Reclaimer

Thank you so much for taking a look!

I am in my second year at UCI and am looking to transfer for Fall 2013.

Here's the rundown of (all) my numbers or otherwise

UC GPA: 3.89/4.00
Major: Biological Sciences (pre-med focus)
-in the UCI honors program and have taken honors courses

High School GPA: (UW): ~3.7 (W): ~4.1
SAT I: 2270 (780 Reading, 750 Writing, 740 Math)
ACT: 33
SAT II: Biology: 780 Chemistry: 790 Math IIC: 770 English: 700
AP: Biology-5, Chemisty-5, Calc AB-5, Lit/comp-4, Environmental Science-4, US Government-4
(I'm assuming this section matters less since I'm in my second year)

ECs:
Not much in high school--was on the basketball team 3 years
-did not play my junior year to focus on academics

-currently the president of a pre-health after interning to be last year--this is my second year of involvement
-a member of a volunteer organization collegiate club--my first year of involvement
-work in a medical lab at UCI's medical school--my second quarter with this lab
-I take graded units for this, so I'm not entirely sure if it's still counted as an EC

The schools I am applying to are Brown, UPenn, Columbia, Harvard, and UChicago.

I did not get into any schools besides UCI or UCR out of high school, so I thought I would take the opportunity to apply to extremely competitive schools again. I applied to Brown and UChicago when I was in high school. What do you think my chances are?

Also, I was looking over the common app (they all accept the common app) and was a little confused about the 4 "school forms." Could you explain each one to me in terms of what I do, how I do it, and to whom I go to? (College Official's report, Instructor Evaluation, School Report, Mid-term report) I just want to be sure.

I'm a little bit nervous about asking instructors for evaluations. I have two in mind that I think I could get reasonably good recs from, but they were both professors that I had in my first year (one I had winter quarter of last year, the other spring quarter). I talked to both regularly, but that it's a new year and quarter gives me pause. Am I too far removed to ask them?

That was a lot to read, so, really, thank you for taking the time to read all of it.

Marquisd

I think its easy for you to get into one of those schools but also too easy for you not to, you should consider applying to some other top schools.

Reclaimer

Also, because I am a science major, do I have to ask science professors for recommendations?

Marquisd

Transfers don't require letters of rec.

econfin94

For these schools, you do need recs. and most of them require two. From what I've read, it's recommended that at least one of your recs is from your field of study (which in your case would be the sciences).

Reclaimer

Would they have to be actual instructor that gives lectures to me in a class or could I ask one of the doctors that I do research with?

econfin94

I honestly don't know. I know that TAs are allowed to write them (usually in collaboration with the professor), but I'm not sure about professors who haven't had you in class. I would ask the colleges you're applying to.

entomom

Main LORs usually come from profs/TAs that taught you in a class, check each college website for their specific instructions. The CA Instructor Evaluation form states:

Your first year profs are fine.

College Official's report: who fills it out varies with the school you attend, could be your department chair, advisor, etc., you need to ask at your school.

SS Final report: Your HS GC fills this out.

Mid-term report: Not required by all schools. You take it around to your sp sem profs/TAs for unofficial mid-term grades.

Reclaimer

Thanks for the response, that definitely cleared things up.

What are my chances do you guys think, though? Depending on my chances, I may or not apply for housing for the next year.

Reclaimer

Bump...would really like for people to chance me.