Actor, entrepreneur, student [looking to transfer to Georgetown, GWU and T20, 3.73 college GPA, nontraditional student]

Chance Me / Match Me
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Non traditional transfer who’s extremely naive to this process. Please tell me my chances for Georgetown, George Washington, and basically any T20!

Very unique story: Actor, entrepreneur, student

tldr at bottom but please read :slight_smile:

I’m extremely interested in transferring to Georgetown for the fall of 2024 I’m currently a student at Santa Monica Community College. I’ll have a (please read below for further details) 3.7 cumulative gpa when I submit my application. I’ll also need financial aid. I’m planning to transfer to study International Relations. I’m worried if this will be a good enough GPA, and how tough it is to get into this school SFS specifically.

A little back story about me and extra curriculars, I’m a 25M non traditional student, as I’ve been a working actor in Hollywood for the past 6 years. After a very brief stint in college in 2016, where I made two B’s and a C, as well as another C in a zero level zero credit class (hence the overall lower GPA), I moved to Los Angeles where I built a legitimate film career. However, since returning to school full time I’ve maintained a 4.0, with 31 credit hours at my new college. I’m by no means famous, but I’ve led legitimate multi million dollar films and have been in series. With the last film being a lead of a major indie in the summer of 2023 where 3 major film stars starred in the film under me. I decided to give up this career as I’m tired of the egoism that is Hollywood, and I genuinely want to be apart of something bigger than just myself. Therefore, I’ve decided to go back to school full time. I feel like this is a unique extra curricular that sets me apart, and I have 7 years of film, TV, and overall leadership experience within this job to prove it.

I’ve also started a medical financing company that will help finance people’s medical bills. This has been a project I’ve been working on for the past 3 years and we’ll be finally launching this February. (Which is why I’m still in need of aid atm) I believe this is going to be a huge company, a literally billion dollar company one day that eventually goes public, and help millions of people pay for their medical bills. My partners and I also plan to move on from medical financing, to veterinarian loans, and overall loans for any situation, eventually becoming a sort of people’s bank. We have 15 million dollars (could bump up) from investors fed into the company for the first year alone, with many more millions promised if everything goes smoothly. We will be operating in one state to start, but will expand all over the U.S., and internationally soon.

Since Covid started, I moved back home to the midwest where I helped my grandfather keep his Land Surveying Company alive, by working for him full time. I am the ground chief operator, where I take on a lot of responsibility for every job. I decided to do this because Covid took a heavy hit on him and he had no workers to keep his business going. I didn’t want to see him close down, so I took over a leadership in his company and now he’s business is still thriving. I was able to do this as I take all of my classes online, and auditioning for film and TV is now all online as well. Family is everything to me.

Lastly, I have an absolutely astounding letter of recommendation from my Political Science Professor. I could not have typed a better letter myself. She is a UCLA and SMC Professor and describes me as being in the top 1% of students she’s ever taught.

I’m worried because my last semester I had to take 3 W’s as I booked the lead in this really big film during the middle of the semester which required all of my time. If this is a big deal/how I need to deal with this is greatly appreciated. I’ll be applying for transfer with 31 credit hours from SMC (not counting the 9 in 2016, or C from zero level class, as I don’t know how many will be accepted) … also a W in 2022 when first starting CC. Didn’t know what I wanted and still very busy with filming.

Again, the only reason my GPA is low is because I was young and stupid in 2016 and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. Otherwise, my grades have been perfect, but I know I haver to submit all of my transcripts, and these bad grades in 2016 will being my cumulative GPA down to a 3.7

Also will be waiving my ACT score since I’ve been out of high school for more than 5 years.

31 credit hours when applying. (40 total counting 2016 grades)

Georgetown would be a dream for me. I’m just wanting to get a feel of my chances and what I can do to better myself. If you could let me know your transfer gpa and stats, and how you think I would stack up would be awesome. I know requiring aid is a big deal too. Also, any of these schools that you think would be great for International Relations would be appreciated too. Just please let me know which ones specifically.

Overall transfer advice is welcome! Thank you!!

TLDR;

26M non-traditional

hs gpa: 3.4 uw (graduated 2016)

College gpa: 4.0 -31 hours (3.73 cumulative counting 2016 grades, 40 hours total)

Test optional (GTown offers a waiver if it’s been more than 5 years since hs)

Extremely successful acting career leading multi million dollar movies and series

Co-Founded a medical financing startup with 15M initial investment

Help my grandfather run his land surveying business

Have written screenplays

Incredible letters of rec from poli sci professor and director I’ve worked with

Solid essays (have been working with a coach)

4 W’s but 3 were because i booked the lead in a really big movie and the studio basically made me film career. However, since returning to school full time I’ve maintained a 4.0, with 31 credit hours at my new college. I’m by no means famous, but I’ve led legitimate multi million dollar films and have been in series. With the last film being a lead of a major indie in the summer of 2023 where 3 major film stars starred in the film under me. I decided to give up this career as I’m tired of the egoism that is Hollywood, and I genuinely want to be apart of something bigger than just myself. Therefore, I’ve decided to go back to school full time. I feel like this is a unique extra curricular that sets me apart, and I have 7 years of film, TV, and overall leadership experience within this job to prove it.

I’ve also started a medical financing company that will help finance people’s medical bills. This has been a project I’ve been working on for the past 3 years and we’ll be finally launching this February. (Which is why I’m still in need of aid atm) I believe this is going to be a huge company, a literally billion dollar company one day that eventually goes public, and help millions of people pay for their medical bills. My partners and I also plan to move on from medical financing, to veterinarian loans, and overall loans for any situation, eventually becoming a sort of people’s bank. We have 15 million dollars (could bump up) from investors fed into the company for the first year alone, with many more millions promised if everything goes smoothly. We will be operating in one state to start, but will expand all over the U.S., and internationally soon.

Since Covid started, I moved back home to the midwest where I helped my grandfather keep his Land Surveying Company alive, by working for him full time. I am the ground chief operator, where I take on a lot of responsibility for every job. I decided to do this because Covid took a heavy hit on him and he had no workers to keep his business going. I didn’t want to see him close down, so I took over a leadership in his company and now he’s business is still thriving. I was able to do this as I take all of my classes online, and auditioning for film and TV is now all online as well. Family is everything to me.

Lastly, I have an absolutely astounding letter of recommendation from my Political Science Professor. I could not have typed a better letter myself. She is a UCLA and SMC Professor and describes me as being in the top 1% of students she’s ever taught.

I’m worried because my last semester I had to take 3 W’s as I booked the lead in this really big film during the middle of the semester which required all of my time. If this is a big deal/how I need to deal with this is greatly appreciated. I’ll be applying for transfer with 31 credit hours from SMC (not counting the 9 in 2026, as I don’t know how many will be accepted) … also a W in 2022 when first starting CC. Didn’t know what I wanted and still very busy with filming.

Again, the only reason my GPA is low is because I was young and stupid in 2016 and I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life. Otherwise, my grades have been perfect, but I know I have to submit all of my transcripts, and these bad grades in 2016 will being my cumulative GPA down to a 3.7

Also will be waiving my ACT score since I’ve been out of high school for more than 5 years.

31 credit hours when applying. (40 total counting 2016 grades)

Georgetown would be a dream for me. I’m just wanting to get a feel of my chances and what I can do to better myself. If you could let me know your transfer gpa and stats, and how you think I would stack up would be awesome. I know requiring aid is a big deal too. Also, any of these schools that you think would be great for International Relations would be appreciated too. Just please let me know which ones specifically.

Overall transfer advice is welcome! Thank you!!

TLDR;

26M non-traditional

hs gpa: 3.4 uw (graduated 2016)

9 college credits from 2016 (2 B’s 1 C, 1 C that was worth zero credits)

College gpa since 2022: 4.0 -31 hours

Test optional (GTown offers a waiver if it’s been more than 5 years since hs)

Extremely successful acting career leading multi million dollar movies and series

Co-Founded a medical financing startup with 15M initial investment

Help my grandfather run his land surveying business

Have written screenplays

Incredible letters of rec from poli sci professor and director I’ve worked with

Solid essays (have been working with a coach)

4 W’s since 2022 but 3 were because i booked the lead in a really big movie and the studio basically made me

2

Which colleges have transfer agreements with your current school? I’d start there. Find out how long it will take you to finish your bachelor’s and just do it.

You sound fantastic. Don’t let the perfect become the enemy of the good… get your degree. There is nothing magical about a degree in International Relations-- there are many jobs and professions that will allow you be “apart of something bigger” than just yourself.

Go seek out the transfer counselor at Santa Monica- find out what affordable options you have for finishing.

Have you gotten professional advice about the money, contracts, fees, residuals you’ve earned up until now? I’m concerned that you have been winging it in terms of personal finance… I know your “team” (agent, manager, etc.) is expensive, but based on what you’ve written, you ought to have the type of nest egg (even after taxes) that would allow you to pay to finish your degree.

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I agree, very interesting, but I don’t know that Georgetown would bite, don’t know that they would give you fin aid. GW might take you, but again, money is doubtful.

Consider the option of finishing the associate’s at Santa Monica and then utilizing a transfer agreement to UCLA as your backup. Cheapest option for a CA resident, and the transfer agreement makes it easy to get in.

Your ECs sound very grand, indeed. If they are what you say they are, it does truly make you an impressive candidate. What hasn’t come across is why you want to go back to college at all, and why International Relations.

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I just really don’t want to stay in California. It’s depressing to me and I want to be on the East coast. I realize there’s some great schools but it’s not what I wanna do. As far as why IR, forming my medical financing startup was an incredible insight into the power of global relations. It allowed me to practice multiple languages and made me fall in love with service to others and working in foreign environments. All of which I cover in my essays.

Why do you think GWU is just a maybe? I really figured that would be one of the easier ones to get in…

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I don’t want to be in CA anymore. Quite frankly, I hate it. The east coast is where I want to be. I want to get my masters in IR and work in global diplomacy, so being in DC or going to a renowned school known for IR is of the utmost importance.

I do have somewhat of an egg. But will need some help.

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I suspect people here underestimate the power of being an older, accomplished, “nontraditionsl” student. In my experience colleges and universities really value that. I don’t think those early grades will matter at all. Any admissions officer will look at the later grades and all you’ve accomplished and ignore those. TO may hurt you a bit more though - that would be my only hesitation. Otherwise I think you’re a strong candidate (noting that I know nothing about Georgetown in particular).

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Because you’re coming from a community college, with an uneven record and no standardized test score. Because your ECs could be incredible, or could be grandiosely inflated. Because you have done things that usually result in making a lot of money, yet you say you need financial aid.

That’s why I say acceptance is a maybe, and fin aid may not be offered. That’s why I said consider the option of guaranteed transfer to a prestigious UC, which will be cheap for you, once you’ve completed the associate’s degree at the community college. I’m not saying you shouldn’t try for any school you want. I’m just pointing out that you do have a great option in the transfer agreement to UCs.

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You never know - we see actors and athletes with special set ups - and it’s good PR for schools to have big names. I’m not saying your name is big (I don’t know) - but with good grades and a good story…

Given GW isn’t close to top 20, where does GW fit in? Would American be on the list or UMD as well.

is it location or ranking heft you seek?

I’m not sure you can be chanced as there are so many - not optimal things - but then there are great reasons why.

I’m guessing in this case - a truly varied list would be needed - because I’m not sure anyone could truly chance you with accuracy.

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Get your BA the fastest way possible is my point- I have no idea who will accept which credits and neither do you at this point… you will need a Master’s to work in global diplomacy and that’s when “renowned” is going to matter.

It’s more than just Georgetown and GW. Tufts, JHU, Columbia, London School of Economics, Sciences Po in Paris…

All due respect to Juno- I am not underestimating you at all. I am very confident that the discipline that has served you so well up until now will power you through the next phase. Which to my mind is getting a Bachelor’s in the most efficient way possible (maximize those credits as best you can; minimize loans if you can) and THEN shoot your shot at one of the “famous” diplomacy programs.

What foreign languages do you speak?

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Can you get a letter of rec from Bradley Cooper? :grinning:

Seriously… Georgetown meets 100% of need, so fill out the FAFSA.

Also do your research on the hardest school within Georgetown to get into. It used to be SFS by far-- and might still be. If that’s the case, you could apply to SBA and still have a career in IR. Lots of people do that. Or you could apply to CAS and major in government with an international concentration perhaps? Just a thought if you want to give it a go.

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This is a successful working actor whose aid will be based on prior earnings AND whatever savings are there. And a transfer student. And has part-ownership of a successful startup which may or may not show hefty assets on a K-1 or however the business is currently structured.

For sure take a look at FAFSA but I would not automatically assume that 100% of the OP’s need is going to be met based on what we know right now.

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I appreciate this. I feel like schools lack in non-traditionals and I have so much to offer. So much life experience! What is TO by the way? Sorry…

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I mean, you can do a lot of things and still find a pathway to international relations. You don’t need an IR degree or a degree from Georgetown. It really depends on EXACTLY what you want to do. For example, with just about any solid bachelor’s degree you can land a position at an international NGO. You also don’t need any specific degree to work, for example, at USAID or to join the foreign service, which is a diplomacy track to US embassies abroad. You can do a lot of different things to get yourself there, depending on exactly where “there” is. What specifically do you hope to do with your degree?

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But what about the bad part of my record being so long ago? Almost a decade? Or that my W’s have legitimate reasons?

As far as my EC’s, they are very real. One of my LOR’s will be my company’s CFO validating the investments of 15M and is also the CEO of an incredibly know marketing company in California. I will also be attaching my reel and link to my IMDb page for acting verification.

When it comes to finances, my business official launches in March. So no income yet. The structure shows that I have ownership and I’m on the board, but as far as I know it’s not set up in a way that shows I have a huge asset. But again I’m not a business guru.

Actors don’t make a ton unless you’re an A lister. I have savings, but nothing to call home about. I only did 1 movie this year so my total earning are only about 45k. Therefore, I need aid.

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I do not have a big name, but have lead and been in movies with some VERY big names.

Location and rank do matter. I want DC more than anything. Or just east coast in general. American is definitely on my list and they’re also top 10 in IR.

Is there anything else I can provide you with to give an accurate chance me?

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Also, what specifically is not optimal that can’t either be explained or has been so long ago?

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I’ve been in constant with the schools I’m applying to and they’re going to accept most of my credits. It’s more than just getting my BA done fast though, I want to study and do research under incredible professors. I want to be on the east coast and in the mix, preferably DC, more than anything.

I speak French, and have used Spanish and Arabic within my business. Something I also talk about in my essays.

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I want to actually be a foreign service officer. Also very interested in national defense. What do you recommend having read my story?

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I’m not an AO - but I think the withdrawals don’t look good - but again, there’s a great reason.

The TO may not be a good thing - but again, they may look at older students differently, as you noted about GTown.

I do think for IR the where matters little. My daughter is at College of Charleston and has had a great experience - small classes, did a DC semester (you might be able to do that from any school you attend) and has already interned with our state and at a major think tank during her DC semester.

So @blossom isn’t wrong to say - even if you’re in CA, it’s ok. You can study IR or IS most anywhere. And many have Poli Sci and you can choose an international bent.

I’m a bit confused on the financial aid - because you have a lot of entrepreneurial activities in your portfolio. And you’ve been an actor on major films. I don’t know the pay scale but if you’re a main actor, I assume it’s pretty good.

Have you run the net price calculators?

Some schools don’t give or give as much to transfers - so you want to check that out.

You really need to set a budget and test schools transfer aid against that budget. I don’t know your budget but when you need aid, there are tradeoffs and sometimes you have to go to the one who loves you vs. the one you want to love. Hopefully you can get to the one you want to love - but an AU or GW, for example, likely won’t be as aggressive.

For example, here is AU.

It would help all if you had a budget vs. saying need aid - but also test that budget vs. your school list - to see if they even have money and if so, is it significant.

Good luck.

Transfer Scholarships | American University, Washington, DC

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My recommendation is to shoot your shot. They could be into your unusual story. Or they might pass. You won’t know unless you try. Just keep in mind that Georgetown is a tough admit - all T20-30 schools are. - and SFS is a particularly hard admit. If it doesn’t work out, don’t lose hope. My point was simply that there is not just ONE road to the career you want. You don’t need a T20 school to do what you want. Foreign service officer can be an excellent career for the right person. It is, of course, extremely competitive. However, the university you attend will not make or break your application - your FSO test and other application materials will. Of course, an excellent education will help you prepare - but you don’t need Georgetown for that.

So, hey, go for it. Apply to Georgetown and give it your best shot. They may bite, they may not. If they do, great. But if they don’t, you can get the education you need elsewhere.

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