<p>Hi all, this is my second post and would appreciate any advice and/or suggestions.</p>
<p>I am a 2nd year Cal Berkeley student, transferred from a community college, but would like to ultimately apply for transfer to H or Y. Though I am extremely happy and grateful for being in Cal, it was the only school I applied to before noticing I was going to be 11 units short of a proper transfer (somehow, Cal still accepted me). I was never able to apply to my other college choices. My main concern is that I have never taken either standardized test, though I do feel that I am highly qualified for a transfer otherwise:</p>
<p>Comm. College:
GPA: 3.9
Academic Honors every semester
Fencing
Anthropology Club - Member
Research Assistant/Fellowship (Possible Publication)</p>
<p>Cal Berkeley:
GPA: 4.0
Cal-Pre Law Association - Member
Roosevelt Institute - Researcher/Writer (Possible Major Publication)
Newhall Foundation Scholarship - Recipient (Minority Journalist/Full Scholarship)
Critical Filipino Working Group - Member</p>
<p>Life Experience:
Honorary Presidential Close-In Photographer for current Philippine President
Photographers Forum Best of College - Finalist
International Photography Awards - 2nd Place in Editorial
Hands on Global - Relief Worker (volunteered in Thailand)
Retrospect Magazine - Founder and Chief Editor
Photography for Social Change - Founder</p>
<p>I have no plans of taking the SATs or ACTs. That said, I appreciate any comments on my chances of tranferring. Thanks so much in advance.</p>
<p>Most people should be worried that their apps seem too focused on academics, but it seems as if you have the opposite problem. If you think you deserve to go to Harvard, you need to take some standardized tests and prove yourself worthy against the rest of the nation. While your other credentials are certainly original, you could just be another future-tool who likes taking pictures.</p>
<p>I'm hoping that my 4.0 at Cal will speak for itself - with over 90% of its student body being at the top of their respective classes. As for standardized testing, I graduated from HS in 1999 and quite frankly, I highly doubt I'll do comparatively as well as someone graduating this coming Spring.</p>
<p>Transfer students are known for having some interesting life situations, thus not being able to conform to the ideal, cookie-cutter Freshman applicant image. I do value your point though, as most of my ECs are based on academics (i.e. Roosevelt Institute Member and Reasearch Fellow).</p>
<p>As for "future-tool," I wouldn't call any respectable photojournalist that to their face, though I do feel that good journalists need to be given "safe-havens" to express their own opinions as opposed to that of a filtered mainstream news corporation. That said, I am currently pre-law at Cal and have no ambition of pursuing a career in journalism.</p>
<p>What do you think of my chances for Stanford, Columbia, Brown, or Cornell? Thanks again for your comments.</p>
<p>Yeah, colleges don't care about standardized tests once you have proved yourself in college. Don't take the SAT or ACT, you will be wasting your time.</p>
<p>I think you would have a good chance at any school you try to transfer. However, why do you want to transfer? Would it be better served to just complete your bachelor degree ASAP and then go to H or Y for graduate school?</p>
<p>Ophiolite, the reason for my wanting to transfer from a great institution like Cal to an Ivy is primarily the weight these top schools pull in most markets. Personally, I feel that Cal is among the top 5 (if not second behind Harvard) in terms of actual quality and level of critical education but the esteem with which the Ivies are regarded in any field internationally is powerfully unique. Thus, if I decide not to aspire further into academia, I will have at least "secured" my position monetarily with some firm or otherwise.</p>
<p>Moreover, I'm hoping to secure opportunities for both myself and my children through networking within the Ivies. This, to me, is the main difference between a top public school and a top private school - your place within society. But don't judge me as an elitist (mind you, I go to Cal of all places). </p>
<p>I also believe in a "Reaganomics" (this term has no bearing on my political views) sort of trickle-down opportunism. Ultimately, if I can attain a certain level of achievement and success, I can better serve those who are in need of both opportunity and compassion.</p>
<p>Well, I hope this answers your question. Thanks again for your comment.</p>
<p>Well even if you say you aren't an 'elitist' everything you are saying screams elitist and Harvard will catch on to that. Plus, are you even sure you haven't reached the credit limit yet to which Harvard will accept?</p>
<p>Ok....do your reserach before you decide you want to transfer.</p>
<p>From Harvard's Transfer Admissions Site: "Students who have completed more than two years of college study with transferable credit, and those who have earned a bachelor's degree, are not eligible to transfer to Harvard College. Students may not choose to relinquish academic credits, or a degree, in order to apply for transfer admission."</p>
<p>With your time at community college and Cal, you are ineligible for admission. If you want to do great things in this world you have to do reserach before you make judgements.</p>
<p>"With your time at community college and Cal, you are ineligible for admission. If you want to do great things in this world you have to do reserach before you make judgements."</p>
<p>Ophiolite, I did do my research and I am currently eligible (just short of two years). Also, according to a former app. reader there are exceptions to the standardized testing rule. Again, found out through doing research. Thanks for the suggestion though.</p>
<p>I think Brown and Cornell are your best shots among the Ivies, only because they are the easiest on transfer admits these days. Yale is the toughest, although they do like Community College students much more than the other Ivies.</p>