What can I do as a transfer student?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brandeis University
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I’m thinking about applying to Brandeis in October for the spring, as a transfer student with an AS from a community college. Here’s the thing. My high school record isn’t good (2.3 GPA, 1280/1940 SAT), I went to a college in Chicago for a semester and a half, and my record wasn’t good (I knew I wasn’t going to be able to afford to graduate and dropped out…it also wasn’t a good or well-known school), but at the community college I have two semesters of A’s, a B and probably two more A’s for summer classes, and in the fall I’ll be taking six more classes and trying to get A’s. I won’t have any higher than a 3.7 here because I got a D in high school in a dual enrollment class. </p>

<p>I don’t really know what I should be doing until I apply, though. I had a weekend job last fall, I had a job while I was in Chicago, and I volunteered at a theater last fall too. I’ve never done any extracurricular things through my high school, or volunteered at a soup kitchen, or went on a mission trip, or joined the USY, or any of the typical things college applicants are supposed to do. The only thing I’m doing now is taking a Hebrew class through the synagogue here and a Torah study in the fall (that’s really all that’s available, since I’m too old for their youth group), but I know Brandeis is trying to “diversify” and won’t be impressed with Jewish things. I’m planning on majoring in philosophy and Jewish studies, though, so my time is spent studying these things as a hobby, not going out and trying to hectically find someplace to volunteer just so I can write something down, you know? Is there even a chance for someone like me, who did badly through high school and never went on a mission trip with their youth group to South America or took twenty AP classes? </p>

<p>I was also hoping to hear from anyone who got into Brandeis—what did you write on your personal statements? I don’t know what to write about except for my life story or a long explanation for my bad grades. Should I not even mention the Hebrew class? My family couldn’t be more secular, but I don’t know what Brandeis is looking for. The fact that there’s a large Jewish population is totally a reason I want to apply, but it sounds like I don’t want Brandeis to know that…</p>

2

<p>Hey.</p>

<p>I am transferring this fall.</p>

<p>For my statement, I just wrote about why I wanted to go to Brandeis. I don’t think you should be the one writing an explanation for your grades. My advisor told me that when a student writes about why he/she got a bad grade, it looks like they are making an excuse. So, if you have any superiors that can attest to your ability, and can discuss why you didn’t do so well, then it would have more weight. </p>

<p>To be honest, I don’t think the statement matters all that much. I know that isn’t what you wanted to hear, but in all honesty, that is what I believe. But, just explain why you want to go to Brandeis. Tell them you love jews, haha. They might like that about you.</p>

3

<p>That’s a good idea. I’ve been wondering how to make a 2.3 in high school sound good. I’m worried about the Dean’s Evaluation from that college I went to for all of six months, though…the only thing they know about me there is that I came into the office one day asking how to drop out. </p>

<p>Good luck with your application!</p>

4

<p>Good luck with yours. I already got into Brandeis for the fall. :)</p>