Applying to top schools from CC

Transfer Students
1

I am currently a CUNY student, in one of the less rigorous/respected schools.
I am a first semester freshman, liberal arts major (probably switching to science), currently taking:

Pre Calc 201
English 101
Pol Science 100
Speech 100
Chemistry 201

EC:
NYPIRG intern.
I’m hoping to apply for student government Senator position next semester.
Co-Teacher and tutor at local urban community center.

I went to a specialized high school, where I graduated with 2.49 GPA (79.98% ?) on time.
I have a Chancellors Endorsed Diploma, Advanced Designation through the Arts for Theater.

EC in High School:
Worked part-time (retail, cafes, restaurants, summer camps) ever since I was 14.
YCCA raise money, support local communities in need. Discuss injustices, in collaboration with Environmental Club. (Sophomore)
Jewish Student Union- Learn about jewish culture, promote diversity. (Sophomore)
1 Club working to promote education + eradicate sex trade in Africa. (Junior)

I’m a female, first generation, lived with foster children (but I am not a foster child myself).
I really like chemistry, I have a 90-something in my chemistry class now.
I plan to take Physics (200’s level), Bio 210, Calculus, and French (200’s)
I retook my SATS, and I’m taking to SAT II Chemistry and Math 2 in January.

I am looking at Duke (CALS), Boston University, SUNY Bing, Vanderbilt University, Cornell, and Colombia.

I don’t know what my SAT scores are yet, but suppose they are in the 1900s? (I hope) might I have a chance?
I come from one of the poorest districts in the nation.
My mother is an immigrant and doesn’t work, but has an AA degree.
I speak Spanish and English, I can read in French.

I feel like I have a smaller chance because I went to a specialized high school… as opposed to staying in my poor neighborhood. I know that my high school career isn’t anything compared to students who were presidents of the physics club, or had a 4.7 GPA and volunteered in foreign countries, etc.

Is there anyone who comes from the same place as me? My CC is NOT challenging enough, I feel like I am back in middle school. I realize that I could have gone to a top tier school from my high school but I had a very troubled family to come home to every night. It got in the way of my studies and I went into a deep depression and started doing drugs. I was homeless and kept using drugs, I overdosed and almost died. There’s a lot to talk about in my essay…
I’m a little shaky, I know but it would be a dream to study in one of these schools.

Could anyone give me any tips?
I’ll probably be asked to join Phi Theta Kappa next semester.
Does anyone know if I should stay and get my Associates Degree and transfer for my Junior year?
I am scared that I will not have as much knowledge as the kids who’ve studied at these schools for 2 years.
My teachers at CC do NOT teach us enough, because “it won’t be on the final”.

I’m 17 btw

2

Many of the top schools do not take many transfers. I think they will be a reach, but you can certainly try. Transferring to a SUNY would be a better bet, and there are some of the CUNY colleges which are more prestigious: Brooklyn College, Queens College, Hunter. What are your current grades in the classes you are taking? You have to check with the individual colleges, but I think you have to send in your high school transcript if your credit hours are less than a certain number. So if that high school GPAs is too low, you may be better off with the associates or wait to finish the minimum hours so you don’t need the hs transcript. BTW, the option is not “CC or the Top 20” - there are a wide range of schools in between that can offer a quality education, and where you can thrive. (As my id indicates, I am a professor and am quite familiar with the range of universities in the NY area).

3

@mathprof63 I’ll probably have more than 30 by the end of this year. I’m taking 18 credits this semester. The only class that is below a 90 is my precalculus, I have an 80-something. But it will probably go up because we have 2 more tests and I’ve been studying.
I just hate the student body attitude towards education. Lack of ambition. The teachers who don’t want to give us the extra inch because most students don’t care. It’s not fair. :frowning: I really screwed up in high school. I want to get away from home at this point. It interferes with my concentration.

4

@Bunnybanz I can understand your frustration . But you need to approach the transfer process with a healthy dose of reality - basically what can you afford and where can you get in and thrive. The “lottery schools” are a longshot, especially for transfers. They do not have the capacity to accept every bright, ambitious student that wants to go there. Realistically, you are looking at 4-yr. universities which are in-state. I think NY has a program to help with tuition for low income students. Check it out. You have good grades and a lot of ambition. You do have very good options in your state.