Transferring Twice After Further Reflection

Transfer Students
1

Hello,

In my first college app round, after being accepted to Emory and a top 10 LAC (will not name for confidentiality) I attended the LAC. Being a foster youth I struggled greatly with the adjustment and after a 2.25 and WF in one class, I withdrew and worked for the remainder of the academic year.

In the second round, I was still a freshman applicant (I only had 11 credits) and applied to 10 schools and was accepted to my state school’s Honors College and nowhere else, which is a better result than I expected frankly.

However, some time has passed and I’m finding that in taking time off and maturing, I want to look into applying as a transfer to a more rigorous school, but want an honest opinion of my chances and perhaps ways to strengthen my application.

Stats:
High School:
GPA: 3.78
SAT: 1550 (750 Reading 800 Math)
SAT II: Math Level II 790, Physics 670
AP: Statistics (5), Calculus BC (5), AP Computer Science A (4)
EC: Math League, Math Honors Society, Chinese Honors Society, Art Honors Society, President of Drama Club, Worked 30 hours a week

College:
LAC GPA: 2.25, 11 credits
Summer Community College Course: Intro to Sociology (A)
Current Anticipated Grades:
Multivariable Calculus (A)
Linear Algebra (B+)
Intro Writing Class (B+)
Intro to Microeconomics (A)
Intro to Japanese (A)
Note: I took an extra course, as most students take 4 at my school.
Current College ECs: Model UN(attended Columbia U’s conference), Finance team on Educational NonProfit Chapter, and Researching Data Analysis with an Education Policy Research Lab

Essay Topics:
Foster care as an avenue for maturing through my college journey.

Major:
Applied Math, Statistics, or Math

Schools:
Mainly hoping to apply to top schools such as Harvard, Princeton, Pomona, Brown, etc.
Will definitely apply to Emory (previously admitted)
Can return to LAC, but would explore this primarily if not admitted elsewhere

Sorry for the lengthy post! I appreciate any insight.

2

Transferring into Harvard / Princeton / Pomona / Brown is harder than getting in the first time, b/c the # of places relates to the # of people who leave- which is not a big number. You are obviously plenty smart, and your marks are good (showing dramatic growth), but 3 of them are intro / 1st year classes as a sophomore. As you probably know, you are already going to struggle to finish in 4 semesters- even at Brown, which is the most flexible place out there.

You are in the Honors program at your current Uni, so it’s unlikely that you can’t make it be “rigorous” enough to suit you. If “more rigorous” is code for “more prestigious”, imo you need to do more thinking about about what environment is going to really work for you.

3

Which state school honors college ?

Unlikely that Harvard or Princeton will accept you. Your semester at the top 20 LAC resulted in a GPA of 2.25. The LAC that you attended does not have a reputation for grade deflation.

4

The grass is never greener. You had a tough first semester, which happens to most if us. You got a chance to mature a bit and you’re coming back with a fresh perspective. Just go back and do it again. You’re still academically in good standing. It won’t be hard to bring your GPA up either. Transferring just gives you a different set of problems.

5

Thank you for your replies! Just to clarify, I am a freshman at my current institution and would continue in the class of 2023 when applying, unless I receive an offer that bumped me down to freshman status again.

And I’m in New Jersey.

Yeah, I feel like my chances in general are pretty slim.

Would it be a bad idea to consider going back to my LAC? I’ve spoken to one of the deans and he said since I wasn’t dismissed it would be relatively easy. My only concern is that I would have a 2.25 GPA again.

6

You will always have that 2.25 as part of your cumulative GPA, whether you stay where you are, go back to your LAC, or go somewhere else. Your current marks will be added in,

The real question is: would it be different this time if you went back? Would you be able to get the same sort of grades that you are getting now? would you feel socially comfortable?

7

I definitely was having similar thoughts.

Initially I blamed the school’s environment on my struggles but I see now that in the one semester I spent there, the problem was with me.

Even during my senior year in high school, I was so burnt out from working 40 hours a week while participating in clubs and taking difficult classes that my response was to give up after I was accepted. Luckily, my situation has become a lot more stable, as well as my post foster care mental health, so I’m not too worried about my ability to succeed there if I returned.

8

It is time to stop reflecting and get involved with your current university.