<p>Hi everyone,
Basically I have to get in to Brown for many reasons, but currently, I have been accepted to Canadian universities (McGill, U of Toronto). My SAT score is 2250, no subject tests. Top 1% HS. My field of study will be microbiology. I’m left with two options:</p>
<p>1) Wait a year, superscore the SAT and take the ACT, get some internships and more volunteer experience (I can get an excellent reference letter from a Harvard graduate), do some creative leadership work. Apply to Brown the following year.</p>
<p>2) Attend either U of T or McGill and then transfer to Brown. If I do this, I fear that things might get harder for me since I hear that Brown doesn’t really favor transfers. Also, I’m not sure if the school I attend would matter (i.e. would they favor McGill or U of T?)</p>
<p>I’m really stuck between these options, but I really have to attend Brown. There is no other option. However, I was wondering which of the two options available to me would be the better choice…will I stand a better chance with the year wait? Thanks a bunch everyone, this is reaaaally urgent.</p>
<p>If you HAVE to attend Brown, you need to re-think your priorities. No one HAS to attend any college. There are always other options.</p>
<p>I can’t tell you what to do. The acceptance rate is higher for freshman than for transfers, I’m sure, but it may be a good idea for you to attend U of T or McGill and re-evaluate in a few months.</p>
<p>Thanks, yeah I know that I’m not obliged to attend a specific college or anything, but Brown is my first choice for a lot of reasons. I’ve thought this over a lot, and since my uncle is an alumnus, I’m under a lot of pressure to attend. I’m just really confused, because I’m hearing a lot of different things: from one side I’m hearing I could go to the top Canadian universities then transfer if I really wanted to, some tell me that for undergrad a community college would be just as good (or better) than an Ivy League school (which would be more suitable for graduate studies), and others suggest that I take the gap year. I’m applying to biology by the way.</p>
<p>Have you thought about what you’ll do if you apply to Brown next year and still don’t get in? Brown may be your top choice, but sometimes stuff just doesn’t work out. If I were in your situation, I’d attend U of T or McGill, then, as I said before, re-evaluate once you’ve spent a semester there. You might find that you’re completely happy.</p>