Yet another "chances" thread

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm new here, so I hope I'm not breaking protocol by starting a new thread like this...</p>

<p>Okay. So, here's my story. I am a community college student from Cleveland, OH. I currently hold a 3.4 GPA, that will most likely be closer to a 3.6/3.7 at the end of this semester. I have made the Dean's List twice in as many semesters, and will (finally) be eligible for Phi Beta Kappa at the end of this semester, as well. </p>

<p>My HS GPA was terrible (like, 2.0, if that) but I've been out of HS long enough that many colleges claim my HS GPA will not be a major admissions factor. </p>

<p>My SAT scores are 690 verbal, 420 math. I took it before the writing portion was a part of the test (I'm an old-timer, I guess). My ACT is 22.</p>

<p>I do not have any current ECs, unless you count work, which is my primary and only EC activity. While in HS, I did a lot with theatre, esp. playwriting, and was performed a few times, once professionally, and once on independent public radio. However, all this was three to four years ago, so, I'm afraid it doesn't count anymore.</p>

<p>All this being said, I have a feeling I'm being too ambitious in my college search. Do I have even a ghost of a chance of getting into any of these schools?:</p>

<p>American University
Bates College
Brown University
Carnegie Mellon University
Lake Forest University
Macalester College
U. Mass- Amherst
Mount Holyoke College
New York University
Northwestern University
University of Pennsylvania
Tufts University</p>

<p>I've already applied to Indiana University-Bloomington, and am awaiting replies from College of Wooster and Ohio Wesleyan University, so I'm not without "safety" schools. Should I take a chance and apply to any of the above schools?</p>

<p>(Sorry this is so long)</p>

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<p>Also, to elaborate/clarify, I am a philosophy major.</p>

3

<p>I feel like with those poor test scores and terribly poor h.s. GPA, and with a GPA at your comm college that's not a 4.0, you can't really aim to apply to any top 30 university or LAC. You can always try, but I'd be very surprised.</p>

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<p>Thank you, and...what does LAC stand for?</p>

<p>Also, might re-taking the SAT/ACTs help? As a general precaution?</p>

5

<p>I don't think anything you did in HS will matter. As for the testing, you can avoid the SAT/ACT by applying to schools that don't require you to retake it. At a 3.7, you definitely have a chance at some of those colleges. UPenn/Northwestern are probably reaches though.</p>

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<p>LAC = liberal arts colleges</p>

<p>If Johnnzen is right and your high school grades don't matter, you really would have to retake the SAT and/or ACT. And take some SAT II subject tests to show proficiency in some areas you're strong in.</p>

<p>UPenn, CMU, Tufts, Northwestern, CMU, NYU are all HUGE reaches. Definitely focus on schools like Bates, American, etc. </p>

<p>(And Johnnzen, just FYI, it's harder to get into Tufts than Northwestern though admitted students' stats are similar, the acceptance rate at Tufts is lower.)</p>

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<p>First, the generic estimation:
American University (match)
Bates College (dont' know)
Brown University (Big reach/if not impossible)
Carnegie Mellon University(Big reach)
Lake Forest University (don't know)
Macalester College (don't know)
U. Mass- Amherst (match)
Mount Holyoke College (reach, this is a LAC by the way)
New York University (reach)
Northwestern University (Big reach/if not impossible)
University of Pennsylvania (Big reach/if not impossible)
Tufts University (Big reach/if not impossible)
Wow! You have alot of reach east-coast schools. </p>

<p>Why don't you try Ohio State? You're instate and it's a decent school. I would trade Ohio State over UMass-Amherst; trust me, I'm from Mass, and you don't want to go there. A number of good Liberal Arts colleges do not require SAT/ACT scores. You should look in to them.
You have nothing to make you competitive at the Ivy or Ivy-equivalence. I believe you should save your moneys and aim lower.</p>

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<p>your applying as a junior, for most schools your HS grades will not matter, the only place it might matter some is in the Ivys. Also, your SATs dont matter much either, unless the schools requests to see them, which a lot of schools will not. </p>

<p>However, since you did take the Tests and your scores are low, and i assume you took the tests back in HS, you should retake them because i belive once you took them you have to reoport them, and that could hurt you.</p>

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<p>Thanks to all of you. I guess I was being a little delusional, what with knowing my GPA would be higher (although I knew Penn and Brown would be pretty reach-y).</p>

<p>BTW, I've already applied to Boston U. and am applying to Bennington. Are my chances there any better?</p>

<p>My SAT verbal score isn't THAT bad, is it? The only thing that concerns me is that, because I haven't taken a math course in so long, that, although my verbal will go up, and my writing score would be good, my math score might be abysmal (assuming my current score is merely horrible)</p>

<p>...I'm pretty much screwed, as far as getting into a good school is concerned, aren't I?</p>

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<p>Bennington -- you can write your way into that school if you're good and you have a personality. </p>

<p>B.U. -- more of a reach than Bennington, less personal admissions process, less aid.</p>

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<p>I'd say that you may have a shot at MoHo, if you have an interesting story, write well, and demonstrate a lot of interest. And they don't give a flip about tests there.</p>

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<p>You're not "screwed" as far as getting into a "good school" is concerned. Just because you can't get into Tufts or Brown or Northwestern doesn't mean you won't be able to transfer to a place where you'll get a good education. It will be less brand-name, sure, but your education will be what you make out of it.</p>

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<p>Well, if you do intend on applying to those schools, realize that the academic portion of your application is the most important. As of now, you are at a CC with a 3.4 GPA. As has been discussed on a previous thread, colleges will view CC GPAs as a bit weaker than those earned at 4 year universities. Therefore, as of now, your GPA coupled with your lower test scores will be a red flag at many schools - particularly the more competitive ones listed.</p>

<p>My advice is to continue to raise your GPA and, contrary to what others are saying, retake the SAT or try the ACT. Study hard for it. If you opt to take the ACT, you can take it as many times as you can muster up the strength for between now and when you apply. If you can get a high enough score (within range or close for those schools) you can help balance out your GPA.</p>

<p>Despite all of this, I think the following schools are not practical:
Bates
Brown
Carnegie Mellon
Macalester
Mount Holyoke
NYU
Northwestern
Penn
Tufts</p>

<p>Of those, I believe NYU, Mount Holyoke, and possibly Bates & Macalester would be <em>possible</em> (though reaches) if you did well on the standardized tests. Good luck!</p>

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<p>With these scores and GPA, which ones are your safeties? Given all that schools that you least, your profile is hardly a match for any of them, including the last two, where the last year average profile is significantly higher than yours.</p>