<p>1) I’d focus on retaking the SAT and knocking that out of the ballpark.
2) The fact that he taught during the summer session doesn’t really help that much. A recommendation is a recommendation. What matters most in recommendations is not title/status of the recommender, but rather what they can write substantively about you. I’d focus on getting recommendations from those who can speak well to your intellectual abilities and ability to participate in class.</p>
<p>My high school record was poor due in large part to my illness… I believe a 2.3 gpa? I chose to outline my recovery in the personal essay. I think I have a winner on my hands!</p>
<p>I have already taken the SAT II subject test in Spanish w/ listening (awaiting the scores next week) and have already registered for the ACT in December (See I thought ahead!). I suspect I should send in my mid-term grades for Spring as well, so admission can take that into account? I am taking 4 or 5 classes in the Spring. BTW, I am considering applying for the college instead, seeing as I am more interested in philosophy as a major instead of foreign affairs.</p>
<p>What types of ecs should be included on my app? I am nervous about this part… but from what I have been told I can include some of my intern activities… such as helping with the Angel tree organization. </p>
<p>-Thanks for the help!</p>
<p>Thanks again for your advice, flowerhead. I’ll make sure to focus on the programs (Political Economy in the College specifically) and professors in my essays. Is there a best way to write it while avoiding criticizing my own school? Obviously Georgetown is an at least somewhat better school academically than Trinity, but on the whole my reasoning for desiring Georgetown is as much social and environmental as academic. I have nothing against the programs here, but it’s the campus climate (academic/social not weather-wise) that bothers me. There is a tendency for apathy in classes and life that drives me crazy, and from everything that I’ve heard Georgetown students tend to be anything but apathetic (Princeton Review #8 most politically active, etc).</p>
<p>Kari
- Sending in mid-term grades would be wise.
- Regarding which school to apply to, I’d avoid choosing a particular school because one is “easier to get into” than the other. Then again, if your preference for foreign affairs is fickle, your lack of enthusiasm may show through in your application to the SFS. Nevertheless, I always advocate applying to the program that most appeals to you. In this instance, showing significant passion for one program might be enough to negate any selectivity disadvantage you might suffer.
- I would include all extracurriculars. Even go beyond that, indicating hobbies and interests. It’s another way to show another dimension of yourself.</p>
<p>drob
- I’m glad you’re thinking about how to put the issue delicately. Just to reiterate, never ever be derisive of your own school. If your school lacks something, put it in a way that reflects an incompatibility between you and the school, rather than as an objective value judgment against the school. For instance, saying “The school focuses on x, but I’m more of a y person,” is much better than saying “The school focuses on x, which is just terrible.”
- The critical tone should also be somewhat muted with respect to your classmates. Rather than say your classmates at your school lack intellectual curiosity/enthusiasm, simply say you long for a student body with those characteristics (which Georgetown apparently has). You, therefore, convey the implication that your classmates lack those characteristics without looking bad.
- Again, even if you must discuss your classmates, avoid being self-righteous. It’s simply far better for the eyes to read “students at my school like to do x, but I’m more fond of y.” Please, please don’t say stuff like “students at my school party/drink/whatever debaucherous activity too much.” Georgetown students do that stuff too, and plenty of it.
- I’d avoid referencing or putting much stock into the Princeton Review rankings. That said, while I do think that my classmates at Georgetown were less intellectually apathetic, their dispositions gave rise to a whole host of weird complexities and problems (and I suspect that these problems are endemic at top universities). For instance, I was very annoyed at how uncritically liberal some of my classmates were (i.e., merely accepting a position because it was “the liberal thing to do,” without giving any regard for its independent merits). This doesn’t merely apply to “liberal” people (I’m a diehard liberal myself), but people in general who feel passionate about certain things. There was definitely a point where one’s platforms obstructed the reasoned pursuit of truth, which is what I think the point of higher education should be.
- Anyhow, overall, a campus environment in which students feel passionate about certain intellectual topics is definitely preferable to a campus environment in which students are apathetic. Just be aware that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side: While you lose company of “the unrefined,” you acquire company of “the pompous” and “the stuffy.” After having gone through phases of both, I personal prefer people somewhere in the middle.</p>
<p>Flower,</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your input! You have made me achieve ease of mind. I now have a plan to transfer successfully, instead of wallowing in self-doubt. When Spring arrives, I can say that I have done all things possible to achieve acceptance and I DO plan to aim for SFS, even though it is more selective. The College was an afterthought, SFS feels right and I have plans to use my education to advance the welfare of El Salvodoreans. Possibly joining the Peace Corps after graduating (BTW I know this is commonplace for SFS graduates… to me it just feels right; I want to gain whole new level of empathy).</p>
<p>-Kari</p>
<p>Hi</p>
<p>I’m a current sophomore @Cornell. I applied to Georgetown undergrad in high school and didn’t get in-it has always been my dream to go to Georgetown. But I’m from the DMV and Cornell is just too big for me. I have been considering transfer. I had a very hard first year, w/family matters and just adjusting. I’m premed, and majoring in Human Biology Health and Society, with a concentration in Nutrition. Here are my stats.</p>
<p>HS GPA: 3.3
SAT: 2000
ACT:30
CU GPA: 2.9
Taken both SATII in Math 2, French, and English Lit
I know my GPA will be around 3.2-3.3 after this semester.</p>
<p>And I did a lot of extracurriculars in highschool and I have some in college now. What do you think my chances are for acceptance? Thanks!</p>
<p>srgn2b3
If you can make sure your GPA is a 3.3, and you provide a reasonable explanation for your performance, in addition to compelling reasons for wanting to attend Georgetown (other than its being your “dream school”), I’d say you have a decent shot. How did you get into Cornell with such a low HS GPA?</p>
<p>Does anybody know when the GU app will be available online? It says Nov on their website although Nov is almost over!</p>
<p>Flowerhead: I will take the ACT in February, what score should I be aiming for in your opinion? I’ve taken a practice test and received a 24 
Also do you know whether GU will take test scores late after the deadline? </p>
<p>-Kari</p>
<p>the reason for my low GPA was some personal stuff the first two years of high school that were really tough. But I managed to get a 3.3 junior year and a 3.5 senior year. I think because they could see my grades were improving also I did a whole lot of extracurriculars. I also went to a very intense college prep private school, so a 3.0 there is somewhat better in comparison to other places. But I’m not really liking Cornell too much. </p>
<p>Thanks for your input. I really appreciate it.</p>
<p>kari</p>
<p>I was mostly an SAT taker, so I don’t know what’s “good” for the ACT. I do hear “30+” being the number for top universities, though. But don’t take my word for it.</p>
<p>I’d aim for getting as high a score as possible. </p>
<p>I don’t know whether Georgetown will accept scores after the deadline. You should probably call and ask.</p>
<p>Hi been reading this post but most of the community college transfers seem to be junior transfers so I’m having a hard time assesing my chances. It’d be great if someone can help me out.</p>
<p>Fall 09 GPA (95% certain): 3.69
SATCR: 800, M: 730
HS GPA 3.5 or 3.6 weighted 
Significant EC: Took 1 year off HS to work full time (8 to 5) at a small firm. (interned there during the summer at HS). Founded a political club at HS 
(not sure if I can write HS stuff)</p>
<p>applying to the college as a classics major</p>
<p>Sophomore transfer; will have 27 units by the end of next semester.</p>
<p>Georgetown is basically my first choice…1st choice is Brown but it’s pretty much next to impossible I’ve heard…anyways if I have a good shot I’d rather save money by not applying to 10 schools hoping I get into 1 haha.</p>
<p>I think I would have a much better chance applying next year as this semester I’m taking science…which sucks and is hurting my GPA…but I really don’t want to spend another year at community college.</p>
<p>Chance me please :)</p>
<p>If Gtown is a reach for me please reccomend other schools.</p>
<p>Thanks again for your help, Flowerhead! I will make sure to keep all of it in mind. I’ll make sure to portray my reasoning as a poor fit rather than a poor original school (which it is really as a lot of the students love it here). I agree about the annoyance of people being excessively political in either direction, but I would still prefer very political to not at all. Hopefully I’ll have good news to report a few months down the road…</p>
<p>tallFrodo
Your GPA is a little on the low end for a community college GPA, but the SATs provide some assurance that you can handle the work at Georgetown. It’s a toss-up, to be sure.</p>
<p>It’s worth it to apply to 10+ schools; with community college transfers, it’s genuinely a mystery as to how high they can go. However, with the innumerable benefits a top university provides over a community college education, it’s always worth it to cast a wide net and hope that someone bites (I realize I’m possibly mixing metaphors here, but you get the point).</p>
<p>Flowerhead,</p>
<p>I’ve been trying to get in contact with you to ask you whether or not the Writing Score of the SAT will be that important for transfer students, although it puts weight on the freshmen?</p>
<p>Hi,
I recently began thinking of transferring from Notre Dame. I love the school and its unique environment, but my interests changed significantly after witnessing South Bend and all of its problems hands on. I thought I wanted to do undergrad business, but now I’m more inclined to study public policy at Georgetown’s school of foreign service. I’m not really sure that I’m going to go through with it, but I just wanted to see the chances…</p>
<p>Freshman applying for Sophomore term to SFS
GPA: 3.92 right now. Hopefully 3.9-4.0 by the end of freshmen year. 27-28 credits
HS GPA: 3.83, top 10%
SAT: 2210, 1450 with CR + M
Lots of ECCs in high school, leader of 6 clubs
Lots of Volunteering/ service around South Bend with tutoring, juvenile hall mentoring, etc. at Notre Dame.</p>
<p>I’m not really sure how the whole transfer system works; I just know a lot about traditional college apps. Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>ggts</p>
<p>Just write essays that demonstrate compelling desires to attend Georgetown. I’m almost positive you’ll be admitted outright.</p>
<p>Hello,
Flowerhead i was wondering what your stats were like that allowed you to get accepted to georgetown. If you are uncomfortable revealing your scores then there’s no need to tell them
thanks</p>
<p>Freshman applying for sophomore standing at SFS or College.</p>
<p>GPA: about a 3.85, maybe a 3.9
HS GPA: 3.2 (bleh)
ACT: 31
ECCs:
- Model UN
- French Club
- Italian Club
- Student newspaper
- Volunteer ESL instructor
- Volunteer work abroad (in South America) twice</p>
<p>Other Info:
- Enrolled at a highly selective, relatively prestigious liberal arts college in New England. GPA-wise, I wasn’t qualified to get into this school but they were impressed by my essays and interview. Hopefully that extra-something-special will be implied when I apply to Georgetown?
- Fluent in Spanish and English (but I’m not Latino) and proficient in French and Italian.
- Both of my parents went to Georgetown, as did an aunt, two great-uncles, and a
great-grandfather. - My godmother graduated from SFS and is willing to write me a letter of recommendation if I choose SFS over College.
- I would double major in French and Italian at College, maybe minor in German or Portuguese, or get my BSFS at SFS.</p>
<p>So I guess my two questions are:</p>
<ol>
<li>What are my chances for admission to College or SFS?</li>
<li>Should I apply to College or SFS? (College has a great foreign language program, but I like the degree path and required coursework at SFS more, plus I feel like I could do more career-wise with a degree from SFS. Obviously, transferring to SFS would be significantly harder than College.)</li>
</ol>
<p>mcgiller101</p>
<p>1) You have excellent chances at both. Why would your godmother not be willing to write you a rec for the college?
2) I’d only apply to the SFS if one of the specific programs in it appealed to you. If you know you want to do Culp, IPol, STIA, or whatever, apply. The College gives you a bit more flexibility in that you can pursue a major that isn’t as rigidly defined as the ones in the SFS (many of the SFS kids I knew who had no idea what they wanted out of the program just went straight for Culp), so you have a bit more freedom to explore courses in other disciplines. I took my major in the college as an opportunity to work in the physics department, to gain substantial experience in a foreign language, and to complete a minor. If you’re really interested in language, perhaps the Faculty of Language and Linguistics (which is in the College) would appeal to you more.</p>
<p>Career-wise, I’m not sure what you mean. Yes, the SFS has plenty more cache when it comes to grabbing those foreign service related internships; getting jobs on the Hill or anywhere else didn’t seem problematic for anyone in any school (except maybe NHS); it seemed that one’s grades mattered more.</p>
<p>I never really applied for banks or whatever, so I can’t really speak to whether the SFS gives one better shots in that sector. I can say I knew people from both programs who got jobs in that sector, though (including Goldman Sachs).</p>
<p>For professional school admissions, no one really cares (except Medschool, of course, insofar as you need to complete the Pre-Med curriculum). In my first year law school class, there were students from the SFS, the College, and even NHS who had made it.</p>
<p>For graduate school admissions, I just recommend focusing on the field most closely related to the graduate program you wish to pursue. For example, I strongly recommend against doing Culp and then applying for a Ph.D in mathematics.</p>
<p>Geez, all this Georgetown talk is making me feel nostalgic. Probably the best years of my life!</p>
<p>flowerhead - Thanks! I’m pleasantly surprised.</p>
<p>1) I wasn’t sure if it would be appropriate for an extra letter of rec if the writer didn’t attend the specific school. However, you don’t think my HS GPA will be a huge detriment?</p>
<p>2) I think I like the Regional and Comparative Studies program, because I can integrate my love for European languages with regional political studies. I haven’t seen the application yet, but is there a place on the application where we can specify what program we want to pursue? I feel like that would strengthen my app.</p>