<p>I am currently on my second year in college and I am attending a local, but private, small liberal arts college. The school I go to is fairly decent, but not very well known. I live in Pennsylvania and I want to transfer out to a larger school for this fall for my junior year. I am looking at two schools primarily, with Temple being my safety (I was accepted to transfer last semester, but decided not to). The schools I am looking at are University of Pittsburgh - main campus (number one choice) and Pennsylvania State University (second choice). These schools are both in-state and public, and I will need financial aid. My cumulative college GPA is a 3.19, and I will have 62 credits after this semester (I have taken a good amount of upper-level classes already).</p>
<p>How much of an emphasis do they place on high school grades and/or SAT scores? My high school GPA was not impressive -- I believe around a 2.5 and my SAT scores were Reading: 580, Writing: 590, Math: 580.</p>
<p>By the way, I just recently declared a new major and will only have one course in that major, but the rest of the classes I took fill my minor requirements, general ed requirements, and free electives. Is this a factor that may deter my acceptance? I really hope not.</p>
<p>Also, I want to know what all I can do to improve my chances of admission. I will have 3 strong letters of recommendation. I'm not sure if an essay is required. What else can I do?</p>
<p>By the way, I will be taking 1-2 (maybe more) courses this summer in my new major.</p>
<p>If these schools are out of my range, what are some other decent, affordable schools that I should take a look at that are perhaps more in my range?</p>
<p>Also, I want to know when I should/can start applying. I want to hear back ASAP and I believe both schools have rolling admissions for transfer students. Would it be better to apply now with zero or maybe one letter of recommendation or wait like 2 weeks to have 2-3 letters of recommendation?</p>
<p>Here is my plan, and tell me if it's okay or if not how you would do it -- I am going to apply to Pittsburgh and Penn State ASAP because those are the 2 schools that I really care about, Temple being a safety. I don't want to apply to Temple yet because if I get accepted to either Pitt or Penn State, then I won't even apply to Temple. So I'm hoping that I will hear back early enough from Pitt and PSU, so that if I need to apply to Temple I will still have time. Another thing -- I was accepted as a transfer for Spring 2009 (this semester) -- i applied last semester, got accepted, then decided not to go... Do you think I could somehow manage not having to do another application, and (if I get denied from Pitt and Penn State) tell Temple that I'd like to enroll in the Fall?</p>
<p>Maybe I wrote too much and people aren't responding because they don't want to read it... So here is a shortened version: I want to transfer to Pittsburgh and Penn State after 2 years at a private liberal arts college. So far my cumulative GPA is a 3.19. What are my chances? Should/Can I do anything extra to increase my chances? When should I apply? Does my coursework for my major affect my chances?</p>
<p>I saw one site say that Pitt accepts 48% of transfers, but I'm not sure if the statistic was correct. </p>
<p>Do you go to Ursinus? </p>
<p>Anyway, the college you come from will matter a bit. A 3.19 isn't bad, but it's not amazing. I really don't know much about it. I'd say your chances are okay for both.</p>
<p>I was accepted last semester, with an even lower GPA. And offered some type of scholarship. That's why I am considering it a safety. I believe I wrote this in the original post. And no I do not go to Ursinus.</p>