Transfer chances?

I’m looking to transfer either for Spring or Fall 2017. I applied to GW as a freshman and was waitlisted, and then waitlisted again, and finally rejected. I’m currently a rising sophomore at American University. Below are my stats, if you could tell me my chances for transfer that would be awesome! Also I am an Economics major.

College Stats: GPA - 3.865
16 Credits:

  • Microeconomics: A
  • Statistics with Calculus: A-
  • Theories of Democracy (200 level philosophy class): A
  • The American Constitution (200 level intro to law class): A-
  • College Writing: A

16 Credits:

  • Intermediate Macro with Calculus: A-
  • Intermediate Micro with Calculus: A-
  • Calculus 2: A
  • Comparative Politics: A
  • College Writing Seminar: A

Next Semester - 17 Credits:

  • Linear Algebra
  • Econometrics
  • Intro to Mathematical Economics
  • Physics
  • Money, Banking, Finance (300 level Econ elective)

High School Stats:
3.52 Overall GPA UW, 4 AP Classes, 5 AP Tests, 1 Dual Enrollment Class

AP Scores:
Calc AB: 5
English Lit: 3
World: 3
USH: 4
Physics B: 3

SAT:
730 CR
720 M
610 W

High School:
Statewide Financial Literacy competition champion.
Founder and Head Delegate of HS Model UN
Paid Work throughout
Some Volunteer work (~40 hrs)

College:
Selective Political Affairs Internship (involves meeting with congressional leaders)

  • Work published in largest VT newspaper as a result.
    Hoping to secure a research position next year with one of my favorite professors

If anyone could chance me, that would be great!

@chubwagon
I am not an expert in college admissions. I do not understand the reasoning behind rejecting you last year. You are a 'A" student at American, which is nothing to sneeze about, so the chances for a transfer should be excellent. Unless there is something glaringly wrong with your essay/resume.

Why do you want to transfer to GW, since you are already doing so well at American? Stay there and continue to do well, you have a good future.

Good Luck.

I believe, and this is a pretty huge assumption, that I was rejected because I needed financial aid, a significant amount. I didn’t need a full ride, but my stats just weren’t high enough for them to knock 40k off my sticker price.
I want to transfer to GW for a few reasons. The first is that I changed career paths; I wanted to go to law school, and for law school your undergraduate program doesn’t really matter, just your GPA does. Now I want to get a PhD, and I think that GW has a better program in Economics and Math that would make me more prepared for that. The second reason is location. AU is in DC, but just barely. I don’t like to have to take “trips” into DC, I want to already be there. The third is probably the most shallow reason, and that is the name. I don’t love the name American University. When I tell people where I go to school I 1) Feel like I’m naming a for-profit college and 2) can already tell that they don’t know what American University is. GWU is a seemingly much more prestigious university, despite only being about 20 spots up in the rankings.

@tamtiger

@chubwagon
I will still say, if AU is giving you lots of money stick with AU. If you continue to do well in AU, you will achieve all your goals and with less debt. If GW really wanted you, they would have accepted you, I do not think it is entirely the financial aid situation. There must have been something else missing in your essay or CV that must have bothered them or not enticed them.

@tamtiger I don’t see a point in not trying again, GW was my dream school and that hasn’t changed. And yeah, there were obviously things in my application that were lacking, but I read an article about how GW moves financially needy students to the waitlist and pulls wealthy kids up from the waitlist to accepted. Also, GW apparently gives a significant amount of aid to transfers, which was the reason that I didn’t apply to transfer in this coming fall. I wouldn’t pay full price for GWU, but I would be willing to pay more per year than I do at AU. Luckily, if there were missing elements in my application, well that’s the whole point of applying again.

Well, I agree with @tamtiger in saying your stats alone show that you have an excellent chance at getting accepted for a transfer. Just be cognizant of the amount of extra debt you’ll incur at GW and whether or not it’s worth it (look at salaries for new PhD’s in your intended field).

@NHuffer Yeah that’s definitely something to look at. I’m really just worried about not being adequately prepared for the math aspect of an Econ PhD. Also, most PhD programs that I am looking at cover tuition and give a stipend, so undergraduate debt is now less of a concern (given that I was considering law school).

as someone with $0 estimated contribution on FAFSA, and with somewhat better but still comparable stats as yours, i have to agree with the sentiment above. it’s not that much about the money or estimated need, and GW will roll out the money carpet if they really want you. something was off in your application. did you blow the supplement essay or something? that’s where they can get ya.

nonetheless, it certainly doesn’t hurt to apply, and i think you have a good shot with your college GPA. and i wouldn’t assume that you’re not going to get a decent aid package if you do get accepted, perhaps you might even save money over american. so give it a shot. good luck. if you’re successful, i think you’d be doing yourself a favor by saving yourself from american.

by the way, i wouldn’t be so nonchalant about undergrad debt just because PhD programs can give you a stipend (which, btw, is not guaranteed if you do get accepted to a PhD program). the debt is still going to matter, whether or not you go to law school.

@Zoidberg93 As I said above, I’m sure something was off in my application, or else I would have gotten in. It could have been my much lower than average GPA in High school, which was around a 3.44 at the time of application, as well as weaker extracurriculars. My essays were fine, I had my general essay reviewed by a few people and had good reactions. It wasn’t brilliant or heartbreaking, but it did its job; however, my purpose in transferring is to rectify the weak aspects of my freshman application.

I don’t think the issue is your income. Your classes, although you want to pursue a PH.D., are very one-sided. As in, you’re not taking anything outside of Economics/Math/Politics. Imo, GW probably would want you to fill some requirements with English and science classes before accepting you as a transfer. Similarly, the school is probably giving preference to students with more credits and more requirements filled; hence, the wait list.

@hipersonhello I’m taking Physics next semester and I’ve taken two College Writing classes, as well as a Philosophy class. I’d say that I’ve covered most of my bases and excelled in all of them; I haven’t taken literature or art classes, but I do plan to, and I appreciate the advice.