
Problem is @ThisOneKid claims I have no intelligence despite being a full scholarship student at USC. He also claims nobody transfers out of top 25 universities even though that’s straight up a lie. And lastly he claims lies about the CS program at USC (i.e. there are classes available in data science, networks and machine learning), when if you look at the catalog, those courses are non-existent LOL.
If anything @Potus2040 deserves to be at USC over @ThisOneKid. can’t even lose an argument without behaving like a 2 year old.
Oh he’s mad. What’s even funnier is that he just obsesses over me day in and day out. As another full scholarship kid at USC (OMG OMG LOOK AT ME WOW WOW WOW I MUST BE A GENIUS), I have homework. Maybe if you weren’t more dedicated to Internet arguments over schoolwork or a social life, you’d be a happier guy at USC @CharlesDavis . Just a thought. (If you listen closely, you can hear him scrambling to say how high his GPA is and how many friends he has.)
Oh, and believe me, there are some real dumb dumbs with scholarships (and I’m sure @CharlesDavis will back me up on this because he would LOVE to tell you all about my stupidity). They don’t test for emotional maturity on the SAT, so it tends to happen once in a while. Now, as for “behaving like a 2 year old”, you should see my message box. It’s hilarious, it really is. No matter what I do I can’t get the point across that I don’t care. And if I did care, there are two options. 1). He miraculously has a change of heart and thinks that my arguments are valid and stays. Ok, so I win. 2) He keeps dragging this out and insulting me, finally transferring out of my school and losing his scholarship. Sounds good to me! It’s the true definition of a win-win.
Moral of the story: FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, JUST QUIT TYPING OR THEY WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU ALONE
lol maybe the national merit scholars who just took a test for the scholarship. pretty sure you can’t be immature and get past the interview for explore lol. but nice try again!!
and never knew spending 5-10 minutes was “obsessing” over you. Wow you must have a tough time with social relationships then.
On a different note, @CharlesDavis @ThisOneKid
How does one get a full scholarship, or even partial, based on merit for USC?
I think its only for freshman, but USC gives out a ton of merit scholarships. You have to get selected for an interview and then based on that they give you half, full or full+stipend. Think transfers may be able to get some smaller ones (quarter).
@CharlesDavis
Is there a separate application, or is it based on your Common App?