Transfer Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Yale University
1

<p>Hi, I'm a freshman at a top 15 university on the US News rankings, but the scene here really isn't for me. There are also flaws in the offerings for one of my possible choices for a major. What do you think my chances are for transfer?</p>

<p>Demographics:</p>

<p>Top-flight private prep school, NYC
white female </p>

<p>High School: </p>

<p>ACADEMICS
B+/A- average
SAT: 750 w, 690 m, 670 cr
SATII: 690 m2, 680 lit
AP scores: 5 eng writing, 4 eng lit, 4 art hist, 4 us hist, 3 bio</p>

<p>AWARDS AND HONORS
Honor Roll 6/8 semesters (cut-off A- average, top 10% of class)
National Merit Commended Scholar
AP Scholar With Distinction
Stipend Awarded by school's science department for outstanding research </p>

<p>EXTRA CURRICULARS
Varsity Tennis and Swimming - 4 years
Class Council - 4 years
Founder and president of community service group to raise cancer awareness - 4 years
Published science paper, research at prestegious institution in NYC, presentation at a few major symposiums - 2 years
President of a youth group that aids the elderly - 4 years
A capella group member - 4 years</p>

<p>SUMMER WORK
Intern with social workers - 2 summers
Homestay/ study in France - 1 summer
Science research - 1 summer</p>

<p>College:</p>

<p>ACADEMICS</p>

<p>As it is quite early in the year, it is hard to tell. However, thus far I'm getting all A's and A-'s. The classes I'm taking are:</p>

<p>Intro to Fiction and Poetry Writing - 100 level
Intro to Art History - 100 level
Biological Anthropology - 200 level
French Composition - 300 level
Byzantine Art History - 300 level</p>

<p>EXTRA CURRICULAR</p>

<p>Club Sports
Student Government - elected by faculty to represent '11
Peace Corps - tutoring elementry school kids </p>

<p>... looking for some more things to do. I've only been here for a little over a month. </p>

<p>***Also, should be noted. I was diagnosed at the end of my senior year with a learning dissability. In high school I never had extended time in any of my classes or on any of the standardized tests (which you may have noted were a bit sub-par). Now I have all the accomodations I need and everything is going so much better. Do you think I should retake the SAT's or ACT's? Or should I make this "hardship" of pushing through high school with a learning dissability a part of my story? ... I still did do well and landed myself at a top university despite everything. I don't want to turn a dissability into an excuse, but it could make for an interesting essay topic? Any suggestions? </p>

<p>I know that just made my post so much more complicated. So... what do you think? Do I have a shot? Any suggestions for how I should go about this?</p>

2

<p>any thoughts?
i'd really appreciate it</p>

3

<p>MissFiske--Your high school record won't matter much in the transfer process, FYI. Look at some of the other transfer threads for my discussion regarding what they look for.</p>

4

<p>You're a month into school. If I were a Y admissions officer, I'd advise you to really bear down and try to squeeze the most of your current situation. </p>

<p>As great as you perceive Y to be, I'd hazard to guess that there are many offerings at your current college that equal New Haven. While I loved my time there, I'm confident that I would have enjoyed myself at many other schools. I'd hate for you to spend a year pining away because the "grass was greener" somewhere else.</p>

<p>Transferring into Y is HARDER than entering as a freshman -- about an 8% admit rate I believe. You'll need to have top academic performance this year to be viable as well as very compelling reasons why you want to attend Y. Your HS performance is no longer considered at this point.</p>

<p>Best of luck to you.</p>

5

<p>Major reasons for wanting a change:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>History of Art Major - The department here for my possible major is well regarded, but they do not offer any Asian, African, or Pre-historic courses. The approach is very Eurocentric and lopsided in my view</p></li>
<li><p>Scholarly disposition - This school is (in)FAMOUS for being the mecca for pre-meds. Everyone is wrapped up in the pretention of their orgo and neuroscience classes. I wish I were in an environment with a more diverse array of interests... and maybe some people who are more interested in the here and now rather than the prospect of getting into med school ... mind you, we're freshmen. Med-school is 4 years away and this is their focus. It's also kind of drab to be in humanities classes with the pre-meds who don't want to be there but need to fill the requirement - I'd love to be in classes with people who are genuinely excited about what they're learning.... or at least respecting the subject. English is not "fluffy" if you take it seriously! </p></li>
<li><p>Social/ school spirit - So, since everyone is slaving in the library, it's hard to find people who are willing to put down the books on a Saturday and go have fun. I'm not at all a party girl, but.... Saturday? One day a week! Everyone seems very wrapped up in their own work and there isn't a great sense of school spirit. I'm friendly with some guys on the soccer team and no one ever goes to their games and they've been having a really good season. It's kind of sad. I was hoping to be in a college environment where everyone is supportive and willing to explore and have a good time</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Don't take me as a pessimist who can't find anything enjoyable. I won't be devastated if I have to spend the next 4 years here. My professors are excellent and I have access to all of the extra curricular, study abroad, and internship opportunities that you could expect at a top university. I just don't think it's all that exciting and I've found that a lot of the kids here just aren't that interesting or passionate -- just driven (there is a subtle, yet important difference).</p>

<p>Thanks both of you for your input. If anyone has any other constructive opinions, I'd love to hear them voiced!</p>

6

<p>"I just don't think it's all that exciting and I've found that a lot of the kids here just aren't that interesting or passionate -- just driven (there is a subtle, yet important difference)."</p>

<p>Wow. You are well thought out. BEST of luck to you if you decide to shoot for Y. You listed strengths at Y.</p>

7

<p>Thanks, T26E4. I really appreciate that you took the time to read everything I've put forth. So, what do you think? Are these ideas that ought to be mapped out in a transfer application essay? I know it's a while off, but it can never hurt to start thinking. </p>

<p>Do you think it's worth taking the ACT? </p>

<p>I also hope to settle your nerves and let you know that I likely won't be applying to Yale alone - it's unrealistic for even the most qualified of applicants to expect to get in. I'm looking for a good History of Art Department as well as a good, well-adjusted, diverse (in terms of ethnicity, socio-economic status, nationality, as well as INTELLECTUAL interests) community.</p>

<p>Naturally, I do not seek to "trade down" (I hate to admit that USNWR does hold baring on my ego... just look at my username, a name I chose as a slight joke when I was on 6 waitlists last spring). As a result of this refusal to "trade down" my focus has shifted to Ivy's. I know that a lot of people think it's fickle to be interested in "a name," but I've already secured a position at a prestigious school, so that's not really what I'm in it for. </p>

<p>What I really need is a good fit. Yes, I realize that this is the Yale forum, but I was wondering if you had any opinion on how someone with my sentiments would fare at Brown, Dartmouth, Harvard, Cornell, and UPenn -- and I suppose, present the pros and cons of these schools in relation to Yale.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance to anyone who responds – I’d love to hear everyone’s opinion!</p>

8

<p>I'd advise you not to worry about this until your first semester grades come back. If you wind up with a 3.5, the conversation about transferring to these places will be extremely different. Ace your whole program this semester and let's talk again in January.</p>

<p>That being said, if you're in school where I think you are, you would probably see an improvement in all the areas you're looking for at any of those schools, although I'm no expert in their non-Western art history offerings. I don't know whether you'll find crowds at the soccer games anywhere in the Ivy League, though. (Hockey at Cornell? A different story.) If you want more school spirit, you might think about Duke and Northwestern too. But the main thing you need to do right now is close CC and do whatever it takes to turn those A-'s into A's.</p>

9

<p>thanks, i'm workin on it :)
midterms went well and i'm on track
i'm just here asking questions now because i realize i didn't find a "good fit" the first time around and was hoping to see if anyone had opinions to share</p>

10

<p>ello ... again. advice?</p>

11

<p>I worked hard last semester and I've earned a 3.85. I'm sending in my applications in a week. May we continue the conversation? : )</p>

12

<p>I think you have a fair chance. From the looks of it, you've got a good head on your shoulders and you've made it clear that you're not prestige-mongering. Good for you for taking the initiative and making a change, to a situation that is better for you. What I've noticed a lot is that a lot of my friends unhappy at school tended to stay where they were because others told them to stick it out. That to me is a total breakdown of logic. We make our decisions based on the information we have now, not the information we <em>might</em> have in the future. Waiting it out is always a tricky situation, but recognizing the problem and making the change now always seems like the smarter decision. And I must add my congrats for a 3.85! That is pretty darn impressive, coming from a top 15 university.</p>

13

<p>thanks! does anyone have any other thoughts? i'd love if hanna, t26e4 or admissions addict could revisit this thread.... or anyone for that matter</p>

14

<p>How are your recommendations?</p>

15

<p>I assume my recommendations are good - I'll never get to see them, but the professors and dean who are writing on my behalf each took the time to sit down with me and discuss my reasons to pursue transfer - and everyone was very supportive. I know the Dean's Report is typically a very uninvolved response to a few basic questions, but my dean will be submitting a letter with the forms, discussing who I am and how I would be better suited in a different environment. She respects me a good bit, as I am involved in student government and meet with her weekly. And then there is the Secondary School Report, which I'm sure will be quite similar to whatever was submitted last year. It should be good. Lastly, and probably the strongest - I'll have a letter from my high school dean. We had a very special relationship, as I was also involved in student government all four years of high school. At this point, he's like family to me so I imagine that his letter will be great. </p>

<p>As I mentioned earlier, I'll never see any of these letters - so all I can do is hope that my perception of the relationships I have with each of these recommenders is valid.</p>

16

<p>Your GPA and your likely strong recs put you very much in the running. Just hope that your "Why Yale" essay has what they are looking for. FWIW, you appear to be a strong writer.</p>

17

<p>Thanks! I don't know what "FWIW" means, but I'll gladly take the compliments.</p>

18

<p>"For what its worth"</p>

<p>I'm still obsessing over my why essay. Sending it this thursday so I still have a day to work on it. Its just not 'there' yet.</p>

19

<p>I know where you're coming from... I keep tweaking the essay - combining, adding, and reworking sentences. It's hard to pack it all into one essay! They want the application to be POSTMARKED by March 1... so if you wanted, you could give yourself even more time.</p>

20

<p>I sent my application this afternoon! It's waiting time....</p>