I’m planning to transfer in as a junior after getting an associate’s degree from a community college.
I have a 4.0 gpa at my CC (with around 60 credits) and had a 3.7 in high school. I don’t have stand-out extracurricular activities, but I have volunteer records and some part time work experiences.
What worries me are two things: that I went to a 4 year university for one semester right after high school and I got a D on one of the classes I took there, and that I have a low SAT score around 1900, not higher.
I’m aiming for top 23-33 schools.
What do you think my chances are? Should I retake my SATs?
I’m applying to UVA, William and Mary, and maybe George Washington, Cornell or Georgetown.
It’s hard to say. With tops schools, they often do refer to high school grades and scores. I applied to Cornell and got rejected. I have a 4.0 at my community college, and I had a 28 ACT (didn’t take SAT) and a 4.0 in high school. But got rejected. Obviously, college coursework and ECs are the most important for transfer applicants. So you’re in good shape there. But they may look at your high school work and go with an applicant who had outstanding college AND high school work. Who knows? I’m just concerned that, based on the schools you listed, you only applied to the top of the top. Do you have any safeties or matches that you applied to? The worst scenario would be to be rejected across the board.
I definitely don’t want to sound like a bearer of bad news. You have great stuff going for you with your GPA, but I hope you have some other schools on the side as well.
Thanks for the reply! I know Cornell and Georgetown are unrealistic goals for me, but was thinking that GW was my safety school. I’m hoping my best chance at UVA and WM because I’m a Virginia resident.
Which school in Cornell did you apply to?
I think the farther you get from high school, the less your high school stats and standardized testing will matter. I know William and Mary (my current school) looked at mainly CR+M for freshmen applicants, and optional for those who have already completed a year of college. Check on their individual websites to be sure or call the admissions office. If I remember correctly, you’re very fortunate because virginia community colleges should have an agreement with WM (and possibly UVA) about transferring as long as you have a certain GPA, which you do seem to have.
http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/transfers/application-checklist/index.php
http://www.wm.edu/admission/undergraduateadmission/how-to-apply/transfers/vccs_students/index.php
Thanks for your input! I’d be much more relieved if I qualified for the guaranteed admission, but I unfortunately don’t because I went to a different 4 year institution right after high school. So I’m at a much lower chance, but I’m hoping for the best!