Chance me (Transfer Student)

sfjohson
Sat, 15 Dec 2007 21:03:50 +0000

I am currently a freshman at Loyola College in Maryland. I am looking to transfer to Tufts or another, more academically driven school at the end of my two semesters here. Tufts is the main school I want to matriculate into.

Intended Major: Biology/Environmental Studies double major (Loyola does not offer Environmental Studies which is one of my main reasons to transfer)

My High School GPA is about an A- (around 3.6-3.7)(4 APs) with my senior year GPA being slightly lower since I contracted a virus due to my weekend immune system and was taken out of school for 2-3 weeks. The setback forced me to play catch up for the rest of the year.
SAT I scores: 1840 (530 CR/650 M/660 W)
SAT II: 500 (Eng Lit) 590 (Bio E) 720 (math I)

During my high school career I underwent chemotherapy for cancer which I was diagnosed with mid-freshman year. I wasn’t off chemotherapy until after my senior year. During my sophomore year, I was getting tutored to finish my freshman classes simultaneously with my sophomore class regiment. The college board were also unwilling to accommodate me with extra time so I was unable to finish any section of the SATs completely.
(I don’t feel any of my high school credentials or aptitude tests really do me justice because of my ailment.)
Due to my first year off of chemo, I was not allowed to apply further than 3 hours from my hometown but since my first year of follow-up is done, I can apply to any school I want. This is the second main reason for my transfer.

Despite the constant nausea, vertigo, and absences from classes, I did manage to become an AP Scholar with Honors, be selected for Boys State, inducted into Spanish National Honor Society, play on the soccer team which was State group II soccer runners-up, and manage a very strong set of extracurriculars.

My College GPA will fall somewhere between 3.89-4.0 depending how my last two finals go.
I am taking General Chemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, Psychology 101, Spanish 101 (I dropped Spanish after my sophomore year in high school to double sciences so I am taking introductory as a refresher), and Modern Western Civilization. (a total of 18 credits)

I plan on taking 21 credits next semester (the normal course load at Loyola is 15 credits).

My letters of recommendation are strong. I am sending out three since my Chemistry, Biology, and Spanish professors have all had very different experiences with me. (I am the only one who answers questions posed by the professor in lecture in biology, chemistry is my strongest subject and I am constantly volunteering to do problems on the board, and in Spanish, I participate all the time but have had to coordinate times to reschedule tests 3 times with the professor outside of class due to blood tests for my cancer follow up)

I am have a good set of extracurriculars at Loyola also to supplement my grades and classes.
I will have strong essays also, one of which will discuss my cancer.

So… What do you think about my chances? I am a bit of an anomaly to assess but I am set on Tufts and want to know if I stand a chance or whether I am just pipe dreaming. (Sorry about writing a novel on this thread. I just wanted to make sure that I enclosed everything since I am somewhat of an oddity to rate)