Transfer from Temple University to better business school

Transfer Students
1

I’m a freshman at Temple University with a double major declared in Economics and Finance going for a BBA. My 1st-semester average is a 3.9 and I’m involved in 4 clubs including an elected position in student government. I also work as a freelance app developer in my free time and am launching a new mac app in a couple weeks.

I only took the SAT once and didn’t study, so unsurprisingly I scored 1240 on the new one. My Math and English scores were maybe 10 points off from each other if not the same. In high school, I really didn’t apply myself and had a B+ average. I took all the AP and honors classes available to me though which weren’t weighted.

I’m applying to transfer to NYU and UPenn as an Economics major. I know it’s really difficult to get in, but I want to try to maximize my odds and keep working toward getting into a better business school in a major city (preferably NYC, Philly, or SF). What can I do to better my odds and what are my chances of getting in given I achieve another 3.9 GPA next semester?

Thanks in advance for any advice provided

2

I’d say chances at NYU are fairly decent especially if you apply Econ and not Stern. Don’t send your SAT score for NYU.

UPenn is an extremely high reach as they WILL ask for your test scores and although they’re weighted less for transfers, a 1240 is far too low. You should consider something along the range of 1450+/1600 as a minimum. The B+ HS GPA isn’t great too and will be weighted more than if you were transferring as a junior. And even after having stellar academics, your chances will only go up to about 20-30% where everything becomes dependent on strong extracurriculars. In your case, I feel you have potential to grow for a junior transfer. In any case I don’t think it looks favorably on you to run for a student government elected position only to transfer the following semester.

You should consider schools like BU’s Questrom, Michigan State’s Broad, Indiana University’s Kelley, UMass Amherst’s Isenberg, Northeastern’s Business School, SUNY Stony Brook/Binghamton, City University of New York etc These are all schools that rank in top ~30 of undergrad business schools on Poets & Quants, that you have good chances for, and should serve you well.

3

I was planning on applying to Stern as a Business Economics major. Would my chances be significantly lower if I applied to Stern instead of NYU’s college of arts and sciences?

4

Yes. Your chances for NYU Arts & Sciences could easily be around 40-50+% if you keep up your academics and ECs but for Stern would be less than 5%.

5

1240 is way too low for any of these schools. Even nyu cas.

6

Even if accepted, are your target schools affordable for you ?

7

Most schools will consider your high school scores and GPA until you have attained a certain amount of credits.

You seem to be doing well at Temple and it’s a good business school. You are in several clubs and organizations.

At a more selective school clubs can be competitive and difficult to get in.

Do you receive a scholarship at Temple? It is more affordable than NYU/Penn, right?

8

with a low SAT, you have little chance at Penn. NYU might take you, but can you afford to pay sticker?

9

Retake SAT or ACT to show it was not representative.
If you’re not in the Honors college at Temple, apply ASAP.

10

I’m also considering applying to UPenn. I’m from a CA CC with a 32 ACT score. Would I even have a chance at Wharton or even their econ program? (applying as junior)

11

Haven’t checked this site in a while until now -

So for both the NYU and Penn transfer applications you aren’t required to submit an SAT score given you have the required amount of credits (which I do).

I receive a partial scholarship at Temple. With room and board Temple costs me about $17k a year. These schools will be more, but I’ll have to wait until if I get into one to see how much more and decide if it’s worth it. (Do you pay full sticker as a transfer applicant? Will you not be eligible for the same scholarships/aid as if applying for your first year?)

Also my student gov position is a 1 yr term which I will be completing and not abandoning, so I don’t think it will look bad considering about ~1k ppl voted for the position. (I’m applying for fall 2019 if that wasn’t clear)

My reasoning for applying to these schools is wanting to go to "a business school ranked higher than Temple’s Fox in a major city (preferably, NY, or Philly), so that’s why I’m not interested in applying to some of those other schools I would have a better chance getting into.