3.83 expected GPA for first semester at BU in Questrom
Major: Business (adding English as a double major)
Current Classes
2nd Semester Japanese (I placed out of first semester)
Business Ethics Required Course (this is a weed-out course)
Required Writing Course
Literature Course
Japanese and Business are the troubling courses, as one is a weed-out and the other has an impossibly tough grading professor.
Next Semester
Finance (Required)
English Required Course
Literature Course
Second semester writing course
Microeconomics (Required)
Summer Activities:
Sophomore (HS) - Nephrology Research in Greece
Junior (HS) - Physics Research in SK, exclusive program (only 25 students total); Published in a small book with 13 other students from my high school
Senior (HS) - Research & Social Activism internship in Japan (mentor is developing a nonprofit organization based on a theory he founded & has received millions in funding for)
Upcoming - Winter/Summer Internship continued with social activism internship in Greece / Possible internship with large publishing company (my school has 4 spots reserved through special connections and the person who eventually picks who goes recommended that I apply)
Current ECs:
Writer for National Online Magazine (BU has the largest chapter)
Junior/Co-Editor for literary magazine that accepts 8% of all submissions worldwide
Editor/Communications Director for a literary magazine I am trying to revive as it dropped off the face of the Earth after 130 years of publication
Dean’s Fellowship for Social Impact Fellow
Volunteer Tutor (1 hour a week)
Private Tutor (4 hours a week)
(In progress) Starting my own international youth fellowship centered around community service, academia, and hosted by my mentor’s organization
Significant past ECs:
National Scripps Spelling Bee Contestant (2013)
Started high school’s first book club
My top choices include Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, etc.
Despite my GPA not being a 4.0, I don’t find my classes challenging or thought-provoking. Additionally, I’m not interested in remaining a business major and BU’s English program isn’t as strong as Harvard or Columbia’s.
If I understand correctly, your main reason for wanting to transfer is due to a change of major from business to English.
The “not academically challenging enough” argument is a bit weak if you earn near or below a 3.80 GPA.
Your profile/activities are interesting & match your future major of English.
Concerned about the manner in which you listed your target schools as “My top choices include Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Stanford, etc.”. Transferring to an elite college or university needs strong supporting reasons for that particular school.
I would love to see your entire list of schools & a brief reason for each–even if it is just for enhanced prestige (which is an inadequate but often honest reason).
Thanks for your response. You’re right… I guess I just don’t feel like any of my classes are thought-provoking enough- albeit they’re graded with considerable difficulty. But I am a first semester freshman.
As for the school thing:
Harvard’s always been my dream school. I’ve talked to the kid from my high school who goes there now and she expressed that she felt like she needs to play catch-up and that her classes were challenging. Harvard’s English program is far superior to BU’s and their resources are vast. BU’s English program is lacking and receives minimal funding. The number of English classes available is disappointing. I don’t enjoy the atmosphere of the business school nor do I enjoy the business courses.
Stanford & UC Berkeley rank highest for undergraduate English programs, Columbia and Yale following. I’ve spent some time around English majors graduating from here, and professors as well. While the professors are fantastic, I feel that there’s not room or opportunity to flourish here as someone who’s interested in literature or as someone who’s planning on publishing sometime in the future.
Based on the information here, you can probably transfer up somewhat, but your chances would be slight at the schools you mention.If your high school record (including AP exams, ECs etc.) got you into BU, a 3.83 first semester won’t get you into Harvard.