Chances at Swarthmore/Columbia

Transfer Students
1

<p>I screwed around a lot in High School and finished barely in the top half of my class with just above a 3 point (unweighted, no weighted grades where I’m hailing from).
I got a 33 ACT on my first try and ended up going to the University of Iowa, having been rejected by Swarthmore.</p>

<p>I recognize my faults in the past and I’ve done as much as I can to rectify them. I’ve easily solidified a 4-point my first semester at the University of Iowa and will probably get one or two A+'s to boost my GPA above a 4-point.
I’m double majoring in Political Science and Ethics & Public Policy (interdisciplinary major akin to Oxford’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics program)
Besides that, I’m involved in five different student organizations and have leadership/officer roles in three (including one spot as President).</p>

<p>It’s still quite early to be asking around for letters of rec, but one professor I have in mind was a Visiting Professor at Columbia and former Dean of Liberal Arts at my college, and whom I believe will write me a fairly good letter.</p>

<p>Do I stand any chance at overcoming a lackluster High School GPA and transferring to Swarthmore or Columbia this year? Should I even bother when they’re basing their decision on less than a year of University experience?</p>

2

<p>If you apply in your first year, your high school record will be a serious liability. However, if you wait another year and keep your grades up, your high school record will be of secondary importance and be outweighed by your college success.</p>

3

<p>Wayward_Trojan is right for most schools, but Columbia much prefers taking sophomores to juniors, because the core is so rigorous that it’s difficult to complete. I’m a junior transfer, and during transfer orientation, of the probably 80 kids I met, 2 others were juniors. They both commented that they were so relieved to finally come across another junior.<br>
So, try applying to Columbia this year. Yes, your high school record will be a liability, but it’s worth a shot if you can handle the app fee.</p>