Transfer to Brown

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

<p>Does anyone know how transfer-friendly Brown is? </p>

<p>I’m sophomore at the University of Michigan and I really don’t like it here. I want small/closer knit type education. Do you guys think I could get in to Brown? I visited it in highschool and I liked it a lot, but I didn’t end up applying. I visited again a few months ago to see a friend and absolutely fell in love with the school. </p>

<p>I’d think I’d have a good chance, but I think having already transferred once might kill my app. I stayed at home and went to the satellite commuter campus of U of Michigan for my freshman year due to family problems. This year I went to the flagship Ann Arbor campus just because I thought it would help me get into law school, but I don’t like the feel here at all. I actually liked the small class sizes etc at the commuter school (EG all my professors knew me and I met kids in all my classes as opposed to here where most of the TA’s, let alone profs, don’t know my name and you almost never see people you know in class). I’m just not cut out for the huge state U. What do you guys think? Do I have a chance?</p>

<p>Stats:
3.75 Umich@AA (I got one 4 credit B–first in college, but that gpa still puts me in top 10% here)
3.96 Satellite Umich campus
3.89 total college gpa
30 ACT (I’m diabetic and continued taking the test even though I was hypoglycemic at the end of it-I thought I was shaking because I was nervous–my score reflects this-I scored 34-36 in every category except the one–I got a 24 on Math, even though it is actually one of my strongest subjects) I could easily take this again and do much better, but I must admit I’d feel stupid going back and taking a test with a bunch of 16-year-olds. It can, however, be done if it would drastically help.
ECs: a little lacking–held almost a full time job while I was going to school at home. I play a lot of hockey. I coach my younger brothers team and help out at the practices of a local highschool.
awards: nothing to speak of–missed national merit by a few points in high school. I’m on the deans list every semester ect ect and got Umich@AA’s top 10% notation on my transcript last semester</p>

<p>and correct me if I’m wrong but HS transcript isn’t relevent to transferring to brown, right?</p>

2

<p>Actually, the HS transcript is relevant - relevant enough, at least, for Brown to include a secondary school report as one of the many required credentials for transfer admission...this report constitutes form 2A of the transfer application. It is the same as the secondary school report found in the freshman application, as far as I can tell. As for the transcript itself...quoted from portion C of 2A: "please be certain to attach the candidate's final transcript, date of graduation, and test record with this form."</p>

3

<p>Ahh crap, I must have misheard my friend. </p>

<p>My highschool career wasn't horrible (well by non-CC standards), but it was far from ivy benchmarks. I missed a lot of school because I had some real bad health concerns (which I didn't confront and let spiral out of control). </p>

<p>They indirectly caused a lot of my problems. The whole "too cool to care" attitude I had going on at the time obviously directly impacted my grades, but it absolutely decimated them in a more roundabout way. </p>

<p>E.G. I didn't take care of my health and it's impossible to attain good grades missing (or coming late) every third day of school and waking up every other morning literally too sick to move. Parents would normally make sure their diabetic children don't incur the type of irreparable harm I was inflicting on myself, but they were going through a (very) bitter divorce. My dad moved out and my mom turned to the bottle. That's not to say it was thier fault I fell into the tailspin I did, but the lack of a safety net did make it harder to get out of.</p>

<p>The summer after I graduated (02), I snapped out of my immaturity. I realized I was headed for an early grave. Therefore, I went back to my doctors, squared away everthing, and became the model for taking care of my condition. Once that was no longer an obstacle, I enrolled in UM@Dearborn and took a serious interest in my studies for the first time since middle school. I earned very high grades in very heavy courseloads (while working 30-40 hours a week) and became fond of academia. I got a 3.95 there and moved to UM@AA where I have a 3.75 (very high by UM standards). </p>

<p>Anyway, I'm dissappointed now. I was under the impression they didn't review the HS record of junior standing transfers.</p>

<p>Do you think I would even have a shot? My HS gpa was probably around a 3.0 (academic gpa a little less). Should I attempt explain the nightmare that was my HS years and how I've matured and grown since then (I really am a completely different person). I don't, however, want to come off pathetic or whiney--I've never asked for any special consideration due to my health in my entire life.
...or would it be better just try not to draw attention to my HS transcript? Do colleges usually put much weight on the HS record of transfers?</p>

<p>Would taking the act again help? I looked at my old score and, besides the 24 in math, I have 35's and a 36. Taking the act again when nearly a JR in college to prove that I really do know how to do 10th grade trig seems like an exercise in futility.</p>

<p>...or should I just save myself the 65$ and essay writing effort?</p>

4

<p>It's worth it if you love the school.</p>

<p>The inclusion of a rather extensive secondary school report indicates to me that Brown does look closely at applicants' HS careers. Many schools seem to put less emphasis on the HS career as a student progresses through college, but I don't think the same can be said of Brown, as the SSR is required for ALL prospective transfer...ers, not just those attempting to transfer their freshman year. Brown seems a bit more lenient with test scores compared with other schools of equal caliber, but they appear to go for high GPAs. While your high college GPA puts you in the running, your low HS GPA absolutely must be explained. </p>

<p>Your explanation seems reasonable to me. If you can convey your issue in a way that suggests growth and maturity on your part, I don't see why you couldn't make up for it. It will be tough, though. Steer clear of whininess or angst (I'm sure you understand not to do that anyway). Your high college GPA will certainly work in your favor, reinforcing the claim that you have grown as an individual. Heck, such a drastic improvement make work in your favor! It's hard to tell, what with college admissions being such a crapshoot anyway.</p>

<p>I don't know what to tell you about the ACT. Taking it again seems a bit pointless, to tell the truth. Isn't it a measure of how one will perform in college? You've already proven that you can do the work and do it well. Brown doesn't say you CAN'T take them again, however...so go for it if you feel so inclined.</p>

<p>Above all, apply if you want to...and if you feel you can compile a competetive application.</p>

<p>I have no idea why I'm encouraging you, since I'm vying for a transfer spot as well ;)! Hehe. Perhaps its because I too understand firsthand the chaos that accompanies an extremely messy divorce, and the difficulty that situation poses when it occurs during high school. It takes a lot to achieve amidst that, but you seem to have worked through it. Congrats. It's a huge accomplishment, and colleges will acknowledge that as well.</p>

5

<p>From the college board site. Perhaps they release more detailed stats one these students somewhere on their site. Search.</p>

<p>Transfer Students
Total number of transfer students who applied: 763
Total number of transfer students who were admitted: 196 </p>

<p>Also, at your own school, the classes will get smaller as you enter upperclass coursework. Talk to students in your major and advisors if available.</p>

<p>With the low, and probably self-selecting, admit rates and numbers to Brown, target other like schools but be sure to look up their transfer stats. Some only take like 3 out of a few hundred, and I wouldn't waste time on that.</p>

6

<p>it may sound kind of dumb but... the brown rep. at a college fair told my mom that they don't accept transfers. obviously, this can't be true becuase they have transfer statistics. can anyone clarify this please?</p>

7

<p>Brown would seem to be relatively transfer-friendly by virtue of the number they accept... and then you realize transfers get NO FINANCIAL AID. None. </p>

<p>Goddamn wankers.</p>

8

<p>transfers get some aid, though it is comparably meager
plus if you started attending brown with low aid and then had a catastrophic change in your financial situation there is in emergency fund that they use to help you out (for example if you started attending brown and then something happened to make you unable to afford it, they'd do everything possible to help you finish)
but i guess that's not too comforting from transfers that need the aid from the beginning</p>