Yet Another Shameless Transfer Chance Thread

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey, guys. I'm a South Korean national who went to SUNY Binghamton and studied until the end of his sophomore year in the summer of 2011. Last year, I had to go back to my native country for mandatory military service, but seeing that's going to end next year, I have decided to find some new opportunities and try for 'bigger bowels to swim in', so they say, so I am currently trying to transfer to other schools to enter as junior in next autumn.</p>

<p>My academic figures are currently like this:</p>

<ol>
<li>3.6/4.0 GPA</li>
<li>Honor's student</li>
<li>Dean's list for three consecutive semesters</li>
<li>Finished my Honors Thesis (normally done over a whole academic year when one's a senior, but I did it over one semester as a sophomore because I wanted to do something memorable with my studies before getting dragged into military)</li>
<li>Rather poor high school GPA; my high school (located in suburban Philly) used Weighted/Unweighted system, so I don't know how it converts to 4.0 scale, but it's probably somewhere between 3.0 and 3.5</li>
<li>Not-so-stellar test scores, too; if I am recalling correctly, my SATs were around 2030ish. I also took SATIIs in World and American History, both of which I got above 750. </li>
<li>Just one AP; AP Euro in junior year of high school which I got 5/5.</li>
<li>Mostly took upper-level classes for juniors or seniors and graduate seminars, so if rigorousness of classes taken are counted, I hope that helps. </li>
<li>Various extracurricular activities; was an officer in Model UN, some political activism, jazz. </li>
<li>Member of Phi Alpha Theta Honors Society</li>
<li>Good relationship with my professors; they assured me they're willing to write me good recommendations if I want to transfer. I know for a fact some of them are academic acquaintances with professors in Penn as well.<br></li>
</ol>

<p>I have been a pretty dedicated student of history for some time; I decided this was the field I want to burn my life for when I was around 16 or 17. My terrible organizational skills and weakness in other subjects (math and science, mostly) inhibited me from being an all-A, top-of-the-class student throughout my educational career. To be honest to myself, I was barely top 25% student throughout my whole life and nowhere near top 10%. Regardless, I always tried to find venues independent of school curriculum if necessary. I remember forsaking the last semester of my high school years pretty much in entirety in order to work on National History Day project and my senior project which was also history-related. </p>

<p>My primary reason for wanting to transfer to Penn is based on that ground. Of many schools which departments I looked at, Penn seemed to have the best listing of faculties who were esteemed scholars in the field of history I was specializing in (16th and 17th century Europe). Not to mention after spending three years of my high school around Philly region, I developed a profound love for the city and constant nostalgia to return to it as well. Personally speaking, I've lived in at least five cities so far across three continents, two oceans, and three countries, and there is not one place I felt genuinely at home other than Philadelphia. </p>

<p>I'm aware I'm not the most competitive candidate when it comes to statistical standings with my 3.6 GPA and 2000s SAT score. I'm also aware the pool for junior transfers are much smaller for sophomore transfers. However, after over an year of being detached from academic life I cherished so much, I just have this burning urge inside to aim for higher and grander goals now. In regards to that, Penn seemed to me offer the best prospective with their cadre of scholars. </p>

<p>Hence, I ask for your honest evaluations. I'd like to say I'm not a sort of person who regrets about his past, but frankly, yea, I'm overwhelmed right now. When kids that had 4.0 GPAs all throughout their high school and college years with 2300 SATs fail to make transfers, I know I have very good reasons to feel why. I'm not trying to play any sort of victim mentality card here-no point in doing that anyhow; I'm pretty sure getting a lot of sympathy on CC isn't part of what the admission office looks for-but I always felt that I was sacrificing a lot in terms of my academic standings on paper for the sake of studying what I wanted to to study and going out of my way for doing so. Right now, I can only sit and hope there might be anything I could do at this point, stuck in the army barracks here, to increase my chance of acceptance.</p>

2

<p>Any sort of input, as blunt as “you’re better off doing something else with your time bro” would be appreciated. Thanks.</p>

3

<p>Honestly, I think you have a terrific chance.</p>

<p>Colleges were made for people like you.</p>

<p>You have a long, strong academic passion that isn’t STEM. You’ve exhausted the resources at Binghamton (if true). You want to study with Professor x.</p>

<p>Write about undergraduate research, honors programs, and languages you want to learn. For Penn, write about submatriculation (getting B.A. and M.A. at the same time) and the courses available through the Bryn Mawr-Swarthmore-Haverford exchange. Investigate opportunities for study in Europe or a guest semester at one of these schools.</p>

<p>Get started already!</p>

<p>P.S. Oh, and you just finished military service, often a winner because it’s an indicator of maturity. Can your C.O. write a recommendation for you that speaks to personal characteristics rather than your knowledge of the Enlightenment?</p>

<p>P.P.S. Would you want to consider taking the GRE? You certainly don’t need to, and nobody would expect you to, but a strong score would make your application even stronger.</p>

4

<p>Thank you, I appreciate your input and encouragement. Something that I feel most insecure about is, as mentioned, my relatively mediocre high school GPA and testing scores. I know there’s no one besides myself to blame here, but I always felt my grades poorly reflected how much I actually like learning and writing. If I can cover those weaknesses through personal essays and other methods that allow me to better express myself, well, I’m glad to hear that.</p>

<p>I don’t think Penn history department offers submatriculation. Just tried to look for it, and only thing I found was 1998 article that history department cancelled their plans to host it. I’ve been already learning Spanish throughout my army career. Would I need DELE score to prove my capacity?</p>

<p>I’m not sure about asking my Commanding Officer for recommendation. First of all, I’m in Korean Army; officers don’t know English that well. Moreover, I work alone in army welfare bureaucracy. He knows I’m there, but besides that, I work mostly alone. I wouldn’t feel comfortable asking for such favor (writing a recommendation in English) when he doesn’t really know me all that well. </p>

<p>And I thought the GRE was for graduate school? I would be taking it eventually, but would taking it at this point help for my undergraduate transfer application as well? Anyhow, thanks a lot for your feedback. I really do appreciate it.</p>

5

<p>As a child, I was uncoordinated and terrible at art and music. I couldn’t color between the lines, make a clay snake, or carry a tune. In grade school it made my life mserable, but it hasn’t devastated me as an adul (though I’m still terrible with scissors and musical notes).</p>

<p>You’ve gone way beyond high school grades and tests. Don’t let those shortcomings hold you back now.</p>

<p>Here’s what I found on Penn submatriculation page:
The submatriculation program allows students in the College to obtain both a baccalaureate degree and a master’s degree simultaneously, thereby condensing the total number of years normally required to complete the undergraduate and graduate degrees combined. Students are advised to complete at least one graduate level course in their intended program before applying. In addition, students should speak with the intended graduate program’s chair or director.</p>

<p>Most Ph.D programs require a minimum of 12 courses beyond a masters program, giving students with a master degree advanced standing for eight (8) graduate courses. However, some schools and programs may have different rules governing coursework taken in a submatriculation program. As well, some doctoral research funding agencies may actually disqualify students for receiving certain kinds of support based on the students’ advanced standing. If you are likely to pursue a Ph.D., where appropriate, we strongly encourage you to apply directly for the doctoral programrather than pursuing a submatriculated masters.</p>

<p>And start learning French and German, possibly also Latin. You just need reading knowledge.</p>

6

<p>Thanks, I’m very grateful for your input. Yeah, no matter how I’m regretful about it, can’t do anything to change my old grades at this point. At least I’m strong in other things, and that’s something I’m still working on to sharpen further. </p>

<p>I am seriously pursuing for PhD after my undergraduate education, so hearing from that, I guess I wouldn’t need submatriculation. I’ve already started learning Spanish which is the regional focus of my specialization. That being said, yes, I also need to start learning French and German as well. And I’m probably not going to stop at the level enough to read archives-I actually like travelling around and talking to different people. </p>

<p>That being said, could you tell me more about GREs again? As aforementioned, I’m aware this test is for graduate application, but would taking them at this point help my undergraduate transfer chance as well? Thank you for all your helpful commentaries.</p>

7

<p>Any other opinions from others would be greatly appreciated as well.</p>

8

<p>It was just a stray thought. I’m not trying to start a stampede of 11-year-olds taking the GRE to prove their superiority. I really don’t know that you need any tests unless an admissions office specifically requests one. But I really do think you have a great chance.</p>

<p>I also assume you’re willing to meet Penn’s general and history department requirements, too, even if you need to take classes that don’t excite you. (If you want a place with NO mandated general ed, look at Brown.)</p>