Transfer Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Emory University
1

<p>So I'm applying as a sophomore transfer to Emory and am wondering what my chances are. Any input is appreciated.</p>

<p>Currently at: University of Tennessee (Honors Program)
1st Semester:
Elementary Chinese I - A
Honors Eng Composition - A
Honors Intro Psychology - A-
Finite Mathematics (damn advisor told me to take it cuz i used to be business) - A
University Honors: Mathematics of Voting and Decision Making - A-
GPA: 3.92</p>

<p>2nd Semester:
Elementary Chinese II - A
Calculus I (ignored my advisor this time) - A
Biology 102 - A
Psychology 310: Learning and Thinking - A
University Honors: Mythology of American West - F</p>

<p>TOTAL GPA: 3.61</p>

<p>High School:
GPA: 3.34 UW (straight A's freshman year -> a D and a C senior year. def lost focus)
6 AP's and 8 Honors courses
ACT: 34</p>

<p>Rec letters:
1 from eng teacher whos been helping me w/my app.
1 from Chinese teacher who said I was her best student
1 from the lawyer i interned for who said in her letter that i am the best writer shes encountered in her career...pretty much a glowing rec.</p>

<p>College EC's:
nothing to special (no leadership positions)
Econ Club, Enviromental Club, Current Events Club, Students for Free Enterprise, Econ Honor Society, Chinese language table, community service club, 60+ hours of service, a few others..</p>

<p>College Honors:
summa cum laude as an honors student first semester
unv housing academic excellence award
phi eta sigma national honor society
gamme beta pi national honor society</p>

<p>HS EC's
nothing really except lots and lots of tennis. varsity tennis and junior competitive tennis. ive talked to the Emory coach a little bit about playing for them.
also national honor society and key club and maybe one or two others</p>

<p>I did do an internship with the lawyer i mentioned second semester senior year and ended up with a paid position for the summer. i was the primary paralegal for the firm for a couple weeks.</p>

<p>Essays:
My why Emory essay is really specific. I talk about my interest in neuroscience and public policy and how these two fields can compliment each other (decision sciences and applied neuroeconomics in policy making) and how i hope to double major in neuroscience/behavioral biology and international studies. I talk about all the resources Emory offers etc.</p>

<p>My personal statement talks about how I wasn't focused in HS and thought it was a joke, but expected college to be more intense. When I got to college I was ready to fully apply myself, but I was disappointed with the UT environment and offerings. </p>

<p>I also include an essay explaining that F second semester. I had an A- in there until the final paper, which i was unable to write. When I say unable to write I mean I spent hours on it and got nothing. I talk about how I felt my life was on hold waiting for transfer decisions (from other schools) and how that resulted in my inability to complete the paper. </p>

<p>Demonstrated Interest:
I know Emory takes this seriously and I definitely have too. I visited campus, emailed faculty, ordered a video, talked to a coach, I know an alumni, I've spoken to the director of transfer admissions in person, etc.</p>

<p>SO, my HS stats obviously suck except my ACT score, and my college GPA would have been good if not for that F. I know transferring to Emory is not nearly as competitive as fresh admissions, but does that F kill my chances? or the combination of that and my HS stats?? </p>

<p>Thanks for reading. If anyone needs any advice on transferring just ask. I could easily write a book on the process.</p>

2

<p>um…the F is definitely NOT good…it doesn’t show much improvement from senior year. I’m not sure what you mean by “I spent hours on it and got nothing.” Writer’s block?? 3.61 isn’t a high GPA for transfer…Is there anything you can do something so your professor will change the F?</p>

<p>

I’m not sure how the admission officer will view that. </p>

<p>Are you transferring to Emory as a Junior or Sophomore? Don’t you have another year left?</p>

3

<p>i know the F is bad for sure, and what I mean by “spent hours on it…” was I didn’t just blow the paper off, I actually tried writing it but i would write a few pages then delete them all and start over (multiple times). I wasn’t able to think about the topic and focus on it very well with decisions looming over my head. </p>

<p>I havent submitted my app yet…should I not talk about how waiting for decisions made me feel like my life was on hold?? thats the honest truth and I’m not sure how I would explain it otherwise…</p>

<p>I’m not sure what you mean by “don’t you have another year left?” If accepted, I would be a sophomore at Emory next fall… the deadline is monday.</p>

<p>Thanks for your input.</p>

4

<p>Oh haha I wasn’t aware of the Emory transfer application deadline date. I thought most transfer deadlines already passed. I guess talking to the professor and changing the grade is out of the question. </p>

<p>In my honest opinion, I don’t think talking about “waiting for decisions made me feel like my life was on hold” is a good idea, but of course if you are a good writer you can pull it through. Most people won’t be able to make that sound convincing enough for the Adcoms to accept them. But you should wait for other CCer’s feedback. </p>

<p>In all you just need EXCELLENT essays for the Why Emory and why you got a F.
Personal statements should probably be about how you have changed and grown since High School. Your perspective, ambitions, etc. I never read your essay so I can’t really comment much on it. You said you mentioned “I was disappointed with the UT environment and offerings,” but did you also mention that you worked your butt off because you want to transfer to a school that fits you better? </p>

<p>These are just my opinions, take whatever you want.</p>

5

<p>Hmm, the person above me already covered the F being bad part. As for your personal statement topic, I would say that’s a little bit force there…>_> Unless you can make it REALLY convincing…if I was an admission person and I was reading a topic like that, I would probably think “Oh, this person is just trying to get sympathy.”
At any rate, I think you should include the hard work you put yourself through for this transfer and the reason for the F. Also, you should include what would you do differently at Emory compared to what you are doing now. Would the environment stimulate you better and why would you think so? Just make the college admission people see that you’re going to definitely change and put yourself into the mindset unlike the previous thing…</p>

<p>I dunno, that’s what I think would work. Still, you’re the one making the decision. I wish you the best of luck, and hope to see you there :]</p>