UChicago, Brown, Swarthmore, Harvard, Columbia.

Transfer Students
1

<p>These are the schools I love and each for a different reason. I'm not applying to safeties because I have other options.</p>

<p>I'm currently a freshman on an academic scholarship at a Top 20 university known for grade deflation.</p>

<p>HS GPA: 3.7 UW
ACT: 32 (will retake)
College GPA: 3.5 (hopefully, by the end of the first semester)</p>

<p>ECs: Scholarship Program, research assistant with professor at business school, director of public relations and serve on executive board of a student organization on campus, co-founded non-profit org., researcher for a renowned electronics firm on a unique project abroad, philanthropy chair of another organization on campus, intramural football, weekly mentoring, published poet, potential spring internship at consulting firm, lots of volunteer service.</p>

<p>Recommendations: should be great, but it's really too early to tell.</p>

<p>Essays: Writing is one of my strong points and I have solid reasons for wanting to transfer, so hopefully, I'll be able to churn out some fantastic essays.</p>

<p>Supplementary Materials (to UChicago): rap song (yes, rap song. No, not "gangsta rap." And, yes, I'm not bad), research abstract, and published poetry.</p>

<p><em>Sorry for the rather vague post, I promise my app. will be much more detailed! I'm simply not a fan of disclosing TOO much information online</em></p>

<hr>

<p>Questions and chances:</p>

<p>1) Will my low college GPA be evaluated in context? More specifically, will a 3.5 at a Top 20 school known for grade deflation be looked upon favorably when matched up against a 4.0 at a community college?</p>

<p>2) How much weight will my ECs carry? I know nothing can compensate for my poor college GPA and test scores, but I'm hoping that the enthusiasm and dedication that I devote to my ECs will make a positive impact on the adcoms.</p>

<p>3) I sincerely don't mean to be immodest or boa****l, but, I have to ask, how will these schools view my status as a scholar? Will they look at it as "Hey, this kid's willing to give up a full ride to a Top 20 school to come here. Wow, we should be flattered." or will they be relatively unimpressed?</p>

<p>4) What are my chances at UChicago, Brown, Swarthmore, Harvard, Columbia?</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much.</p>

2

<p>I'd like to add that the University of Chicago is my first choice. Swarthmore is my second choice. The other schools - Brown, Harvard, and Columbia - are all really reaches for me.</p>

<p>I will get a rec letter from both a Harvard alum and Chicago alum, if that helps at all.</p>

3

<p>3.5 is definitely at the low end of the pool, but it's good you're coming from a solid school. ECs generally carry relatively little weight next to your GPA, recommendations, or statements. Unless you have URM status, your chances are low everywhere except for UChicago and Swarthmore.</p>

4

<p>Admissions requirements for U Chicago, Brown, Swarthmore, Harvard, and Columbia are all very high and from a solely academic point of view very similar.</p>

<p>U Chicago and Swarthmore are not safety schools for anyone, regardless of the applicants’ academic talents, and skills. U Chicago and Swarthmore are in some ways harder to get into than Brown, Harvard, or Columbia. </p>

<p>The quote “your chances are low everywhere except for U Chicago and Swarthmore” is wrong and misleading. This misstatement is most likely the result of the author evaluating a school on its name recognition and not it academic requirements.</p>

5

<p>Thank you for your honest evaluations.</p>

<p>I must work harder then.</p>

6

<p>Aside from your academic and extracurricular accomplishments, I think the schools will consider why you want to transfer. That's not a reason you need to explain here, but I'm assuming you have very solid reasons-- "the people here stink!" is not the best reason.</p>

<p>I think Chicago will consider your application seriously, as they will your explanation of why you want to attend. I think that the fact that you attend a Top 20 school will work in your favor-- I'm sure there's some satisfaction of the prospect of "stealing" a student from a competitor school-- but at the same time, some of the transfer kids I know are exceptional students from relatively weaker schools (UIowa, UF, etc.) What are your chances? Will you get in? That's up for the admissions genie to determine.</p>

7

<p>tommybill:</p>

<p>I was simply going by the statistics and that his chances are objectively higher at those schools.</p>

8

<p>I applied to UChicago with a 3.6 from Emory (a top twenty university). I was rejected.</p>

9

<p>Thanks everyone.</p>

<p>To Do List:
1. Work on increasing my GPA
2. Really communicate my desire to transfer in the essays</p>

<p>Thanks :]</p>

10

<p>Quick question: When do I submit my transfer app to Harvard if I'm planning to transfer spring of sophomore year?</p>