<p>I am going to a state university this September, but I plan to transfer to a private university next year as I prefer to study in a smaller scale college/university. My high school GPA about 3.6-7 probably. My SAT score is 2090. (I got the high scores in Math and Writing, but it is not for reading)
I am going to work hard for the higher GPA score in college. Do you think I got a chance to transfer to a good private university? or any chance for Ivy League university?</p>
<p>Ivy league, I doubt it (some don’t even take transfers). Some other private U, sure. What can you afford? Private Us cost somewhere between $35-55K/year.</p>
<p>Easy there, daddio, it’s way too early to make any predictions about debbie’s transfer candidacy–she hasn’t even started college yet! My recommendation, debbiewong, is that you try to avoid going to your school with the idea that you NEED to transfer because it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy and you will most likely end up not enjoying an entire year of your life. I think your SATs, while not terrible, are a little bit on the lower side for most of the ivies…you could consider retaking them, or taking the ACT as an alternative. In any event, your primary emphasis, as you’ve noted, needs to be on GPA. If you’re at a state school looking to transfer to a top tier university, it definitely needs to be above a 3.85 and ideally would be above a 3.9. That, and make sure you have phenomenal essays, good recommendations and do your best to be active in ECs at your college. Penn and Cornell both take decent numbers of transfers, as do Northwestern, Emory and Georgetown. If you play your cards well none of these schools are out of the question.
The one useful topic Erin’s Dad did bring up is finances: many schools that are need-blind for a freshman applicant are not so for transfers (speaking from my own experience, Brown) and generally speaking transfer students often have a great deal of difficulty securing aid or scholarships. EVEN still, there are a number of schools you could consider, it’s just a matter of doing your research.I’d say do the best you can academically this first semester, but don’t think about transferring again until at least December.</p>
<p>I agree, don’t think about transferring until second semester. Just put the idea out of your head. If you still want to transfer in December, then give it another thought and think about it a little more. Try and get as close to a 4.0 as possible and I think you have a good shot at some good schools such as Vanderbilt, Emory, UVa, UNC, William and Mary, GT, and maybe even Cornell and Penn. Good luck.</p>
<p>If my college record is “phenomenal” along with great essays, ECs, recs like ananapp said but I have a horrible HS record…but I will transfer after 2 years would I have a shot at schools like upenn, cornell, emory etc…?</p>
<p>Well, considering most (all?) colleges don’t ask for your high school transcript after you’ve completed 2 years of college, yes, you’d have a good shot if you did well in college. By the time you enter your junior year, what you did in high school is of no interest to admission committees. It’s history.</p>
<p>I totally agree with Ana. If you focus on transferring, you’ll make yourself miserable. Try to enjoy where you are and you may find that you want to stay there. I personally know a girl who graduated last year and went to Brigham Young with the intention of transferring after a year to UVA (where she always wanted to go). But, she went in with an open mind and loved BYU so much she didn’t even bother to try and transfer. Who knows, you may love the place you’re determined to leave :)</p>
<p>But, if you really do end up wanting to transfer, I’d follow the advice by Ana. Good luck :)</p>