Should I even bother applying for transfer?

Transfer Students
1

I am currently attending UIUC and I am a sophomore (international student) majoring in psychology but my gpa is pretty low (3.25 out of 4.00). This is most likely due to various factors such as bipolar disorder and depression and hard time getting used to college. However, if I were to apply to for transfer I am not going to make excuse using my personal struggles. Although my grades are kinda bad, I believe that my other parts are pretty decent:

ACT: 35
SAT II:

  • Math 2C: 730
  • Biology: 780
  • Chemistry: 750
    which are all taken while I was still at high school.

Research Experience:

  • Working as research assistant for Neurocognitive kinesiology lab (1 year), Body composition and nutritional neuroscience lab(1st semester) and Decision neuroscience lab (1st semester). Also for Body composition and nutritional neuroscience lab, I serve as the undergraduate leader as well.
  • Ill be publishing my abstract of this research I am doing regarding correlation between exercise, diet and neural development next semester.
  • Currently I am involved in research with psychological anthropology professor on the topic of social reproduction and labeling theory.
  • Also involved in research with media studies professor on looking at how racial stereotypes are being preserved in media format.

Extracurricular activity:

  • Volunteering at my local hospital for childrens
  • Working as member of peer education group on stress management at School hospital
  • Member of ensemble group inner voices of social issues theatre, which tries to raise awareness on the ongoing social and health issues such as depression, anxiety, loneliness etc.
  • Part of student senate
  • Student writer for Campustowns
  • Founder and leader of school improv
  • Practicing several martial arts such as taekwondo, karate, wushu, judo and tangsoodo with 3rd degree black belt in taekwondo and will be tested for karate and judo this winter break.
  • Other minor things includes being member of philosophy club and creative writing club.

Internships:

  • I interned as a statistician over the summer for LLC, Team Better which was looking at data’s on local hospitals of California to see whether they are certified with x-ray mammography and there past usage.

Teaching Experience:

  • I worked as master at local taekwondo dojo over the summer
  • I will be working as Course Assistant next semester for a computer science class.

High School Stat:

  • I don’t know if they would matter but I had 3.6 gpa uw out of 4.

Reason for transferring:

  • I personally like my school. However, in the future I also want to pursue a field in animation and film, which I am passionate about as well. Animation was actually part of the reason why I was able to overcome my problem with depression. That is why I chose to major in psychology (I was a kinesiology major prior to changing) because I thought that it is not only the middle ground for my interest in human mind and society but also for animation (for character development and psychology). Yet UIUC doesn’t have anything related to film and animation so I tried pursuing an independent study program, which is creating a new major that is non-existing at current institution, but my advisor said that due to limited classes related to animation (the closest class I found for animation was drawing…) it is not likely that I will be able to pursue an independent study program on animation.

I know this is a long post and thank you for those who are bearing with me but with this situation, should I even bother applying for transfer? The schools that I look towards are uchicago, stanford and ucla. I know that schools don’t look into second semester grade but I am confident that I will do much much better on my next semester will that be helpful at all?

I appreciate any advice and comments. Thank you.

2

Also the reason I chose uchicago, stanford and ucla is because they have visual arts classes and opportunity that UIUC doesn’t have. However, I know that even with a 4.0 gpa, it is highly unlikely to get into stanford and uchicago but with my low gpa, I am afraid that I have even lower chances. But I just want other peoples opinion as to with my current situation, should I even try?

3

You should make a posting in this forum http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/

Do you have an extensive portfolio? If so, have you had it objectively evaluated by someone already in the industry? (not at a school that wants to recruit you and your tuition)

Film & animation isn’t a subject that you just add on like Kinesiology or Psychology. You have to have extensive innate talent and be willing to go a long time earning very little. Unless you’re clearly bound for financial success in the field, I highly suggest you keep it as a creative outlet or hobby. To transfer into a school for the sole sake of having it prepare you to enter the industry would be a grave mistake in my opinion.

Indeed, many who are in the industry do not have degrees at all – they’re simply fantastic artists who can produce many many pieces day in and day out.

And if you’re serious about it, why are you aiming at schools like Stanford or Chicago? It’s not as if they’re hotbeds of animation.

I get that with your academic potential, you may want to keep doors open – but I think you’re more qualified to get gainful employment if you get a more “standard” bachelors right where you’re at.