<p>I'm currently enrolled in my safety school and need some advice for transfer. After I graduated HS in 2012 I enrolled for my first semester of college and didn't like it (too many slackers, location sucks). Then, I took Spring semester 2013 and the next fall semester off (a year) to study abroad or do whatever because I felt that college was a waste of time and money. Here's my story:</p>
<p>I have great ECs. I do well and am working on starting a second company. I've also been studying abroad and traveling to many places and have 24 credits (12 first semester in college and 12 possibly transferable from studying abroad). Basically, my resume is awesome and has landed me excellent job opportunities. But for college, it's harder.</p>
<p>I want to go to college simply to live the college life and study entrepreneurship/business. I want to live in an intellectual environment. At the same time, I will be working on my companies and see where they will go. So, I'm looking for colleges only in New York, San Fran or LA and maybe some other cities. So far I'm interested in UCLA, UCB, Stanford, NYU, Columbia, Georgetown, and maybe USC. But, what are my chances?</p>
<p>My academics are not great. High school GPA with some honors/AP 3.4. First semester college GPA was horrible at 2.6 - I just didn't like being there. My GPA when studying abroad last semester is around 3.4 but I'm not sure if that's transferable. SAT score 1950, highest being writing.</p>
<p>What should I do to raise my chances of getting in to these schools for asap admission (retake SAT maybe)? Or can you guys recommend some other good schools for me? I'm interested in a good location, international focus and an intellectual, friendly environment. Let's make this a discussion! Thank you very much for reading. ;)</p>
<p>I’ve been looking into some specific entrepreneurship/business colleges. I don’t mind an international location either. If these are easier to get into, does anyone have any recommendations? Thank you and any comments are greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>I think most of the schools you listed are going to be difficult to get into, especially considering how transfer applicants have an even lower acceptance rate than others. In all honesty, the 3.4 Highschool GPA looks like a big turn off, especially to colleges like Columbia, Stanford etc, which would probably also not take lightly your 2.6 GPA (I don’t know how your HS and college GPAs are weighted exactly though, but it certainly isn’t helping). </p>
<p>Perhaps you should retake the SAT? If you can pull off something higher than a 2100 or even a 2050 now, it would help a lot. Also maybe it would help if you could get your GPA up a lot…at least to a 3.7?</p>
<p>Don’t take my word for it, because I have no experience with transferring whatsoever, I’m just speaking for what it looks like. So maybe you should wait for someone else to post too…</p>
<p>However, I think a 2100 is a huge improvement on a 1950, and it’ll look a lot better on your application. I don’t know to what extent it’ll help though, since your GPA will still play a big role in your admissions, but it can’t hurt to take it again right?</p>
<p>Honestly, I don’t think your GPA can be balanced out by better scores. While you seem like you would be an interesting applicant, you have not proven you have the academic chops to make it at these schools. </p>
<p>There are plenty of schools in the locations you mention. Maybe start another thread asking for suggestions of strong colleges for Entrepreneurship in these cities.</p>
<p>nova2nola, If I happen to raise my SAT score to 2100+ would you say UCLA is a good chance or is that still a reach? No matter what schools I apply to, what should I do to raise chances? Such as applying to a specific major that’s easier to get into then transfer, or etc.</p>
<p>Also, I heard that if I have under 26 college credits (I have 24 or 12 depending on which colleges will take my study abroad credits) I can be considered as a freshman applicant. Is this true? And if so, after getting in would it be possible to transfer some credits of college credit programs I attended?</p>
<p>Yes, UCLA would still be a huge reach. Your grades are not in range. Look at schools like Redlands, Cal Lutheran, Loyola Marymount. I don’t know if any of those 3 is strong in Entrepreneurship, but you can browse their websites and find out. </p>
<p>As far as transferring credits and whether or not you would be considered a freshman, that will vary from school to school, so you will just need to check with each one personally. </p>
<p>Also, once a prospective college can see how you have done in actual college classes, those SAT scores become less important. Get them up if you can, because higher scores might get you some money, but I don’t think they will have much impact on your admission decisions.</p>
<p>2.6 GPA, low SAT score, and you want to apply to Columbia? Are you on something right now? I actually find this offensive given that I got rejected with a 3.8 GPA and a great SAT score.</p>
<p>You have no chance at getting into any of the schools you wrote down. The best I could see is your transferring to a school like Penn State or the University of Texas. Don’t waste your time and money.</p>
<p>Even if you get 2400 on the retake of the SAT, your chance would be 0%. You can’t transfer to UCLA, Stanford (2% acceptance rate), UCB, etc. with a 2.6 or even a 3.0 GPA. Do you think that these places are a joke?</p>
<p>The most important factors for transfer applicants are the college grades, the courses taken in college, how many spots are open in a given college for a major, and how you will fit into that curriculum. Many time transfer applications are taken after everything else has been settled and the school can see where they have gaps in their upper classmen programs. If classics, has a lot of empy seats, and you have been taking courses that mesh with a particular college’s curriculum, doing well, and that’s your thing, you are going to have a better chance or in some case even a chance than someone who is trying to get into an oversubscribed major. There can be NO spots for transfers if they are full up already. </p>
<p>I’ve known kids who were rejected from like schools and then with a strong showing at a college the first year or two who have gotten into selective colleges. The criterion for college grades is not has stringent as those for high school GPAs and the test scores are not as important for transfers. Space available is critical and sometimes you are talking single digit numbers in terms of transfer seats at some colleges, or no room at all.</p>
<p>@TheApollo: I find your post arrogant and derogatory. FYI my net worth is almost 1 mil because of my business and doing what I love…and I’m still in my teens. I can be competitive like you, too. Go compare your GPA with somebody else. I’m just looking for simple advice on my transfer process to a new university and I highly doubt that even with a 2400 there would be a 0% chance. I will explain my situation further to clear things up.</p>
<p>@cptofthehouse: Thank you! </p>
<p>@nova2nola: Thanks, I will try my hardest to raise the scores. I will also look into those colleges. I need some more advice on transferring asap regarding other things I should do.</p>
<p>I went to college for one semester and got the 2.6 GPA. This was during hurricane Sandy and I lost some dear friends, so it was difficult to say the least (and stupid of me there was a pass/fail option but it’s too late now!). On top of that, I don’t like being there. It is by no means is a display of my academic potential. Last semester I studied abroad and got an A average (it transfers to around around 3.5 on their grading scale). My high school GPA was 3.4 with a rigorous course loud throughout the four years.</p>
<p>I’m not hoping on transferring into the “top” schools. I just want to live the college life at a good school in an intellectual environment and study entrepreneurship because that’s what I love. Any school recommendations? Any clever ideas on getting in? I want to transfer as soon as possible and do not want to attend another college in the meantime, even if it is to raise my GPA. I am thinking about studying abroad again this fall semester, however, since I have a whole semester off until January transfer. The only thing I have to do so far is take the SATs. What else should I focus on?</p>
<p>Looking for some more advice. Thanks for reading!</p>
<p>University of Arizona showed up on more than one list for entrepreneurs. It’s not very selective. I wouldn’t say it’s known for intellectuals, but at a school that size, you will find like-minded people if you try. It’s not in any of your top cities, so not sure it’s a fit, but take a look at their B-school website and see what you think.</p>
<p>My post was intended to be harsh, because you need to be woken up. If I don’t do it, the rejection letters will when it’s too late. You can’t transfer to universities with 2-10% acceptance rates when you have a 2.6 GPA or even a 3.0 GPA if they accept your other work. Columbia, for example, tells you to not bother applying of your GPA is less than 3.5 right on its website. I mean, NYU looks like a possibility, but other than that you are wasting your time. I think that you would be much better off looking at some reasonable options like Notre Dame, the University of Florida, University of Texas, or even Vanderbilt as a mid-reach.</p>
<p>At least they have 30-35% acceptance rates. The OP thinks he can get into places with 2% acceptance rates with academic stats that would probably place him in the bottom 5% of applicants. And the OP says I am arrogant…</p>
<p>@nova2nola: The Arizona program looks amazing. Good find! But I can’t go to Arizona, it would be really difficult to commute and run things. It’s 8 hours from LA! If there was something similar at another school it would be perfect. </p>
<p>From the list on entrepreneur.com Baruch college looks interesting. I’m going to look into it, but it doesn’t look like much of a college life/campus environment.</p>
<p>@TheApollo: How’s it going, man? If you read my first post carefully, you can see that I wrote I’m interested in those colleges (key word <em>interested</em>). I never said that I think I can get into them. I’m aware of the acceptance rates and appreciate your advice. Also, I’m not interested in the universities that you mentioned. Most of them are even more selective as NYU or UCLA.</p>
<p>I have a friend who got into Columbia in the business program with a 2.9 high school GPA and a 2340 SAT score. She did some amazing things outside of school and had a good excuse for the dismal GPA. I think she’s a good example of optimism. :)</p>
<p>If you have a net worth of well over a million dollars, why exactly do you want to study entrepreneurship? What benefits do you hope to get from a college education that you don’t already posses? (I’m not just referring to the financials here).</p>
<p>As long as you understand that there is a high chance you will get rejected from all of them except perhaps NYU, and that getting into Columbia would be like winning the lottery, then that’s fair enough. I was just trying to warn you … my intent was not malicious.</p>
Go compare your GPA with somebody else. I’m just looking for simple advice on my transfer process to a new university and I highly doubt that even with a 2400 there would be a 0% chance. I will explain my situation further to clear things up.</p>