Transfer Problem: Good Stats + Fair/Poor Rec Letters = ?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I’m currently a freshman at UC Berkeley looking to transfer to schools such as UPenn and Northwestern. </p>

<p>My HS stats are very good (high SAT and ranked top of the class), as is my first semester college GPA (got a 4.0). ECs are pretty good in both college and HS as well. </p>

<p>I also expect my essays to be above average in quality when I apply. </p>

<p>However! Despite good credentials, my letters of recommendation will probably be poor to rather crappy in quality. This semester I didn’t really have the chance–or push for the chance–to talk to my professors personally (since Berkeley is a huge school and intro classes vary from 400-800 students in size) and most of the teaching for my intro classes was done by GSIs/TAs. </p>

<p>Will having good stats/ECs and decent to pretty good essays but poor rec letters badly damage my chances at schools like Northwestern and UPenn? Should I even try transferring anymore? Is there any hope for me and the ~$75 I’m paying for each app? </p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated! (:</p>

2

<p>I think a lot of people probably have problems like this due to the large size of intro classes. It sounds like you have very impressive stats so I doubt mediocre letters will make them doubt your academic abilities.</p>

3

<p>you may want to find out if the intended institutions will take recs from TAs.</p>

4

<p>why are you transferring out of UC-Berkeley? Did you really not like that school? I am just wondering as I am applying to that school and it is actually my dream school.</p>

5

<p>You are taking a risk with your admission officer. Some understand how indifferent professors at huge public schools can be. Others will look down on you for failing to establish a strong enough relationship with your teacher; they want students who do such at their own university.</p>

<p>With good stats and bad letters, I think you should play the lottery.</p>

6

<p>If it doesn’t work this semester, maybe you should try taking smaller, non intro classes next semester if you can, and try and be friendly with your professors.</p>