Transferring to Brown, Columbia, Northwestern, Georgetown

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm still intensely debating whether I should apply for transfer or not, and it would definitely help if people experienced in transfer admissions could lend their views.</p>

<p>I just finished my first year at Middlebury College. This past year, I've suffered depressive, psychological problems and as a result, my grades were nowhere as high as I would've liked them to be. Moreover, though I love my friends and appreciate the academic experience very much, I feel incredibly isolated at such a small, rural, and predominantly white college - I feel that attending a larger (though not huge) university somewhere near a city would be a better fit for me.</p>

<p>When I applied to colleges in HS, I was accepted to WUSTL, Rice, and Wesleyan. I'm not sure I could repeat that again, let alone get into the schools I'm now considering - Brown, Columbia, Northwestern (Medill j-school), and Georgetown.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:</p>

<p>Joint Major in English, Film & Media Culture; potential minor in Chinese
GPA: 3.42
Credits: 13
HS GPA: 3.61UW
SAT: 2270 (790V 770M 710W)
SAT II: 730 Lit, 720 Math II</p>

<p>I'm a writer for the school paper, arts editor of the alternative weekly, and a DJ at the college radio. I work during the school year as a personal assistant and film editor for a documentary maker. I interned at both my city's newspaper and city-living magazine. Still, I know these extracurriculars do not "make up" for grades.</p>

<p>If I want a fighting chance at these schools, what are the most important actions I have to take between now and the end of next school year? </p>

<p>Thanks to all of you for your time. I really appreciate it!</p>

2

<p>you've got a good shot at those schools although Columbia will be the toughest. </p>

<p>There are literally hundreds of threads on what to do to increase your chances of admissions to top schools, your situation isn't really unique so use the search function.</p>

<p>basically get the best gpa you can and spend a few months writing perfect essays. Also the "depression" excuse gets used a lot, it's really lame and I think makes you look like a whiner, no offense.</p>

3

<p>Well, my friend who lived on my floor died of mysterious circumstances, if that helps to justify my depression. My dean will be willing to vouch for me. Nonetheless - I agree that the "depression" discussion will neither help nor justify my grades. Are there certain classes I should be taking, etc?</p>

4

<p>Do your best and don't take classes that are obviously easy, don't worry about taking the hardest classes because they won't really be able to tell anyway. Just challenge yourself and start writing your essays NOW don't wait until I few days before like I did.</p>

<p>Cultivate great relationships with professors, all the other stuff you can find from a simple search of the forums. Believe me there is more info on here than you can read. </p>

<p>Good luck, and I'm sorry to hear about your friend.</p>