<p>Hi. I'm currently a freshman, looking to transfer to one of the top Ivies for fall 2008. I want to be an Investment Banker one day, and I've been told that the name of the college you attend matters a great deal when it comes to employment. Thus, even though it makes me sound really shallow, what I really wish to gain from transfer is a better name. One of the sections of the transfer application asks for reasons that I want to attend the university of choice -- would it be bad to say that I want to go to said colleges because of their name?</p>
<p>Also, regarding transfer recommendations, all of my courses this term are lecture-style classes. And, I'm not performing superbly in all of them. So, I don't think the professors actually know me that well. Would it hurt me to ask them for letters of recommendation?</p>
<p>I don't really know who our dean is. I don't think we actually have a dean; and if we do, he/she definitely does not even know I exist, so may I ask my faculty advisor to provide my letter of recommendation instead?</p>
<p>Does anyone else feel really awkward asking your profs/dean for a letter to leave the school that you chose to attend in the first place? </p>
<p>Sorry for all the questions. I hope that you can help me out. Good luck with all your applications!!</p>
<p>** just to clarify, by "not performing superbly in all my classes," I'm not failing my classes, lol, I'm just not making high A's. I hope that doesn't hurt my chances of transferring too much. :)</p>
<p>summerluvn:</p>
<p>There is nothing shallow about wanting an Ivy League education for the name alone. Our culture is defined by labels and the Ivies are defined by their prestige and opportunities they give to graduates. Anyone who says they don't consider prestige when applying to the Ivies is at best a fool and at worst a liar. (Forgive my bluntness; I don't like to mince words.) You are entitled to apply to schools by virtue of their prestige alone, but don't express those sentiments in your essays: adcoms do not want to hear that. Find another, more compelling reason to write about and you're golden.</p>
<p>What is your GPA? How did you do in high school and what were your standardized test scores? And your ethnicity? Extracurriculars? It's difficult to give you better advice without them, so post your stats. </p>
<p>Generally, my prognosis for you thus far isn't good: You really should have been addressing these issues/questions about two months ago and stayed on top of your grades the entire semester. (Don't sweat it if you don't have a 4.0, just make sure it's above 3.5 if you want the Ivies.) You should have gone to office hours and schmoozed with your professors for good recommendations, but it's a little late for that.</p>
<p>If your dream is the Ivies, then I would suggest waiting another year and building a really solid GPA (i.e. 3.8-4.0), getting to know two or more professors outside of class, and getting your essays in line well in advance. Especially if your high school record is spotty. Then again, my advice is rather meaningless without more information.</p>
<p>i did pretty well in high school, except for senior year, when i completely slacked off. i had a 4.2 weighted GPA, so that's like, a 3.6 or something unweighted?, mostly A's, and the occasional B+.
i'm asian (which totally plays against me, unfortunately) and i took 3 SAT IIs, 800 on 2 of them, 770 on one of them. and my SAT scores were
770 + 800 + 730 = 2300.
However, none of that concerns me right now because if they weren't good enough for Harvard the first time around, they're probably not good enough now.
i'm projecting my college GPA to be around 3.5, which i understand is on the low side, but i'm hoping to make up for it with other things... i just don't know how since i don't really have many extracurricular activities. i'm doing research for a biochem professor and trying to balance homework, so that doesn't leave me much time for extracurriculars :(
i guess coming from another Ivy, I'm disadvantaged in that the Ivy schools don't like each other all that much -- or so I've heard from my HS guidance counselor.
would it be bad to apply for transfer 2 years in a row?</p>
<p>Unless you are at Brown there is no reason to transfer to another Ivy to gain an advantage in IB recruitment. Cornell there is a lot of competition... but it is still heavily recruited. Dartmouth is connected up the wazoo on wallstreet. Columbia is smack in the middle of NYC and gets recruited before other schools due to its location (plus opportunities for internships during the school year). HYP Wharton speak for themselves.</p>
<p>No, applying multiple times isn't going to get you blackballed, but again, I would suggest waiting a year (unless it's unbearable where you are) and making a truly solid effort after careful consideration and preparation. Your recommendations will obviously be strong, but your GPA is unfortunately on the low end and will disadvantage you.</p>
<p>you should stay at Dartmouth. My cousin actually went to Dartmouth and now he is a big time investment banker at Credit Suisse. Hes actually a director and works in NYC. He actually comes interviews/recruits students at Dartmouth.</p>