Transfering from DU... applied: 28, rejects: 8 so far...

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey all,</p>

<p>I'm glad that I found this forum as it helps to get support. So I wanted to tell you my story. I am trying to transfer out of the University of Denver; great school, but I needed a different science program. Anyway, I think I have decent grades and definitely phenomenal extracurricular activity experience, with an unmatched job record. However, I am not sure if I am aiming too high.</p>

<p>I applied to a few Ivies; Dartmouth and Brown, which I got rejected from Dartmouth. So I started applying to schools like Haverford, Hamilton, and Macalester, which I also got rejects.</p>

<p>So... I am now aiming towards schools like Grinnell, Emory, Swarthmore and Case Western. I haven't heard from these schools. I also applied to schools like Seton Hall, Merrimack, and Hartwick.</p>

<p>I am FREAKING OUT because I don't understand why I can't get into at least one school. Do I have to find the cure to cancer? I feel I am a well-balance individual. </p>

<p>In my essays, I do disclose some really personal stuff; such as about some hardships I have overcome and have sought to proactively deal with. Do you think it's safe to talk about "personal" stuff in essays? Also, how do I know they aren't singling me out because of certain "identifiers."</p>

<p>Anyway... I've been a real "debbie downer" these days. Sad I just don't know what is wrong with me. Sigh. What do you guys think? Anyone have similar stories? Thanks for your time.</p>

2

<p>28 schools! I’ve never heard of anybody applying to so many as a transfer. College admissions is a crapshoot though; some of the schools you applied to have super low rates. I also got rejected from Haverford this week and have competitve stats, but their acceptance rate is <10% for transfers and I felt like I kinda blew the sixty or seventy bucks. It’s a tough and subjective process, so don’t take it personally that you weren’t one of the lucky few dozen out of hundreds.</p>

<p>I wonder what you wrote as supplementary essays (ie. why I like this school enough to apply) since your choices are all over the place. You’re seriously looking at nothing more than science programs? If you were vague on that point, it may have weakened your applications.</p>

<p>Good luck, I also applied to Grinnell and Swarthmore…really banking on Grinnell now, only school I haven’t heard from yet that I can imagine myself going to. I’ve haven’t gotten any acceptances yet either, so I can relate – I’m seriously doubting I’ll get in anywhere as a transfer, with good financial aid. I don’t know about Seton Hall, Merrimack, and Hartwick, but hopefully they’re less selective than all the ones you’ve heard from so far.</p>