UT Austin to Stanford.. chances and opinions?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey everyone,</p>

<p>I would appreciate a bit of help and guidance.</p>

<p>I am currently a student at UT-Austin and am majoring in Plan II Honors and Mol. Bio.</p>

<p>I am thinking about applying as a transfer student to Stanford in this coming school year.</p>

<p>My stats:</p>

<p>High School: Texas Academy of Math and Science (TAMS) (you basically take only college courses during 11th and 12 grade and most of these courses focus on, as the name of the institution suggests, mathematics and science). I graduated with a 3.96 (only one B in vector calc) and 72 credit hours. Some courses I took: Honors Intro Bio and lab, Intro Chem and lab, Mechanics and Electromagnetism and lab, Pre-Cal to Cal III, 4 semesters of English, MicroBio and lab, US History, Game Theory (upper division), etc etc. Not into many EC but did two summers of research (biomedical) at UNT Health Science Center. Applied to, but got rejected by, Stanford... among a few other institutions.</p>

<p>SAT I: 800 Math, 680 Verb</p>

<p>SAT II: 780 Bio, 750 Math IIC, 670 Writing (none retaken)</p>

<p>Current education:</p>

<p>As aforementioned: Majoring in Plan II inter-desciplinary honors major (one of the more prestigeous honors programs at public schools; average SAT for our class: 1444; listed under the College of Liberal Arts. Website: <a href="http://www.utexas.edu/cola/plan2/general_info/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.utexas.edu/cola/plan2/general_info/&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>I've completed 2 semesters at UT (29 hours). During the first semester I took 17 hours of classes of which 9 hours were honors (and 3 were Organic Chem I). That messed up my whole GPA... first semester GPA at UT: ~3.15. The next semester I took fewer hours and got a 3.75 (an A in Genetics, B in Organic Chem II). This coming semester I expect to again take 17 hours again, but have a positive outlook as those classes cater to my interest. So, to summarize, my UT GPA: 3.38 (I have a couple of semesters to improve it). Total hours: 101 (the 72 hours transfered from TAMS but didnt get factored into the UT GPA... thus my UT GPA does not include any of the intro classes). If you factor in my GPA from TAMS then my total GPA is a 3.79.</p>

<p>I have done quite a bit of volunteering and hope to become associated with some research this coming fall. Also gained work experience this summer (in retail).</p>

<p>I would appreciate it if everyone could drop a few lines with their opinions on my chances.</p>

<p>What can I do to best prepare myself for transfer application to Stanford?</p>

<p>How can I increase my chances (without having to retake the SATs)?</p>

<p>Is it even possible to transfer to Stanford from UT?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot,</p>

<p>Hindustani</p>

2

<p>Honestly, your UT gpa seems too low for Stanford, but your high school record is sweet. You're also going to need a good reason for transfer.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for replying jrpower.</p>

<p>Will Stanford look too harshly upon my record if my GPA drops for only one semester?</p>

<p>In that first semester I honestly underestimated the difficulty of my honors classes, took a honors sophomore macroecon class without any previous background, and got slaughtered by organic chemistry.
As I said, I've only had one semester to make up for the low begining GPA and I hope to bring it up to AT LEAST a 3.55 by the end of the coming year. (If I cannot achieve this, then I probably wont apply for transfer.) If I show a strong improvement after the semester that killed my GPA will they look mor favorably towards it?</p>

<p>Now to address the question of good reason for transfer:
Would "Stanford offers a more well-rounded education and allows students to take seminars covering topics that interest them (and may or may not relate to their major(s). Also the Stanford student body is a little more intellectual that the UT student body thus creating a more stimulating environment at Stanford and helps students mature into thinkers rather than close-minded 'Aggie-hatin' individuals. Finally, reseach oppertunities at Stanford are light-years ahead of the opertunities at UT." I can also site examples!
Are these topics too cliche or can they turn out well if I write a good essay and bolster the reasons with strong examples?</p>

<p>Finally, what do you all think would impress the Stanford adcoms most, volunteering at a hospital or biology research?
As I have quite a bit of experience in research, I was leaning a bit towards it because I personally enjoy it and always have the possibility of staying on with the research group and getting published in the case that my transfer application is not accepted. Taking all these into consideration, what would you recommend, research or volunteering? (I dont want to put my grades on the line and do both).</p>

<p>Thanks once again for your help.</p>

<p>-Hindustani1987</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Will Stanford look too harshly upon my record if my GPA drops for only one semester?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Yes.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Finally, reseach oppertunities at Stanford are light-years ahead of the opertunities at UT."

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That is the only valid reason amongst the list you provided; the second is a generalization - and an insult to many of my friends - and the first reason is, if I am not mistaken, possible to obtain at UT.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Finally, what do you all think would impress the Stanford adcoms most, volunteering at a hospital or biology research?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Do what you want, not what will impress someone else.</p>

<p>
[quote]
As I have quite a bit of experience in research, I was leaning a bit towards it because I personally enjoy it and always have the possibility of staying on with the research group and getting published in the case that my transfer application is not accepted.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Your predilection for research will contribute to your reason for wanting to transfer. That is all that I can say.</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
That is the only valid reason amongst the list you provided; the second is a generalization - and an insult to many of my friends - and the first reason is, if I am not mistaken, possible to obtain at UT.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>My first reason: I am currently in the most well-rounded program that UT offers.. but its not enough. There is too much of a focus towards liberal arts with my major. I have friends at Stanford who take IntroSem in many different areas, from Recombinant Genetics, to United Nations politics, to Russian Literature. Those classes are taken for personal enrichment, not to fulfill any requirements. I take TC courses at UT, but the selection is severly limited and we dont have the chance to take one a semester (we are only allowed to take it for 1.5 out of 4 years).</p>

<p>Second Reason: Sorry for offending your friends, but most people I've met at UT lack the interest in being intellectuals. Most of the people I know would rather go party and get druck on friday night, thank discuss recent events and give out their views on life. Honestly, I dont care how the UT football team performs. I'd rather have the funds from the football program directed to bringing in more speakers from around the world to talk about various topics ranging from history, to science, to politics.</p>

<p>Third Reason: Stanford has a larger endowment that UT and fewer students. This makes for more oppertunities and more high quality research where professors dont have to worry about the lack of funds.</p>

<p>thanks for you input nspeds. Ill keep em in mind!</p>

<p>-hindustani</p>

6

<p>Hindustani (I'm assuming you're from India):
I know where you're coming from. Stanford has the money, the reputation and who knows what else. But UT is a great school with a gread undergrad economics program. If you change yourself to someone you think Stanford is looking for, you will come across as fake. </p>

<p>Take my example: During the past three years all I've wanted to do was go to Harvard, only because I thought people would respect me more. The first two times I was rejected, but was finally accepted this year, and guess what, Harvard has somewhat lost its glitter. I don't think I'm the same person I was before, I've changed and my priorities have changed. I know I'll be alot of happier going somewhere else.</p>

<p>If you're doing really well at UT, stay at UT, you'll have a better chance at Stanford Business school, but don't apply just for the name.</p>

7

<p>How competitive is it to get into the bio honors program at UT?</p>

8

<p>Kipling: I really appreciate your honest help. I guess there is a part of me that has been blinded by a Stanford's reputation. For me, it was kind of like winning the Nobel Prize. It proves that one is worthy enough to match some of the best students in the nation. I guess I'll have to take a couple of months to really think about my reason for applying - if it really is what I just mentioned above, then I probably wont go ahead with the process. If, however, I realize that I have a legitimate and well-founded reason, then I'll go ahead with the process.</p>

<p>One quick question: My ultimate goal, for some unidentifiable reason, has been Stanford Medical School. I dont know when or why this came into my mind. The one thing I noted however, was that only 1 student from UT-Austin was accepted into Stanford Med in the last three years. Do the chances honestly not change depending on the undergraduate institution?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot once again for your help Kipling... I'll reanalyze myself and try to find out whether I would really stand to gain anything. Now, I will definitley not gonna do what makes me look best. They can accept me for who I am or they can reject me for who I am. Thanks for making me realize that.</p>

<p>imacrazyscientist: are you a UT student? Ummm.. there are no bio honors programs at UT. The only honors program in the College of Nat. Sci. is 'Deans Scholars'. Its not too hard from what I've seen. Almost everyone who applied from my high school got accepted. I didnt like the essays so I didnt apply for it. Deans Scholars is not a well-rounded honors progam IMO. Its just like a souped up science major. I really didnt wanna be hardcore science and ignorant about the arts. If hardcore science is all you want (as your name implies) go ahead and apply!</p>

9

<p>LOL,
Stanford Medical School is an amazing place, and I can totally relate to you. I've wanted to go to Harvard Medical school for some reason as well, though in terms of selectivity I believe Stanford takes the cake. </p>

<p>I do know that some schools have a preference for their own students, like Duke and Cornell, but they have great undergrad programs anyway. Others like Northwestern make it harder for their own undergrads. </p>

<p>However, in terms of getting into any Medical School, Stanford's name will help you alot. Lesser known Medical Schools like to brag that they have an undergrad from Harvard, Yale, Stanford etc. But if you're one of the top UT Austin students, you'll have a much greater shot than if you were a average Stanford student. Imagine how many over-achieving Stanford students want to go to the Medical School, can you imagine competing against them?</p>

<p>Plus the competition at Stanford is cutt-throat in its own way. People refer to Stanford students as ducks: calmly gliding above, but paddling like crazy underneath the water. </p>

<p>Nevertheless, you seem like a very mature, agreeable individual, and me thinks you'll make a great doctor wherever you decide to go.</p>

10

<p>Ah. I know the allure of Stanford. I did want to apply there for transfer but eventually I thought about my goals and what I wanted out of my college years (history major, study abroad, languages, equestrian...) and looked at my transfer credits and graduation requirements. It was going to be too tight to do all of that because of their quarter system. Then there was also the issue of needing to re-take the SATs or ACT- I was living in an area where I would need a car to get to the testing center. It was just too much work and effort on my part.</p>

<p>I did hear about the cut-throat environment- but I believe that was really in the math, engineering, and sciences, not liberal arts where I am. I also do want to go there for law or graduate school and I understood that it looked like I would be better off not going to Stanford for undergrad if I have the desire to go there for grad according to their list of acceptances. The admissions there appear to be college-blind, I think that more people from Stanford are rejected than those who did not attend Stanford. So I decided, oh well, California will wait for me, and I'll go somewhere else where I can be on the top.</p>

<p>You are amazingly ahead in your college curriculum- stay at UT and be the best you can be and then try to apply for top med schools when the time comes. If you don't get in Stanford's med, it's their loss. Plus, is it worth the additional money to go to Stanford, a private school for undergrad than public UT?</p>

11

<p>I think your chances for getting into Stanford are slim. Your UT GPA is quite low, when they go to evaluate your application they're going to see that. And it will make you a weaker applicant. If you're doing bad at UT they might think you wont be able to cut it at Stanford. </p>

<p>Your issues with the school, finding people who aren't interested in football seems pretty weak. There's 50,000 people at UT, to say that there aren't people who share common interests is a cop out.</p>

<p>I think getting into Med school will mainly be an issue of getting a high GPA and high MCAT scores, and those will fall onto your own abilities.</p>

12

<p>Do what is in your own best interest. Like you, I am applying to Stanford as a transfer student as well. However, I went to a community college because my High School record was very weak. I completed 57 out of 60 credits: 12-A's, 6-B's,1-D, 1-W. Aside from the W/D grades it comes out it 2/3-A's and 1/3-B's, of which I completed 6 Honors classes. I recently took the SAT II: World History and got a 660 first time taking the test. I'm currently studying for the SAT I and hope to get a combine score of at least a 1950+. If my scores are above my target, I'll take the SAT II: Math IIC and try to get at least a 650+.With regards to the SAT's, retake the test if you feel you could do better on them.</p>

<p>I hope to study Sociology at Stanford in the area of Economic Sociology. All of the other schools I've checked are limited in it's offerings their respected department. Also, one reason why I want to go to Stanford is because of the academic oportunities that they have, as well as a very strong intellectual climate. Stanford has a community that I've long to be a part of. It's doesn't make any sense to have an intellectual spark and are discriminated by your peers because of that. That's what happened to me. It's hard being intellectually different when everyone else wants to keep things the way they are.</p>

<p>Go to the school that suits your interest. Everyone will have their own opinion. But it's you who'll make the final decision for yourself. As long as you passion for learning is bright....you'll express those ideas in you application. Go luck with your Stanford application. Hope the admissions officers will give you the green light into the school.</p>

13

<p>Hindustani,</p>

<p>I'm at UT under Dean Scholars/Engineering and a major in English (Plan II says I don't have room for them...). I understand what you feel-- I too applied for transfer to the big schools (Yale, Columbia, Penn--etc) and received admission to all of them. Yet above all, you need to ask yourself what you really want out of your college education and what will help you get there.</p>

<p>My advice-- stay at UT and be a hell of a student-- Stanford Med School will be impressed by that rather than just a name</p>

14

<p>Thanks a lot for your help everyone!
I guess I still need time to decide whether to apply transfer or not. In the meanwhile I am going to totally devote myself after the 31st. No room for any errors.</p>

<p>redlinekid: if you dont mind me asking, what college are you currently in?</p>

<p>thanks,</p>

<p>Hindustani</p>

15

<p>I attended Miami-Dade College until the Spring 2005 school year. Due to the lack of opportunities that I was given, I've decided to leave the school. I'm currently studying for the SAT I exam for October. I certainly hope to get a good score on the test. </p>

<p>As for my college applications, I've completed my transfer application essays and statement questions for the following schools:</p>

<p>Stanford
Yale
Brown</p>

<p>All I'll need to do is to answer my essay questions for Cornell. I have decided to concentrate on these 4 schools as it's time consuming to focus on the other places. I am just hoping that one of the 4 schools will accept me.</p>

16

<p>Wow, great schools and early preparations!</p>

<p>Isn't the Stanford transfer app due by may 15th or something?</p>

<p>one more thing: Is taking the SAT a prerequisite of applying as a transfer student?.... I would rather spend time studying for the mcats than practicing the SATs.</p>

<p>regards and best of luck,
Hindustani</p>

17

<p>Stay at Plan II...it is the freaking best!</p>

18

<p>The SAT I & II are required. Especially since I haven't taken the test while I was in high school. So all of my test scores will be sent to my former high school as a source of closure. I want to put my H.S. days behind me. Once I've completed that task, I'll then have them sent to the schools of my choice. This way my SAT I&II will appear on my high school transcript for the admissions officers to see.</p>

<p>As far as my transfer applications is concerned, I only have my old applications that I use to answer the essay questions as they remain the same year after year. Therefore, I wanted to get the essay questions out of the way as soon as possible until the new application documents arrive, so that I can attach those forms to them, etc.</p>

<p>But I intend to send the application forms out around Feb. 2006. So if I receive a good score on the SAT I, I then focus on the SAT II:Math 2C around December 2005 or January 2006.</p>