Transfer Chances for Cornell, U of Michigan, U of Madison Wisconsin, PSU, Duke

Transfer Students
1

<p>Please chance me! (I originally posted this in the 'Chance Me' thread but thought it would be more appropriate to post it here.)</p>

<p>I feel like my story is a bit unique. Before I post my stats I'll give a brief summary of my academic career thus far, and some information that will be useful to interpret my current academic standing.</p>

<p>I'll be applying as a Junior transfer student (Spring transfer) to the universities listed in the topic. My high school stats will be less important, but here they are.</p>

<p>White Male
High School Stats:
Unweighted GPA (4-point scale) 3.69
Weighted GPA: 3.75
Class Rank: Top ~10%
Honors: Graduated with honors, National Honors Society, Scholars</p>

<p>I am one of the first persons in my family to graduate high school, and the first person in my family to attend a four year university.</p>

<p>During high school my mother became terminally ill. After I graduated high school I attended a local community college to help my mother with any of her personal/medical needs. During my first year at the community college my mother's health conditions became worse. I maintained a 4.0 GPA my first semester and maintained an overall 3.75+ GPA the second semester. I was taking the most difficult courses I could at the community college and they were not challenging me, so I applied to a local four year university (one that was very close to home).</p>

<p>I was accepted to the local state university and received a Space Grant from NASA to study mathematics and physics. I was accepted into a science/math research program for undergraduate students at my college. I was amongst the first member of the research program (it was created that semester & we were the first students to receive funding). I was apart of a nanotechnology research cluster and my research applied directly to alternative energy. I presented my research during university research day. I was noted for being an outstanding student in the research program and was awarded for completing & presenting my research. My mother tragically died before I started my studies at the university and it greatly affected my GPA. The first semester I was very traumatized and was in great emotional pain due to my loss. I had below a 3.0 GPA (but I didn't do badly in any of my math courses).</p>

<p>During my second semester my grades vastly improved. I took the initiative and created a mathematical research group under a “big” named mathematician at my college & he became my research adviser. I recruited fellow students into my research cluster and we worked on original mathematical problems. Our research led to an abstract publication and I presented my research at three various conferences at my university. I was told if we continued our research and did a write up we would be able to publish our work in an undergraduate mathematics journal. Again, I was noted for being an outstanding student & a leader in the program. My GPA increased to a 3.3+ & is rising due to summer courses. I was awarded a large scholarship to join an 'upper-level' scientific research group due to my success in the program. I was accepted into the mathematics honors program and the university honors program is wanting to recruit me.</p>

<p>I applied and was accepted to a selective semester study program in mathematics at another university next year. I will be taking upper-level advanced undergraduate math courses (that normally aren't offered at the undergraduate level) and will be doing research in mathematics. All the courses will be honor courses. At my current institution I have taken a fair share of honor math classes.</p>

<p>My math GPA is much higher than my overall GPA. I will have (and already have) strong recommendations from my math professors.</p>

<p>I was considering transferring to William & Mary but it doesn't offer a graduate program in mathematics. I may also consider Northwestern.</p>

<p>The reason I am applying to these universities now is because I didn't have the chance to apply to them after high school because I wanted to take care of my mom.</p>

<p>If there are any other universities that have a good program in mathematics (which accepts spring transfers) please let me know!</p>

<p>If it makes any difference I would be consider in state for Duke University.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Hrm. I’d like to have some sort of input.</p>

3

<p>what is your cumulative college gpa? and SAT score? youre going to need strong recommendations for duke/cornell/NU, as well as specific reasons why you want to transfer to those schools. but with your story, looks like you have a shot at the elites if your cumulative gpa is not too low</p>

4

<p>My cumulative GPA is 3.32 or so. I do not recall offhand, but it was a large increase from the 2.7 range. My GPA will be higher once I finish my summer sessions. So it may be in the 3.4 range once summer school is over. Cornell specifically stated on their website that the SAT score was optional for a transfer student. My SAT scores were quite low. I had an anxiety attack and never retook them. If my SAT scores were accurate I would not have been as successful as I have been in my research clusters, nor would I have been accepted to the prestigious mathematics study semester program. I have strong recommendations from my math professors and figure I’ll have better recommendations after I attend this program. I think I no longer want to apply to Rice University (seems it offers only a BA in math not a BS) so instead I will apply to Duke since it will be instate (but I know the acceptance rate for transfer students at Duke are around 5%).</p>

<p>My reasons would be these are the schools I truly wanted to apply to, but couldn’t due to my mother’s conditions. The current school I am at does not offer many math courses beyond the basics. All the schools listed above (except possibly for William & Mary) have an excellent math program. Better than the current school I attend.</p>

5

<p>What other universities accept spring transfer students that I should consider? I found out recently that Duke University doesn’t accept Spring transfer students. Also, I’d like more input on my chances!</p>

6

<p>Decent shot @ PSU & Wisconsin. </p>

<p>Pretty much no shot @ Cornell, Michigan</p>

<p>No chance @ Duke</p>

<p>I saw that you’ve had many personal problems but personal loss is only a factor to consider for adcoms. Out of HS your SAT probably screwed you at the more competitive colleges. Your GPA actually dropping in college is not a good sign either. Where are you attending right now?</p>

7

<p>Treebounders: I don’t believe my chances are a “no shot”. My GPA dropped because of emotional distress due to a death in the family. It’s not because I slacked off, have a back-to-back death in your immediate family (you aren’t excepted to just ‘rebound’). It would be a “bad sign” if my GPA continued to remain low after the death of my mother the first semester, I made a huge increase in my GPA the second semester. Also I was accepted into a selective research program in mathematics (only about a dozen or so students in the nation get accepted to this program). My recommendations will be from professors that are from elite universities. I am in the process of publishing in an undergraduate mathematics journal. Do you seriously think a SAT score is going to be useful this late in my college career? Cornell specifically stated SAT score is optional. I could probably retake the SAT and ace the math section and do fairly decent on the reading section but there is no point. One other thing is that I am the first person in my family to attend college, so that is an advantage on my part. I went above and beyond all odds and still exceeded. Michigan is a decent research school in mathematics and if you look at my mathematical background it is pretty strong.</p>

8

<p>homfly, while you can still apply, it’s good to be realistic. adcoms will see and understand that you’ve had a rough time, but you’re not the only one who has ever been through those things. there were others before you (and there will be more after you) who have had to deal with really rough situations and still managed to get a 3.5+. no one is saying don’t apply, but you should consider how much you’re asking the adcoms to forgive. your best bet will be to tell them what went on in the additional information section and if you can, get a letter from an advisor explaining that you were indeed going through a rough time to show your progress and your coping strategies.</p>

9

<p>Understandable. So what is the difference between a 3.4 GPA and a 3.5+ GPA? Does research/leadership ability not matter as much as my GPA? I’d think a 3.3-3.4+ GPA would be suffice considering what I had to go through… Plus I will have a superb background in mathematics when I apply to these schools with research in the area & maybe even a publication. I find it hard to believe this wouldn’t be some sort of consideration.</p>

10

<p>I could retake the SAT and get at least a 1300/1600 on it, but I wouldn’t see the point? Thanks for your inputs! I want to carefully consider what you guys are suggesting.</p>

11

<p>Apply! You sound like you have great experience with research. I’m sure you understand that your GPA is a major factor in the decision making process, but the admissions committee are real people who will sort through all the information you provide. A 3.4 is just a bit below the average 3.5 recommended, but it is not at all unheard of for people to get in schools with less. Work on obtaining strong recommendations and a well-thought out, articulate, but concise essay explaining why you want to go to such school specifically, what the school can offer you, and what you can offer it. Best of luck! Also, if you’re applying for Fall 2010, consider Vanderbilt U.</p>

12

<p>Thanks for your helpful input! I suppose I may have exaggerated a bit on scoring low on the SAT, but even if I didn’t do bad as I thought I am not required to send my SAT scores to Cornell, Madison, Michigan. I will do as you said iansown, thanks for your help.</p>

13

<p>Sorry to burst your bubble but I am bringing some perspective - it’ll be good for you. People are overly optimistic and tend to have their hopes crushed. </p>

<p>“Decent shot” is ~40% and above. You have a decent shot at PSU and Wiscy. If you apply to both, chances are you get into at least one of them. </p>

<p>Cornell takes a lot of students via transfer guarantees, NY CC’s, other agreements, etc… Michigan takes a lot of CC students as well. You have a worse-than-average chance of getting into either of those schools, as in <20%. Don’t pin your hopes on these schools, but DO make your app perfect b/c these are your highest likely reaches.</p>

<p>Duke takes literally 5% of transfers. You won’t get in. Apply, but don’t try too hard and waste your resources when you could focus on Michigan/Cornell. </p>

<p>SAT scores still matter. How do you think they’ll weed out 4.0’s from Wallabee State U? Of course, it matters less than coming out of HS, but it still has significance (@ least 15% of their decision factors from SAT/standardized testing).</p>

<p>Your recs won’t be as important as you think. Won’t have as much weight as they did in HS, barring some tremendous recs. The adcoms know that at colleges, it is harder to get to know profs than it was your HS teachers, who saw you every day over 4 years. Also remember that great profs often don’t write great recs. Your essays and your overall application package (supplementary writing, updated resumes, etc) will matter a whole lot more. </p>

<p>And to be honest, they will note your situation, but part of their approach is to review applicants without “sympathy.” If you play the sympathy card too much (as you have palpably injected into this thread), they will instantly ding you. I’m sorry for your loss, but as I said, they cannot admit every under-scoring applicant with a compelling personal case. Understand?</p>

14

<p>Thanks Treebounders, I will do as you noted. I appreciate your perspective, it humbles me. PSU & Wiscy are both excellent schools for mathematics and I would be satisfied with either.</p>

15

<p>Hi, homflysmith! I’m also interested in math, and I have been considering applying to Rice and Cornell.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>Just out of curiosity, does this really matter? This is a genuine question, and I’m interested in the answer since I’m applying to Rice for Spring 2010 transfer. My plan was to study mathematics at Rice and then go to graduate school.</p>

<p>Well, sorry I don’t have more specific advice to you. Either way, good luck!</p>

16

<p>first off, I am sorry about the passing of your mother,
and listen bro
u take challenging classes
though ur high school stats are appealing, you did not live up to that performance when u reached your sophomore year of college,</p>

<p>I think you’ll get in because of your experience,
how passionate you are
and because of the life experiences u had gone through</p>

<p>listen i had a horrible high school record and S.A.T.'s
though i am maintaing a 4.0 at a tier 1 university,
i am still considering to transfer for schools like cornell as a transfer</p>

<p>so honestly man i think u can get in, u had a 4.0 ur 1rst year in college practically, meaning that u can hand college leve work, not only that, but u should mention u tried to challenge yourself your sophomore year of college, but at the same time u were going through some major trauma (the passing of your mother) , anxiety, etc.</p>

<p>this country is falling apart because we lack people like you
not enough of us study mathematics or physics</p>

<p>go 4 it
u’ll get in
keep it up man
i believe in u</p>

17

<p>To zSquared: I think it is more of a personal preference, the courses offered look good. Check out the courses offered here: [Rice</a> University Catalog 2008-2009](<a href=“http://math.rice.edu/Courses/mathcourses.html]Rice”>http://math.rice.edu/Courses/mathcourses.html) </p>

<p>To pr0616: That was some of the kindest comments anyone ever wrote to me online, thank you, you really made me feel better.</p>

<p>To Treebounders: What other universities should I consider? I am interested in universities with an overall prestigious program in mathematics and a good institution in general besides the ones I listed, so I can have a good healthy dose of schools to apply to within reach.</p>

18

<p>Yep, I’ve looked over the course list in quite some detail. Actually Rice’s courses are why I was curious about your concern about their offering a BA rather than a BS. The impression I have gathered is that Rice simply gives math majors unusual flexibility so that one can either easily double major in math and a related field or one can focus very strongly on math, taking a great number of graduate courses (my plan).</p>

<p>It seems you and I are actually looking for the same thing (a school to transfer to with a strong undergraduate math program).</p>

<p>For the record, I think your strongest asset is your passion for the subject. This is what I would focus on in the application if I were you. I’d try to make the application clearly demonstrate that you have a very ambitious plan for your life, that you are dedicated to implementing this plan and achieving specific goals, and that transferring would be a key step in this procedure.</p>

19

<p>Thanks zSquared.</p>

<p>I am taking upper-level courses that are taught on a graduate level next semester, and the courses Rice offers are of my taste. </p>

<p>I think I’ll consider Rice & may apply, but the breadth of mathematical courses Wisconsin, Penn State, Michigan etc. offers is also extremely attractive to me.
So to answer your question, a BA degree in mathematics from Rice wouldn’t be bad at all.</p>

<p>Thank you for your tips & keep me informed about your decisions to transfer.</p>

20

<p>I meant to add, I have another semester to increase my GPA. So I have an opportunity to increase my GPA above a 3.5.</p>