Small LAC student looking for a more rigorous environment

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi there! I am a current sophomore at a small liberal arts college, Wartburg. I am pursing an interdepartmental major in political psychology. I originally was going to double major in music performance and political science but after struggling with a prolonged arm injury I have decided to drop the music. I aspire to attend grad school and pursue a career in academia or consulting. The Wartburg student body has resulted in me being in a learning environment that is not as stimulating as I feel I deserve. I want to transfer to an institution that has a much higher academic reputation.</p>

<p>College GPA: 3.8
I have taken mainly upper level courses and will be completing most gen eds this winter term.
I have had the opportunity to take on a couple semester long research projects involving quantitative analysis that both ended with being selected to present at a Midwestern research conference.
I am President of the College Democrats
Section leader of the school symphony
Violinist in the college quartet
Selected to participate in a sophomore honor program which has led me to be currently interning at a Denver based political consulting firm.
I am in the process of opening up my own political consulting firm as I have a decade of campaign experience and have had the opportunity to manage a couple campaigns in the last few years. State congressional campaigns have reached out to me to consult on certain campaign aspects.</p>

<p>High School GPA 3.65 (I think)
25 ACT - I was dumb in the fact that I took my ACT only once, in December of my freshman year.
Concertmaster of the high school orchestra, chamber orchestra, and string quartet
Student Body President
Speech and Debate captain
4x All-State Speech qualifier</p>

<p>School I am interested in are Vanderbilt, Brown and Notre Dame. Any other suggestions would be appreciated. I am looking for suggestions on schools that I could look at.</p>

<p>Financial aid is critically important. Schools that are 100% need based would be ideal as well as schools with transfer merit aid.</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciate!</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>(I posted this on the “Chances” forum before realizing there is a “transfer” forum. Sorry for the double post if you saw the first other one.)</p>

2

<p>Bump</p>

3

<p>What about state universities in your state of residence?</p>

<p>Unfortunately, transfer merit scholarships are much less common than those for frosh, and some private schools give less need-based financial aid to transfers. Check carefully.</p>

4

<p>Sadly, I reside in Iowa. State schools are not that great here, especially for political psychology. I would also say that the academic rigor of the state schools would still be less than my desire.</p>