What Are My Chances?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Applying to: UPenn (Wharton), NYU (Stern), University of Virginia (McIntire), Boston College (Carroll), Babson College, Georgetown (MSB).
Applying for: Fall 09
Applying as: Sophomore at Wharton, Junior everywhere else.</p>

<p>HS GPA: 3.54
Did not take SAT in HS</p>

<p>California CC
Current GPA: 3.8
SAT: 1430/2100 – I’ve taken it twice now. Both of them were taken in the Fall 08 semester. I didn’t study much so I’m going to take it one last time; I know I can improve it. Will it look bad to take it a third time?</p>

<p>Units: 105 semester units by the end of spring – 30 of these units were taken during High school; technically I will have attended the CC for 2.5 years now. Will this hurt my chances?</p>

<p>Also</p>

<p>My college workload has fluctuated a lot as well. I could only take a maximum of 10 semester units while I was attending high school. Subsequently, once I graduated high school, I doubled/tripled my college workload. In Fall 07’ I took 20 units. Spring 08’ I took 28. During this time I was working around 15 hours a week. I got all A’s and one B for those 2 semesters. Because I already had 85 units in total, I only took 10 units this semester (Fall 08) and will be taking only 10 again in Spring 09.</p>

<p>I’ve gotten A’s in ALL my prerequisite courses (econ, calc 1-3, accounting, business). As well as general ed (history, English, science). However, I had a hard time with Spanish, B’s in all three classes (level 1,2,3) that is pulling my GPA down.</p>

<p>Unfortunately I got a D in one of my English writing courses; my teacher did not like me. I retook the class in the summer and got an A. How should I address this in my application? Also I had to withdraw from another course the next summer due to an injury.</p>

<p>I have a few EC’s
President of school Honor Society
Karate
Jiu-Jitsu
Weightlifting</p>

<p>I work as a karate instructor (for kids) and as a tutor at the CC. I work on average 15-20 hours per week.</p>

<p>I have 2 excellent recs from my Accounting professor and my Economics professor.
I’m confident I can write meaningful and concise essays.
I am 17.</p>

<p>What are my chances?
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>~ Bumpity ~</p>

3

<p>chances at all, the CC may hurt, im not super knowledgeable, but i know GPA is the key thing and involvement, but the looks of it ur not out of it yet, i wud maybe add another school</p>

4

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/623727-chances-would-appreciated-chances-back.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/623727-chances-would-appreciated-chances-back.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

5

<p>The large amount of credits could because most of the colleges you listed, and most in general, want you to finish 2 years at their institution.
You can address the grade issue in the interview ( if you get one) or in a separate note on the app.
Strong GPA, but I will say no for Wharton just because of the very, very high level of competition and you are coming from a cc ( as am I) and many people think that schools tend to look down on cc students in certain cases. Maybe try CAS; I think you have a good shot there.
I think you have a good shot at BC and Georgetown; I really can’t say for Stern.
Why not try some UCal schools? Don’t they have special relationships with Cali. CCs?</p>

6

<p>most of those schools seem like reaches, the D will hurt you even if its not factored in your gpa, perhaps put some matches/safeties onto your list</p>

7

<p>Thanks for the input so far. I have a few things to add.</p>

<p>Most of the schools I listed above will not transfer credits taken in high school. As a result, although I will have taken 105 units by the end of the spring semester, 30 of them were taken in high school. I understand there are credit/courses cap at the 4 year institutions, I’m totally fine with that.</p>

<p>My Major GPA is a 4.0. This includes all the prereqs, and general ed. However, I received B’s in my Spanish classes, which were taken while I was attending high school. This is what makes my cumulative GPA 3.8.</p>

<p>Will the D hurt me despite the fact that I retook the class and got an A the following summer? I’ve taken a total of 5 English courses (College Comp, Lit Comp, Critical Thinking Comp, 2 more Literature courses for Humanities GE) and received A’s in all of them.</p>

<p>I also applied to the UCs, but I’m not really that concerned about them. They are very friendly with California CC students.</p>

<p>I’d love to hear more input. Thanks!</p>

8

<p>From what you are saying, the D seems like a fluke that is an inaccurate representation of your academic prowess; and naturally, D level English student will not achieve As in the rest of the classes, particularly the same class. Explain what happened to the admissions committee and the D will not have a significant impact on your application because you are obviously a quite talented and intelligent student.</p>

9

<p>Yes the D was a complete and utter fluke. Very early in the class I realized I would have problem. Unfortunately, I was still attending highschool at the time, and I could not drop the class (for graduation). No doubt, it was an unfortunate situation.</p>

10

<p>Wharton takes very few external transfers and would expect to see strong business related ECs and internships by this point. I think you would have a shot at the others as long as your math scores are high.</p>

<p>You’re so young, why not take a year and do an internship before applying, it would really help your chances. You might also take some more advanced business classes at a UC or other good college at night for no credit.</p>

<p>As an alum who interviews Wharton candidates, I see that even the high school applicants are increasingly coming in with solid experience. As many who don’t make it into Wharton end up in the other schools on your list, it seems that would be true at those as well.</p>

<p>Haas could be a good choice for you.</p>

11

<p>Thanks for all the input so far! More input will be greatly appreciated.</p>

<p>Hmom, I still want to try to get into Wharton. As an alum, what do you think I should try to highlight, or stress in my application to make me a stronger applicant?</p>

<p>Also I did apply to Haas, however I have a few personal questions, do you feel like you have enough knowledge about the school to answer my questions?</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

12

<p>I’ve interviewed a few Haas students for jobs, but I’m no expert on that program.</p>

<p>For Wharton (all these schools really) you would stress strong quant skills demonstrated in tough classes, work experience and business related ECs.</p>

<p>How does your SAT score break out and have you taken the mathII?</p>

13

<p>My SAT I Math score was a 750. SAT II, coincidentally, is also a 750. There’s no way I can retake the SAT II; however I will retake the SAT I this Jan. I’m sure I can achieve an 800 on the SAT I Math section.</p>

<p>Thanks for the above tips; I’ll definitely incorporate them in my application.</p>

<p>EDIT: My full SAT breakdown: C680 M750 W670. To reiterate, I will be retaking them in Jan. This will be my 3rd time taking it.</p>

14

<p>One thing to keep in mind is that business programs are really tough to trasfer into from CCs because their rigor for pre reqs is usually not that great. You need to hit the ground running as a junior transfer into these schools.</p>

<p>Your best shot might be the good schools where the business program starts junior year like Haas and Michigan. Maybe UVA does this too? Cornell is also a good bet, they take tons of cc transfers.</p>

<p>You might also have a better chance getting into a top school that does not have a business major. This is not a disadvantage for most jobs in business. Schools like Duke and Dartmouth have great business recruitment.</p>

<p>As far as the SATs go, work your butt off to get the CR score into the 700s, this really matters for the top schools. The 750 math is fine.</p>

<p>What are your career plans?</p>

15

<p>As far as I know UVA has a 2 year program. UMich, however, has a three program (sophomore transfer). The other schools I listed all offer 2 year programs (junior transfer).</p>

<p>I plan to get an MBA. I did consider applying for a different major, but I’m not sure if I would have met all the pre-reqs for junior status. I’ll do some research and look into elite-transfer friendly schools. </p>

<p>If I were to apply for any other major it would probably something related in Mathematics. You assert Duke and Dartmouth have great business recruitment, but what about the fact that I’m applying from a CC?</p>

<p>I’ll definitely work on improving my CR.</p>

16

<p>I know Stern is a 4 year program and isn’t Babson and BC? </p>

<p>I think all of the elite colleges like to take a couple from cc’s every year. Stanford is known to usually take a couple too. Your scores would put you in the running, especially if you can get the CR score up. Have you taken the hardest track at your cc? But a Penn or NYU would much more likely take someone from a cc into a non business school. Also, is money an issue? Stern might take you but financial aid would probably not be part of the deal. Aid will be better at the ellites with no business schools.</p>

<p>Your ECs look thin which is why an internship would be good.</p>

<p>Realize if you can attend an elite college an MBA may not be necessary. The trend for grads of top colleges in business is away from getting an MBA. In investment banking for one, many who get jobs straight out of college are no longer returning for the MBA.</p>

17

<p>Perhaps I should rephrase. UMich does not accept junior transfers for their Business program, at least that’s the impression I’m getting from their website. The other schools, however, do accept junior transfers.</p>

<p>In terms of the hardest track, I don’t know exactly to gauge that.
Perhaps a list of my courses would help.</p>

<p>Pre-reqs.
Financial+Managerial Accounting: A’s in Both
Micro/Macro Econ: A’s in Both
Stat/Calc 1-3 (up to Multi-variable): All A’s (4 classes).
Intro to Busi/Busi Law: A’s in Both
Composition/Lit Comp/Critical Thinking: A’s in all 3.
Spanish 1-3: All B’s =(</p>

<p>GE’s
2 Literature classes: A’s in both
2 History classes: A’s in both
General Anatomy: A
Beginning C++ Programming: A
Calc-Based Physics: E&M (Elec+Mag): A</p>

<p>In the spring I will take</p>

<p>Advanced C++ Programming
Calc-Based Physics: Light, Waves, Quantam Mechanics
Differential Equations.</p>

<p>EDIT: In this list I did not include a few non-transferable courses I took when I was 14. Nonetheless, I received CR/A’s in those courses. Though I doubt they matter.</p>