<p>so unknown that it isn’t even on cc?</p>
<p>i’m trying to transfer and was wondering if my unknown school would help me.
it’s known to the school around the school i’m applying to (gwu) but mostly unknown on cc.</p>
<p>Attending a poorly known school is not going to help you, but it may not hurt you either.</p>
<p>i hope not.</p>
<p>since it’s not really known, i don’t know how schools will look at it academically
i.e. if it’s unknown, it probably sucks</p>
<p>for gwu it’s not a problem, but for my other ones, probably.</p>
<p>I had a similar question some time ago, though I found my answer through calling all the schools on my list and asking if applying from a relatively unknown school would hurt me. They said no, but that it would become even more important for me to take the hardest courses that are offered at the school.</p>
<p>I’m not going to post a list of schools that said this, as I do not know the true accuracy of this statement, or even if that policy has changed since the Spring.</p>
<p>If you have solid grades, ECs, LOR, and the like — I don’t think you’ll be penalized because you’re coming from an unknown school.</p>
<p>I do have a question for you, though. When you say “unknown”, do you also mean “unranked”? I mean, is there any ranking for the school to speak of? (i.e. US News, etc)</p>
<p>i see. thanks GodricGryffindor.</p>
<p>it’s so unknown that not only is it not in us news, forbes, etc., it’s not even on CC.
but thanks for your input; that comment about how one should take the hardest possible courses at the unknown school makes sense. i didn’t make it into the honors program, but i’ll try my sophomore semester. </p>
<p>anyways since i’m trying to transfer as a sophomore, i don’t really have options in taking harder courses. my plan is to take 18 credits instead. i’m signed up for 15 right now but if i can handle it, which i most likely can, i’ll take up one more that i already have in mind, making it 18 credits. i’ll also take 18 my sophomore year if i don’t take the honors option. </p>
<p>i just really don’t want to go to this school. at all.</p>
<p>Yep, we’re in the same boat more or less, except I’ll be aiming for transfer for the Fall of 2011.</p>
<p>Here are my recommendations to you.</p>
<p>1.) Find a few clubs at the school that you’re really interested in. Contact the officers of that club NOW and establish a relationship with them. This will help you exponentially as they’ll call on you first if they need anything done. BUILD these EC’s and make them a great part of your application, rather than something in the background. Try to continue an EC you did in high school.</p>
<p>2.) I don’t know your SAT stats, and there’s varying opinions on CC about retaking. If you could, please post your stats, and — if you’re comfortable — post the school. Also, put up a list of schools here that you want to transfer to. These pieces of information, along with your high school stats, will help people on here give you more specific advice.</p>
<p>3.) ONLY take as many credits as you KNOW you will get an A in. And when I say “A”, I DON’T mean an A-. At this point, you NEED to focus on getting all A’s and hitting that 4.0. Don’t let up right now, because that’s the number one mistake that happens to Freshmen — they take it easy Fall semester and wake up to find that they’re in hot water. Get the books for your classes as soon as possible and start reviewing them. Begin pre-semester prep. If you want to transfer, especially a school like GWU, you need to prove that you’re a good student. Start now and I promise you it’ll be beneficial. So if you’re taking 18 credits and get all A’s and one B — was it worth it? In my opinion, it wasn’t. Take a course load you know you’ll beast at.</p>
<p>4.) Develop meaningful relationships with all of your professors, focusing also on ones that you feel would write you a good recommendation later on. You’ll need these down the line.</p>
<p>5.) Volunteer — This should be part of your EC list, but if you can join a group that specializes in a certain area of volunteering, it’ll definitely set you apart.</p>
<p>6.) Find your hook — find what sets you apart and work on it.</p>
<p>7.) Study Abroad — Not sure if your school offers this, but there’s organizations that offer these programs. Try to save up money and go on one of these sessions during a semester or in the summer. Figure out what works best.</p>
<p>8.) Alternative Spring Break — Don’t waste your break. Do something meaningful. Look this up if you haven’t heard about it before.</p>
<p>Good luck, kid.</p>
<p>wow. that was beyond astonishing.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>i’m definitely involving myself in EC’s. at orientation, i picked out the top 3 i want to pursue and i’m extremely excited to start.</p></li>
<li><p>my stats are a trainwreck. 1440/2400, 3.2 gpa. i wish i could expose my college but i’d rather not. i’m looking at BU/GWU. tufts too, but 99% sure i’m only applying after two years, as opposed to the one year for BU/GWU.</p></li>
<li><p>the courses i’m taking are all intro to x, not saying they’re all easy but they’re the easiest courses I think I can do well in. i’m not sure i can get an A in all of them but after a horrendous high school career, i’ve been prepping myself for this fall. i’ve LITERALLY spend EVERY DAY focusing on my academics and transfer process, so I chose my courses based on my ability to achieve (and with the help of ratemyprofessors.com) and with the courses required for my major.</p></li>
<li><p>luckily one of my profs WORKS at gwu as well so i’m definitely connecting with her. </p></li>
<li><p>way ahead of you for the volunteer work: i’m volunteering at a hospital this october for six months at a well known hospital in DC.</p></li>
<li><p>ehhhh…hook. even if i did have one, would this go in an essay?</p></li>
<li><p>i’ll look into this study abroad thing for the summer. i didn’t really plan for it but i think it’s a fantastic idea for transferring sake.</p></li>
<li><p>same with the alternative spring break. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>i cannot stress how much this guide will help me this fall.</p>
<p>As long as the college/university that you are attending has regional accreditation, it really doesn’t matter that the name isn’t found anywhere here at CC. The transfer admissions officers will be able to find out whatever it is that they need to know about it.</p>
<p>But a more important question would be why you are expending your time, effort, and money at this institution if you write “i just really don’t want to go to this school. at all.” Don’t you have a halfway decent community college that you could attend instead? At a community college you would be able to get decent support for the whole transfer process, because that is part of their mission.</p>
<p>the school i’m attending gave me a lot of $$$. so much in fact that mathematically it would be cheaper than going to a cc full time (18 cred+)</p>
<p>Excellent reason for making the choice then!</p>
<p>Focus on taking courses that will cover your general eds. and that can serve as pre-req.s if possible, and get the best grades that you can.</p>
<p>Wishing you all the best!</p>
<p>thank you very much!</p>