Your input regarding Ivy transfer would be a HUGE help!

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello all! I have been flirting with the topics on this board for quite some time now. I have finally come to the point of wanting to know my chances. I know the general information present about transferring and kindly ask you for your input regarding this matter.
stats:</p>

<p>I am a Southeast Asian American.
I go to Macaulay honors college at CUNY Brooklyn College.
I am taking classes geared towards the sciences. (pre-med)
I believe that if I work hard like I am supposed to, I can get around 3.8++ this semester.
My Sat: 2000 total. 650 CR 680 M
EC: Most of them in high school. Worked at a neuroscience lab at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Research being published is almost certain. Oh! I am continuing to work at the lab throughout this year.
In college I am a part of the newspaper club and I am also doing community service. </p>

<p>My essays were one of the reasons why I did not make the cut to a lot of places last year. However, this year I am sure I can cook up a masterpiece.</p>

<p>Letter of Recommendations are coming from a Psych professor and a English professor.. I think this might be an issue because I am a pre-med student. However, these two professors are the only ones I interact with the most.</p>

<p>Ok, so the fun part! This is my list as of now:
Columbia
Cornell
Yale
Brown
PENN
NYU
Dartmouth
Duke</p>

<p>Believe it or not, I have solid reasons for applying to most of these institutions.
Some of my reasons fro transferring include (campus, location, major, research, opportunities, etc. etc.)</p>

<p>So, if you do not mind, could you please tell me what to expect. I am no optimist! However, if I work hard and pray for a little bit of luck then I have a shot at these reach / high reach places. Gracias in advance!</p>

<p>** It would be great if someone who was/is in Macaulay honors college could also reply. The reason I am saying this is because if you want to transfer out of the program you have to do TWICE the work (write an essay on why you are transferring, do an exit interview, return the Mac book they gave you!!, etc.) just to get them off your back!</p>

2

<ol>
<li>Are you a freshman or sophomore currently?</li>
<li>What was your HS GPA and/or class rank?</li>
</ol>

3

<p>Writing eight different transfer applications will be a nightmare. Try cutting down the list (i.e, don't pick every ivy that accepts transfers). Also, you might want to retake your SATs, trying to bump them up by at least 200 points.</p>

4

<p>Your SATs are a little low. I guess you could try and get them up, but I don't know how much post-HS SAT scores are going to help.</p>

<p>You'll need that 3.8 GPA, so I hope for your sake you can pull it off. </p>

<p>The research is going to be very important. I feel like that was definitely the common factor among the Yale transfers that I know and talk to... so definitely keep that up. Make sure you're also VERY involved in either newspaper or some other EC... as I feel like research shouldn't be your only anchor.</p>

<p>As for recs: definitely go with people who know you. I went with two grad student TAs for my recs, and got into Yale... so it definitely isn't a requirement that you have professors. </p>

<p>As for what to expect: don't expect anything. It's a complete crapshoot with the Ivies... it doesn't matter how amazing or qualified you are. They take so few students that they really do have to almost choose arbitrarily after a certain point.</p>

5

<p>I'm in MHC as well, also intending on transfer. Your SATs are low for these schools, retake if you can.</p>

6

<p>I am a freshmen and my HS GPA was a 3.87/4
I was ranked 5 out of 197(?) I do not remember. All I know is that rank did not mean much in my school.</p>

<p>MagiTF, I know my SATs are too low but I really do not want to retake them. Like you said, post-HS sat scores might not be that helpful. I would rather join another EC activity or try to look for another internship in neuroscience to cover my SAT score weakness.</p>

<p>Ok, Myrmidon73 that is a good point. I will try to research these schools more and try to cut some of them out.</p>

<p>Yes! Duper, could you tell me how you are handling this transfer process? Because I for one have told no one of my intentions. I am sure that my MHC adviser would beat me if she found out. How are you going to go about it? </p>

<p>Thank you everyone. Your insight is very helpful</p>

7

<p>I transferred into Penn this year with an SAT of 1880[I felt the same way about not wanting to retake it once I was in college]. Those schools have crapshoots anyway, so I didn't think it mattered. So it is possible.</p>

8

<p>If you don't want to retake it then definitely don't. I don't think raising your scores would help you tremendously.</p>

9

<p>wow NeuroFox, that is amazing! What was your grade level when you transferred and from what college did you transfer from?
I agree MagiTF. That is what I think as well.
Anyway, I think my essays and my recommendation letter from my mentor might be the boost I need to make it to at least one of these majestic institutions.
I know the whole admissions is a crapshoot and this is the exact reason it is my trump card. xP</p>

10

<p>I transferred as a Sophomore[end of Freshman year] from SUNY Binghamton.</p>

<p>I did have research experience[I believed I wanted to be a Chem major at the time] as Magi said. But I figure they look more at the whole picture with transfer admissions when compared to Freshman admissions[they basically had a year of college grades to evaluate you on also, I had a 4.0 there on the PreMed Sciences].</p>

11

<p>when did you do research if you transferred for sophomore year?</p>

12

<p>I worked in a Chemistry research lab during my first semester as a freshman[I had taken AP chem in high school].</p>

13

<p>oh wow. did you just find a random professor (well not random... but you know, one that you didn't know previously) and ask to work with them?</p>

14

<p>I originally asked the professor whos class I was in for Chemistry that semester[the Department Chair]. It eventually led me to another professor. I don't think I have ever been so ballsy in my life, but it paid off for once.</p>

15

<p>Hah, ballsy indeed. Too bad I am not like you. I so wish I could do some on campus research myself. I would not mind if it was in Bio or Chem. However, Brooklyn college does not have many facilities where freshmen undergrad's can work..
I know for certain that a part time research gig would help me out tremendously. But I do not see it happening. Hence I am trying to get something at a hospital.
But, as of now, its all about the GPA.</p>

<p>Would anyone mind telling me when is a good time to ask a professor for a recommendation? I know this has been spoken of before but I just want to be sure.
Thanks</p>

16

<p>I took Gen Chem II at Brooklyn College over the summer. There seemed to be a ton of research going on[I saw the Chem department in New Ingersoll, there were always students in lab coats running around]. I'm sure they take undergrad lab assistants and there really is nothing you can lose by trying, so I'd ask. I'm not sure how far you're willing to travel either, but Coney Island Hospital always takes student volunteers also.</p>

<p>I asked for the recommendation after the first semester, at the end of January. You don't have to ask before then.</p>

17

<p>Ok, I will ask my professors at about the same time.</p>

<p>Oh cool! It seems like you know my college pretty well.
I will try to look into finding something at the Chem. department.
However, I was looking more into something at SUNY Downstate.
I guess the bottom line is that I should be doing something...</p>

18

<p>Alright, I am back!
This semester I did very well and got a 4/4 gpa
I took general bio (no lab), chem 1, psych 1, arts in the city 1 (seminar class; Really fun!), English 1 (honors)
I have decided to get my recommendation from my Chem recitation/lab instructor rather than my psych professor. I believe he saw my full potential and is more closely related to the physical sciences.</p>

<p>I have also cut my transfer colleges list down.
I will only apply to Columbia, NYU, Penn, and Cornell.
I have applied to Columbia, NYU, and Cornell before and was rejected. However, I feel like I was simply generic applying before and now have a real story to tell to the admissions officers at these institutions
Columbia is the top choice....
ohh! I joined a school government committee and have a prominent role there.
I also started to research at Suny Downstate on top of doing stuff at Albert Einstein.
Next semester, I am planning on taking Physics 1, chem 2, eng 2 (honors), arts in the city 2</p>

<p>I know my SAT scores makes me a slumdog and reduces my chances a bit, but I would just like to know if I am "in the ball-park."
Plus, I would also like to know if taking physics 1 this semester matters at all. If I transfer, iA, I will need to take Phy 2 at another school. Would they have a problem counting my Phy 1 from Cuny Brooklyn?</p>

<p>Thank you for reading my fellow CC comrades.</p>

19

<p>Congrats on the great GPA. GL with the applications as well; maybe we'll both get lucky enough to get into Columbia for Fall, heh.</p>

20

<p>Never expect to get into any college as a soph transfer that you could not have gotten into as a freshmen. Junior is a different thing. It's also more likely to be accepted as a transfer at schools you did not apply to last year. They have the file, One good term will not change their mind.</p>

<p>The 2000 was a huge reason you would not have gotten into top schools last year.</p>

<p>While I think you may have a shot at NYU if you can pay full tuition because this is tough times, the others are unlikely without an SAT retake and at least a few terms of A grades in college.</p>