Transfer Questions Cornell--> Columbia

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
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<p>Hi!</p>

<p>Im currently a student at Cornell really wanting to transfer to Columbia. I've read MANY threads on here for advice but I still have a couple questions</p>

<p>1: Should I contact a faculty member in the degree program I am interested in at Columbia? Or would it be considered bothering them because I am not currently a CU student? </p>

<p>2: Next semester I am doing a study in absentia program in my home state because I was offered a research position for the semester there (stemming from an application I sent to do research there last summer). Would this look bad on my application? (that I was not even physically taking courses at Cornell for the full academic year?)</p>

<p>3: I realize this is on a school by school basis, but would my application be reviewed quicker at Columbia the sooner I send it in, or are they not reviewed until after the March 15 deadline?</p>

<p>4: I am having a make-the-most-out-of-high-school-to-get-into-a-good-college book published in a few weeks. Does this merit mentioning on my application?</p>

<p>Lastly, and I realize these things are totally random, but what do you consider my shot at getting in to be? I am attempting to transfer as a sophomore.</p>

<p>HS GPA-4.45 W, 4.0 UW
ACT: 29 Composite (low I know) 31 Superscore (which I was told at an info session last month Columbia DOES superscore now, apparently)
Cornell GPA-Currently unsure, but should be about 3.8</p>

<p>I have fairly general EC's, but I have research fellowship experience, was Valedictorian in H.S., am going on a mission trip to Mexico, and as I mentioned am getting a book published. I realize my ACT numbers might screw me a bit, but I also know Tranfer admissions is a whole different ball game. </p>

<p>Essay-I am hoping my essay will be fairly understandable because Columbia has a program Cornell does not, which is the one I am aiming to transfer into.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for any advice/help you could give me. We're all busy and stressed with our own apps right now so it means alot! I can also answer any questions about Cornell if anyone wants. I posted this in transfer thread also, but I figured it'd get more Columbia traffic here :) Thanks again.</p>

2

<p>hey amc1702, first of good luck on your transfer app! I’m not exactly an expert on transfer apps, but I’ll try my best to answer as many of these as possible. </p>

<p>1: Yes. Professors here are generally extremely receptive to students who reach out to them. Last year my research group had a member who was undergrad from Cornell taking a gap semester. All he had to do was email the professor and she invited him in. Actually come to think of it my research group even has a HS student atm… Point is, there’s never any harm in making contact with a professor, and usually something useful will come out of it. Not sure how much it would help you with your app, but its a good thing to do regardless. </p>

<p>2: Hmm… I don’t think that would be a problem. It might even help support your claim that Cornell isn’t the right place for you it you were compelled to leave campus for your 2nd semester.</p>

<p>3: I think its probably universal that it doesn’t reflect very well to send in applications at the last minute possible (I got burned by internship apps because of this last year…), but beyond that I don’t think it will make a huge difference. I don’t know the process though so I can’t really say. I doubt you would hear back much sooner by sending it in early though</p>

<p>4: This one is tricky…the irony (considering you were dissatisfied with your college enough to want to transfer out) might be somewhat of a turn-off for the admissions officers haha. On the other hand it takes a lot of initiative to get anything published. congrats! My gut would say its best to give them everything and let them decide. </p>

<p>As far as your chances, as usual its impossible to say. Transfer apps are a whole different beast, and I imagine are very competitive and evaluated on a very case-by-case basis. I do know that there are a lot of transfer students around here though, so that’s good. Sell your soul to the Core on your app and promise you’ll take advantage of the city, beyond that its all a mystery. </p>

<p>Out of curiosity what program are you applying for?</p>

3

<p>Figment42 hit the nail on its head. To be honest, you should retake the ACT. I had a 32 single sitting when I applied ED to NYU, but I know that for a school like Columbia, you want to make sure your application is as close to perfection as you can get it. Your high school GPA seems really good, but your college GPA is gonna matter as well. If you have a 3.8+ I would imagine you would be a very competitive application especially considering your EC’s. Hey could you return the favor btw? <a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1252282-transferring-downtown-nyu-uptown-columbia.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1252282-transferring-downtown-nyu-uptown-columbia.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>Thank you both so much!!! The advice really means alot. I know with schools like Columbia it’s often a shot in the dark for everyone, but I need all the help I can get lol.
That’s some crazy initiative right there, a high school student?!?!!? Crazy
I’m thinking the Creative Writing program with a double major in in Evolution of the Human Species track (too very different things I know, haha). I realize being a transfer may leave me with less time to pursue two majors though, so if I had to pick it’d probably be Evolution…but that’s not set in stone.</p>

<p>I was thinking that about my ACT too, just wasn’t sure. I’ll probably try and re-take it then, my goal is just to break 30 lol. I’m still waiting for college grades as finals haven’t ended yet but it’ll likely be a mix of A’s and B’s which is quite alright with me lol.</p>

<p>Yep I’ll do that now :)</p>

<p>Thanks again, you both were REALLY helpful.</p>