<p>Hello, first and foremost I would like to thank you for opening my thread and reading. </p>
<p>Here is my situation. I am thinking of transferring from my current school (East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania) to A Liberal Arts college (My major is English). I WOULD LIKE to attend one of the following of the following</p>
<p>1) Bucknell University
2) Hamilton College
3) Oberlin College
4) Grinnell College
5) Trinity College </p>
<p>Thus, I came here to see if these goals are realistic.<br>
Due to moving often, I was forced to attend three different High Schools, so my rank could not be ascertained.<br>
However, I finished with a 3.9 GPA with mostly honors classes (not AP)
EC's werent too too great: Counsellor/Choral Group/IT work</p>
<p>However, My SAT scores were not good, if not atroicious (450 math/600 verbal) </p>
<p>At the current time I am maintaining a 3.8 average at my current school with my major in ENglish (2 semesters). And plan on transferring in the spring or fall. (depending on dealines). </p>
<p>I am an African American male of a Single Parent household as well. (I don't know if that is a factor. I heard it could be)</p>
<p>I'd be applying as either a 1st semester or 2nd semester sophmore.</p>
<p>Hey I live in Bushkill :). Close enough right? lol</p>
<p>Oberlin is a great school. They seem to be very tough on trasfers though. </p>
<p>My first choices are in order</p>
<p>1) Bucknell University
2) Hamilton College
3) Trinity College
4) Grinell College
5) Oberlin College (mainly because I don't know the area and they seem strict on transfers). </p>
<p>The only thing Im worried about is whether or I have a shot with my current stats with that horrid Math SAT score :( . Even though I'm an English Major</p>
<p>Have you considered retaking the SATs? Or taking the ACTs? Even though standardized test scores aren't weighed very heavily (the more semesters under your belt, the better), you'll be applying to those schools against students with higher scores. I'm in the same position and decided to take the ACTs to give me a boost and cover my subject tests, and am considering retaking the SATs as well.</p>
<p>Reed is pretty easy to get into RD. I don't know about transfers though. For RD, i know they will look at an imperfect app, and like, a sub-500 score on any SAT section would not be an absolute bar to admission.</p>
<p>Yes I was considering retaking the SAT. However, I was told by some others that the fact that I did well in every other area would make up for the SAT score. I suppose that's not the case.</p>
<p>My goal is to get to a good grad school ultimately. So am I right in assuming that these schools will give me more of an edge to to so than other liberal arts colleges?</p>
<p>I think transfering will help you get into grad school. And I'd retake the SATs. You will absolutely increase your english scores after being an english major, and the math section is boostable with books. If you go to the Huges Library near the mall, they have years and years worth of prep books. Take one out (that isn't already written in . . . stupid kids) and work through it. I took a course with one of the books, went from a 450 to a 680M.</p>
<p>I'd also find a math or science majoring friend with a graphing calculator to borrow. Especially a TI-89. There's some really useful features that can help boost your math score (like the "solve function" heh)</p>
<p>I only know about Oberlin because I really wanted to go there, I've heard good things about Bucknell and Grinnel too. Oberlin has the one highest percentages of students going on to grad school, so I think it's a good choice.</p>
<p>I have a book (SAT I). Should I look for an the new SAT prep guide since this one does not coincide with the new SATs? Should I also take the ACTs?</p>
<p>Will Transfring in the Fall with 3 semesters (1 short of 2 years worth) make a difference? Will they want someone with that many credits? or will they want me to finish and get 2 years worth? </p>
<p>Thanx for the information. I will definately be doing some prep guides for both English and Math this year.</p>
<p>I don't think they'll "want you to finish", you're actually fairly well off from what I've read, because you will have finished one full year's worth of credits, but you're also not going to have to drop credits - you'll have plenty of time to satisfy new university requirements for graduation.</p>
<p>You might be okay using the old SAT book for the math section, because I believe it's more of the writing that's been revamped, but the more current, the better.</p>
<p>Your SATs shouldn't be your major concern, it's just a matter of deciding whether or not you feel it's worth giving yourself more of an edge because you'll be applying against people with higher scores, the actual score won't preclude you from getting into a school.</p>
<p>For me, I'm taking the ACTs just because I've never taken them, and it's optional to submit them. If I do really well, I figure it'll help balance out my lower SAT math score, and if I do poorly, I just won't send them in. It's something you might want to consider. </p>
<p>Also, I don't know about getting the old SAT score removed from your transcript (this is something I never really thought of - they're on mine too), but I'm assuming that most colleges are comfortable with the fact that the majority of students test more than once, and they'll focus on whatever score you have college board forward. If someone does happen to stumble upon the old score - just be honest about it. They'll probably respect you for wanting to show how much you've improved since high school rather than penalize you for having weaker scores in the past.</p>
<p>They aren't my main concern. My main concern is to keep everything above a 3.5 (my first semester of college freshman year was a 3.5......) but now it's about a 3.7. So I'm trying to keep it in the 3.7+ range. Is there a mimimum GPA that I should be aiming for to be competitive?</p>
<p>Once more my stats are:<br>
1) 3.9 High School GPA With all honors classes at 3 different schools in two different states. (not sure if this is good enough....I've seen people here talking about 4.0+ here). I believe that was weighted slightly, but since I moved to so many different schools, they really couldnt provide me with unweighted, so it's listed as just my regular gpa (the only positive thing about going to diff schools)
2) 3.6-3.7 gpa as of now. Mainly Science(Biology)/English/Philosophy (logic/intro) no math yet however (Advisor made it that way for English majors I don't know why.). Is it imperative to take a Math Course prior to transfer?
3) African American Male English Major Age 19 (or 20 depending on transfer time) -- I don't know if this gives me an edge (Hamilton has 4% blacks and Bucknell has 2%-- other schools I listed are in that range of 2-7%) </p>
<p>I want to get the most edge as possible, so I will be retaking a test. WOuld you recommend retaking the SAT or should I take the ACT instead? Suggestions on that? Also, I live in Pennsylvania, so would I have a greater chance at out of state schools (Hamilton/Oberlin/Reed) </p>
<p>NYU is also one of my ideal schools, but I can;t find much infromation on transfer students (Spring/fall).</p>
<p>Your race will give you an edge everywhere and with a 3.6-3.7, even without that hook you would be competetive for most transfer oppourtunities. If if you got your SATs above 1200, you'd be a near-shoe in at NYU and probably several of the other colleges you listed, although even with the SATs as they are you'd still probably be fine. Different colleges use the SATs differently, some barely use them at all for transfers. The other areas you have done well in probably would make up for the SATs, however its impossible to tell what adcoms are going to do. In general, if you want the best shot, I'd say take the SAT again and the ACT, although you probably wouldn't need too.</p>
<p>If you were thinking about taking the SATs again... I would recommend trying the ACTs. Some people just do better on them. I got an 1150 on the old SATs, but I got a 27 on the ACTs. (Equivalent to a 1250ish on the SATs)</p>
<p>A couple of questions:
Are you the first in your family to atend college?
As the child of a single parent, did you hold a part-time job during high school?
Your math SAT is pretty awful - but how were your math grades in high school and college? You just may not test well.
Do you have any community service on record either in high school or college?</p>
<p>As far as Trinity is concerned, you high school and college GPA's are good (though I don't know where your college stands academically) and Trinity is actively seeking to diversify its student body and bring in more minority students. Community service would be a major plus. Hopefully, all things not being equal, you are strong in these areas so that your SAT scores are over looked.</p>
<p>Bucknell is also actively seeking minority students as is Hamilton so give it try.</p>
<p>You may also want to consider Skidmore, Conn College, and Hobart. Good Luck.</p>