Transfer Chances

Colleges & Universities McGill University
1

<p>I currently attend Harvey Mudd College (in California, USA), but am considering transferring to Mcgill Faculty of Engineering for 2nd semester. Can you please tell me my chances as an international (American), but also as a domestic.</p>

<p>White American Male</p>

<p>HMC GPA: 2.9 (I know it seems low but it’s actually above average for HMC freshmen)</p>

<p>Courses taken: special relativity and quantum mechanics, introduction to CS, chemistry (2 semesters), chemistry lab (2 semesters), calc based classical mechanics physics, physics lab, humanities, intro to american politics, engineering design, advanced calculus, linear algebra, differential equations, multivariable calculus</p>

<p>High School GPA: 4.45 weighted, 3.8 unweighted
Rank: 10/425
AP Courses: Biology (5), Chemistry (4), Physics B (5), Enviro (5), US History (4), Euro (4), Macroecon (4), Microecon (4), English Language (4), English Lit (3), Stats (5), US Gov (5), Calculus BC (5)
SAT: 2230 (800 Math, 700 CR, 730 Writing)
SAT II: Math IIC 780, Math IC 770, Chemistry 750, Literature 690
ACT: 33</p>

<p>great essay, good recs (if I can find them)</p>

<p>ECs: state and national awards for science olympiad, international awards for future problem solving, club president
Work experience: currently an ESL teacher
Research experience: some research in engineering at mudd, some biochem research last summer at Case</p>

2

<p>I’m not sure about this one, but I think you have better chances as an international then you do as a domestic (seeing as they’ll think that you’ll be giving them more money). </p>

<p>First off, McGill doesn’t care about EC’s or Rec’s (unless you’re applying for a scholarship, which you, as a transfer, cannot). I don’t really know what your chances are with that GPA, except that it may be recovered if you can provide class averages on your transcript (i.e. you have your grade next to the class average, to give the admissions committee a point of reference). </p>

<p>I have to say though that I thought that employers as well as a members of academia have always seen H. Mudd as a very good institution. Why do you want to transfer out?</p>

3

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<p>It’s a long story. My parents have basically messed up my financial aid. There is a good chance I’ll lose >$20,000 of aid next year.</p>

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<p>Yeah, I figured it might screw me over. The thing is that we were required to take all of those classes as part of our core curriculum. I think the overall average freshman GPA was around 2.7, so my GPA might be about 60-65th percentile?</p>

<p>If I applied last year normally, I think my chances would have been really good to get in. Just the problem now is if they’ll recognize the difference between a 2.9 at HMC and a 2.9 at the typical school.</p>

<p>McGill doesn’t consider extracurriculars or recs? Why not…?</p>

4

<p>Don’t have anything to add about the Harvey Mudd GPA. Why don’t you try calling the chairman of the department you are applying toand ask them.</p>

<p>As far as your high-school record goes, there is no doubt you would look to them like an EXCELLENT candidate, and would be in without even a question of hesitation.</p>

<p>Have you tried calling the Harvey Mudd F.A. office and explaining that you are considering transferring out over this mess-up?</p>

5

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<p>It hasn’t gotten to that point yet. My financial aid package has not been created yet. I’m just preparing for the worst right now and this would be my las resort. If I do get horrible aid I do intend to try very hard to convince them to let me stay.</p>

<p>I have heard that it is harder to get in for the winter semester? Is this true? Also, I know a McGill professor in the department I want to go into who was a visiting professor at Mudd. I might ask him how much the admissions office knows about HMC. I actually met him on a metro last week.</p>

6

<p>I probably should’ve mentioned that your HS track record was/is stellar and with that alone you’d be able to enter McGill, however I’m not an ad. officer, and I’m not gonna pretend like I truly know how it works. All I know is, unless you have averages near your marks, people aren’t going to realize why you have such a low GPA for such a stellar HS student. </p>

<p>I don’t even know why I’m posting this…</p>

7

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<p>True, but we aren’t talking about people in general here. We are talking about adcoms. If it were a place like MIT or Caltech or Berkeley then I would assume the adcoms would understand low GPAs. However, unfortunately Mudd doesn’t have very great name recognition. </p>

<p>Assuming I could somehow get the point across about Mudd having ridiculous grade deflation, do I stand a chance to transfer in for second semester?</p>

8

<p>I’d say you stand a very good chance at admission (assuming either a) McGill knows about Mudd’s grade deflation, or b) you make the grade deflation known).</p>