<p>This sounds incredibly awkward but I guess I'm really asking how to use this next year to package myself most attractively for transfer admission for Spring '07.</p>
<p>I was kind of a terrible and immature high school student, never went to class, graduated with a 3.6 GPA (unweighted, no idea about weighted) and a 30 ACT. Most of my poor grades are in classes like sophmore health where I just did nothing. I took the hardest curriculum and did well in my difficult classes (5's on AP Eng Lit, Art Hist, US Gov, 4's on Physics, Stats, French Lit). I spent most of my HS time doing extracurriculars:</p>
<p>significant acting roles in at least 4 plays/year
state finalist in several team and individual events with Business Professionals of America
studio art with 2 gallery showings
summer PreCollege in Studio Art @ Pratt Institute
Legislative Internship in the state senate
worked @ least 15 hrs/week since Dec of sophmore year
2 films shown in East Lansing Children's Film Festival,
recipient of Girl's in Film Award
finalist in Wharton Center Young Playwrights Festival</p>
<p>Upon graduating high school, I enrolled as a Costume Design major at The Theatre School at DePaul University its a really selective program but I hated it. Art was something I did in high school because I didn't think I was smart enough to do anything else. I was wrong. I found my costume classes very under-stimulating and a service oriented class really got me thinking. I want to pursue medicine. I left DePaul (with v. good grades) after first quarter and will be going to Community College next semester. I'd like to take spring, summer and fall classes and transfer in in January. Is it at all harder to get in in the middle of the year? My first choice is Smith and then Wellesley and MHC, if I can't get in to any of them I'll go to Michigan State. Its funny, my mom went to Wellesley so out of rebellion I always thought "No way!" but now I see the benefits a women's college can offer and it really is where I need and want to be. </p>
<p>This semester I'm taking Honors Writing II, College Algebra and Trig, General Chem and Psychology but I'm not sure what I should take during the summer and fall. I'm also not sure how to get involved with extracurriculars while in Community College starting second semester. I'm looking for health and research related volunteer opportunities and my friend thinks she knows how we can tutor refugee children which would be really fun/rewarding but i'm not sure what's going on with that. </p>
<p>Thanks in advance :)</p>
<p>I forgot, I'm also considering re-taking the ACT (mine didn't have writing so I might have to, I can't find an answer on that) I know I had a very respectable score but I didn't study at all for it and I think if I studied and retook it it might show my new dedication to academic learning?</p>
<p>I am heading to Smith this spring, and I think you'd be a good fit, from what I see! Smith looks at the whole person, so be sure to mention why you had poor grades in some classes...and that you are a hard worker.</p>
<p>Huzzah. Please do e-mail my D when you get there. She'll be there for the last 10 days or so of J-term. I'm sure she'd be happy to meet you for lunch.</p>
<p>Thanks! Im getting very excited, but also nervous. I can honestly say that I KNOW I will like smith. Im not a picky person. I just had some bad experiences. Im confident that it will be great. Hard, but great.</p>
<p>Wandergirl, if you have any questions about transferring, feel free to ask me. Ive transferred twice.</p>
<p>wandergirl...we have a very similar story. I was a mediocre student in high school with a 3.6 GPA unweighted and 3.0 weighted (or however that works), like you. I went to a college that I hated, I wasnt challenged at ALL and realized that I really should have tried harder in HS. I improved my grades and planned on staying a full year. I went back after christmas break and a LARGE number of students never returned, including the one (and only) friend that I made. I left, and took classes at a local university for a year. Now I am transferring to smith.</p>
<p>it actually is harder to get in mid year, but dont let that stop you. I had no idea that it was any different than fall admission, but found out during my smith interview. The lady said something like, "This is off the record, but you ARE aware that we only offer spots for 10-20 transfers in the spring, right? Out of a few hundred??? Do you want me to pull your application out? Fall is MUCH easier". She also REALLY didnt understand me about transferring. "Wait...WHY did you transfer? Wait..you transferred TWICE? And WHY are you applying mid year?"</p>
<p>Well, I ended up getting in, even though I was convinced that I wouldnt. So try!</p>
<p>I guess smith allows about 100 spots for transfers each year. Roughly 80-90 for the fall and the rest for the spring. </p>
<p>Its harder for the spring BUT less people apply. You would have about a 36% chance (according to collegeboard.com) which should be fine with your grades. I ended up getting in, even though that lady scared me to death about getting rejected. Go for it, but keep in mind that it IS a little harder. </p>
<p>And make sure you story is clear. Its hard for people to grasp that a school didnt work out so you moved home and took classes somewhere else. </p>
<p>The great thing about smith is that you dont have to submit SATs, so dont worry about taking the ACTS again, for smith anyway. They also look at the WHOLE applicant, unlike, say, NYU who uses your application as a coaster if you have below a 1250 GPA. They look at your POTENTIAL to grow rather than numbers alone. If you explain your high school experience and how you worked hard to improve yourself, they will see that you will thrive at smith.</p>
<p>SC, I talked to my D when she got home. She'll be expecting to hear from you when you get on campus. Have lunch, whatever, make you feel like you know someone.</p>
<p>It's great to see your enthusiasm. Good luck.</p>
<p>Thanks TheDad! I have orientation on the 26th..will she be there? Im so pleased to see that I actually have the option of meeting people. At my other schools, I couldnt make a friend no matter how hard I tried. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>SC, she'll be back on campus by the time you're there. She's leaving next weekend, will spend a couple of days in Chicago to see friends at U/Chicago, and then should be on campus for a J-term course by, like, the 18th at the latest.</p>
<p>Orientation is at the beginning of September for all new students, about a week before the fall semester begins. The exact dates are probably on the Smith website.</p>