Transfering to a TOP 50 school

Transfer Students
1

<p>In High School, I was an average student: A's, B's, and C's. I think, if I remember correctly, I had 3.1 G.P.A.</p>

<p>I did poorly on my SAT's and ACT's. I scored around 800 something on the SAT and I don't recall my ACT score. I do know, that I scored higher on the English, than Math on the SAT if that makes any difference.</p>

<p>I'm a political science and economics major with the intention of going to Law School. Currently, I'm at Miami Dade College in Miami, Florida. (For those not familiar, Miami Dade used to a community college but now has a couple of four year programs so it dropped the community from the name, but it basically is a community college... anyone can get in).</p>

<p>I just started my second and final year and Miami Dade College. I took 5 classes during my first semester(FALL) in which I recieved an A in 4out5 classes. I got a B in just one. I took a remedial math (MAT0024). That was a pass or fail class and no credit is awarded for that class.</p>

<p>During my second semester(SPRING), I took 6 classes, including an honors course in Creative Writing and I got all A's in my classes except in my ath course, which was MAT1033. The credits for that class are not awared, but you do recieve a letter grade. I got a D. So as a result, I had to take the class again. I also got a B in my Biology class.</p>

<p>I decided to take summer classes. I took three. I ended up withdrawing from one of the classes because It interfered with my schedule. I ended up take only two. I took philosophy and the math course (MAT1033). I got an A in philosophy and passed MAT1033 with a C.</p>

<p>Currently, in the FALL 08 semester, I'm taking 5 class. MAC1105 (college algebra), a foregin language course, a LIterature Honors Course, a world history honors course, and an Ecology course.</p>

<p>As of right now, my G.P.A. is 3.7. I'm a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. And that's pretty much it.</p>

<p>I want to go to a top school and I wanted to know what are my chances og getting schools like:</p>

<p>University of Virginia
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Wisconsin - Madison
University of Miami (Florida)
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
College of William and Mary
Tufts University
Boston College
Boston University
American University
George Washington University</p>

<p>Ultimately what I'm asking, considering my current academic record what are my changes of getting in these schools now? and what can I do to improve my changes of getting in to one of these schools?</p>

<p>Also, if you have an recommendations for public or private (preferably public) universities with TOP Poly Sci departments... please list any.</p>

<p>Thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>I go to North campus and my stats are similar to yours and I’m applying to umich too. i just haven’t joined ptk yet, but I’d say you have a great shot at Miami and American. I don’t have any knowledge on the other schools you listed. I think you might want to check out fsu and their program it might be better and way more affordable than Miami’s.</p>

3

<p>Nice to hear from someone at MDC too. Thanks for the information. Can anyone help too?</p>

4

<p>I think your SAT score is going to seriously seriously hinder your application success. While it’s true that in transfer applications your high school scores don’t really matter as much, I think an SAT score of 800 (I assume on the 1600 scale), is going to raise a red flag for most of these schools. I would suggest retaking the SAT and getting a substantially better score if possible.</p>

5

<p>Yes, my SAT score would definitely raise a red flag. I actually just finished double checking my score. It was a 850(450/400) out of a 1600.</p>

<p>I’m really not interested in taking the exam again. I didn’t study for it the first time, and I have no intention of doing so again. However, my question is, once you collect over 30 credits in a college or university, if you decide to transfer, doesn’t the university disregard your high school performance if you did exceptionally well the first two years of college?</p>

<p>Also, what else can I do aside from re-taking the SAT to improve my chances of getting into a TOP 50 school or schools like Boston University, University of Miami, George Washington University, or American that fall just below the top 50 ranking?</p>

6

<p>you might want to go the career services office and talk to a transfer counselor they can answer all the questions you’ve asked here and help you find scholarships.</p>

7

<p>I saw this post and see myself in the same light as the poster. I go to MDC trieng to get an Intl. Rel. but I have 3.4 and have been looking into going into a top 50 school but my SAT scores were around 800 as well and my high school gpa was around 2.5. Hopefully by next semester I will end up with a high 3.0. I’d rather not take the SAT again either.</p>

8

<p>The university will not disregard your high school performance. I’m sorry, but they won’t. There are very few that will do so if you are a current sophomore… but they will explicitly say so. In fact, most transfer admissions require a high school counselor’s report and all relevant high school grades and scores.</p>