Do I have a solid chance?

Transfer Students
1

Hey guys, so I’m considering transferring out of the college i’m in right now, and I just need advice on whether it’s worth it:

Current college: TCNJ (The College of New Jersey)
Current year: Freshman (rising soph)
Current GPA: ~3.5 (Deans list both semesters)
I’m Nepali and female

I’m a Humanities major, but I’m currently on the pre-med track. My lowest grade ever was a B and it was once, and 2 B+, the rest are A- or higher. (The classes I got the B/B+ in were bio, cal, and macro) and my current plan was 3 minors: public health, spanish, and women studies

If I transfer, It’ll be as a junior at the new college, so I’m hoping to really do well my soph year and get my GPA up to at least 3.6/3.7 (I’m still going to take physics and chem and some 300 level courses so i’m really going to try)

My GPA isn’t super competitive but I think my ECs are pretty solid:

I’m a selected member of an elite scholarship program at my school that centers around volunteering (I’ve already done 300+ community service hours)
I’m a staff writer for our school paper
I was selected for a peer mentoring program for my school (i’m a mentor for fellow minority students)
I’m applying currently (but positive i’ll be accepted for) a women’s program at the school that focuses on leadership
I’m a licensed EMT in the state of NJ
This summer i’m volunteering at the Doctor’s without borders main office in NYC

In high school I was an ok student, I had a 3.5 GPA (with an upward trend) at a competitive public school and I got a 2120 on my SATs (i took them twice). I was chief justice of my debate team, I was secretary and founding member of the women’s rights club for 2 years, I was a consistent hospital volunteer-- i even did a summer experience where i view live surgeries in the operating rooms.

The reason why my GPA is kind low is because with my scholarship program, my others ECs, pre-med courses, and transitioning into college, it was a lot and I definitely didn’t work as hard as I could have. I plan on working my a off soph year though. I’m also a good writer so I don’t think the essays will be a problem.

These are the school i’m considering (and please, feel free to suggest more!)
USC
Barnard
Tufts
JHU
Berkley
UCLA
Tulane
Columbia
Brown
Vassar
Wellesley

Thanks a lot, guys!

2

Oh also, in High school I volunteered with 2010 CNN Hero of the Year for a month in Nepal, working with the kids of victims of human trafficking, i taught them english and organized events

3

TCNJ is very well respected, so if your motivation to transfer is greater prestige or something of that nature, you might consider staying put. The only college on the list but I am familiar with is Tulane, and the school takes very few transfers, especially given the unexpectedly large classes over the past two years. That comment is absolutely in no way reflective of your qualifications. I am sure that if you managed to get in as a transfer student you would do just fine. It is a question of space.

While I cannot speak to the other high powered colleges that you have listed, I suspect that transferring in would not be easier in those places either.

Finish at TCNJ really strong, and focus on med school. You don’t need to go to the top universities to go to med school. I know many people who went to colleges much farther down the prestige pecking order than the ones you listed and are fine doctors. In all my life I have never heard of anyone inquiring of any doctor as to which undergraduate institution he or she might have attended.

Congratulations on your good record and best of luck.

4

Nu-- why do you feel the need to transfer? You’re in a great school and apparently doing ok. Surely you know
TCNJ just place a pre-med student in Harvard so there is no lack of prestige at TCNJ it is well known for its academics.