What are schools looking for in transfers?

<p>What do schools want to see from freshman students who are looking to transfer? I am applying to NYU for fall 2008 (I have written on that thread, but this thread is very informative) to either CAS or Gallatin and am wondering what I should do to make myself stand out. Should I start a club? I am already in 3 clubs and am developing relationships with my professors but what else should I do?!? Of course, I am studying my pants off to learn and to get good grades. </p>

<p>What do schools like to see in transfer students? I know improvement is key. My HS stats were not very good: SAT 1980/2400 and GPA 3.6. + 60 college credits from Houston Community College. I am shooting for a 4.0 but I feel like that is not enough. I applied as a freshman for fall 2007 and did not get into to Gallatin. </p>

<p>Help please! It is my dream to go to NYU and I am determined to make it happen.</p>

<p>What are considered "hard" courses?? I know GPA is really important, but course selection is possibly even more important. </p>

<p>I am taking intro to sociology, intro to psychology, intermediate spanish, and a class called the Iron Cage of Bureacracy and its Discontents. Since my schedule is predominatly social sciences next semster I plan on taking a History course, Writing, Political Science, and Spanish. Does anyone think these are good course to transfer to NYU with? Should I considered Econ? </p>

<p>Sorry I am writing so much.</p>

<p>I think the Transfer Admissions 101 thread answers, as best we can, "what schools are looking for." </p>

<p>As to whether you should start a club, my opinion: you shouldn't do anything because it might look good for an application. You should do what appeals to you, because it truly reflects your interests. So, if you had planned to start a club because you really see a need and really want to do that, go ahead. But if you think you should cast about for an idea for a club to start etc etc, then no. As I said, just my opinion.</p>

<p>It's hard to evaluate a courseload without knowing your intended major. But that is a quality courseload, imo. Assuming you're not planning a science major, lol.</p>

<p>The best way to select your courses, imo, is to check what the recommended curriculum is for your intended major at the school where you'd like to transfer. Follow that as closely as possible.</p>

<p>I'm a little confused by the 60 college credits at Houston CC - you already have those, as in you got 60 college credits while still in hs? Or that's how many you'll have by the time you are ready to transfer?</p>

<p>i got 60 college credits before i graduated from high school. my current private, liberal arts college accepted 37 of them. But for most part they don't do me any good because my advisor suggests taking all the intro classes at THIS college first instead of going on to higher level courses. For example, I took intro to soci but he suggested taking it again here.</p>

<p>you need to have a great high school record if you are applying as a freshman transfer. They look very attentively at that record. Also, write a GREAT essay, cant stress taht enough ;)</p>

<p>surftb, what if your high school record was not great initially but showed vast improvement? i failed a class my frist semester of freshman year and made some C's sophmore year. However, by my junior year I had all 100's and one 89 in all my classes. If this improvement keeps up and I get a 4.0 for my freshman year at college, do you think I will have a good chance at NYU? if i dont get in for sophmore year, I will try again for junior year.</p>

<p>when you mean freshman transfer you mean applying after your freshman year right? or did you mean applying in the middle of your freshman year for the spring? i am not applying to NYU for my freshman spring semester. i am applying for my sophmore year.</p>

<p>my high school record was a 2.9. My first semester of college I made some mistakes (not all mine), and got a 1.2. Since then, I received a 3.7 at Community College and a 3.15 at drexel. I was just accepted to Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences.</p>

<p>I finished all their general education requirments and wrote a great essay. </p>

<p>Retake the class that you got an F in, as it will boost the GPA up dramatically. Also, make a list of schools you want to transfer to and fulfill their general education requirments.</p>

<p>in the essay, give the school compelling reasons why they should accept you versus another candidate.</p>

<p>well, i cant take the class i got an F in because that was freshman year of high school and I am a freshman in college now. my GPA for HS was a 3.6. I applied to NYU as a senior and was rejected. However, I applied to Gallatin and now I am wondering why I did that because they look for people who know pretty much exactly what they want to do and I don't. Also, that class I got an F in was IB Spanish 2 and I am taking Spanish now and doing very well. Hopefully, they will look at the improvement in that too. </p>

<p>So, now I am at my current private, liberal arts college and I hate it. I am shooting for a 4.0 this year so I can get myself into NYU. I am just worried my HS record will still be considered too much, and although it showed A LOT of improvement and my essay told the story to back it up, it still has potential to hurt my application.</p>

<p>Okay, I didnt understand until now. The longer you are out of high school, the less they weigh the decision on GPA. So, you may want to go to a Community College to get some credit and a good GPA. If you get a 3.8+, that would look very good IMO.</p>

<p>the OP does go to a CC and is shooting at a 4.0. that was all said. I think passion in ECs and outside experiences, dedication to a job, good grades, good letters, hard classes, and great essays are all you (general, not YOU) can change and work on and do well with. as long as you try your hardest and do well in things you really care about, push yourself, and show how much you want NYU, you can't be disappointed in the results.</p>

<p>ps. good job surftb, I know you wanted pitt. glad you made it.</p>

<p>haha, i DO NOT go to a community college!!!! i go to a top 50 LAC. Sorry, that I made that a bit confusing. Anyway, I think I have a better chance of getting in by staying here and making a 4.0 versus dropping out and enrolling at a CC and making a 4.0. </p>

<p>My high school was ON a community college that allowed students to graduate with an AA degree if they wanted to. I did not get a AA but have 60 credits. </p>

<p>Also, congrats to you surftb for accomplishing your goals. that is truly an amazing turn around and is very insipiring. :-)</p>

<p>Adam, you are completely right. That is my plan! Thanks for the advice.</p>

<p>oh, sorry about the mix up. I like when people are trying for a school they are passionate about so I wish you all the luck. Maybe we can get the same good news in the mail as nyu is one of my top choices.</p>

<p>mandela, I agree with you that the upward trend in your hs record, plus great college record (4.0 NOT necessary, but the higher the better) will mean more than having a problem semester in hs freshman year.</p>

<p>That said, it is never wise to believe that there is one-and-only-one place for you. NYU would be great and I hope you land there; but there are other great places to. If you hate where you are, make sure you keep your heart and mind open to other great possibilities.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

<p>i know it is risky to put your eggs in one basket so i am also looking at other schools too. i think i will also apply to barnard and maybe St. Johns as a safety. i really just want to be in new york, but i also want to go to a great school. im trying not to get my heart set on NYU but ive wanted to go there for so long. </p>

<p>and i do hate where i am. it is in a town of 30,000 people. i cant deal with it. new york city is where i am happiest, and i really want to go to college there.</p>