Transferring from UVa to JHU; Prof Recs and Chancing?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys, I’ve got a problem, and I was wondering if any of you could help me out. I really want to transfer from UVa to JHU (I’m also thinking about Gtown, and maybe… just maybe… Columbia >_< But it’s not like I’d get in… anyway, UVa really isn’t the school for me; that, and JHU/Gtown/Columbia’s foreign affairs programs are a bit more respectable), but the thing is, the JHU transfer app requires prof recs.</p>

<p>Thing is, these are my classes:</p>

<p>Chinese 101 - Good relationship with the Professor
French 232 - Good relationship with the Professor
Biology 121 - Prof doesn’t know me at all (at least aside from academically)
Classical Islam 227 - Same as above, though I’m on good terms with the TA
Astronomy 121 - Prof doesn’t know me at all</p>

<p>I don’t think I want to ask my Chinese prof, because her English is… well, it’s her second language. The same goes for my French Teacher, although his English is slightly better than hers. </p>

<p>Would it be smart to ask for a rec from my Islam TA? Would it be too much of a stretch?</p>

<p>And if that doesn’t work, what would you do? Should I go back and try and foster a relationship with my former professors (which to be honest is pretty do-able at a school like UVa), or would it be more strategic to try and form new bonds with my Professors this coming semester (which might be bad, considering transfer apps due on Mar. 15th might not give them/me much time - because at least my old profs know me from before) and get them to help me out?</p>

<p>And on the note of transferring, do you think one of y’all could Chance me maybe? Right now I’m a First Year (Freshman) Student.</p>

<p>UVa Freshman First Semester GPA: 3.8
Credits (20 AP + 16): 36
Major: Undeclared (Aiming for Foreign Affairs w/ a Concentration in E. Asia, and a Minor in French)
My top SAT: 2080 (1380)
High School GPA: 3.77 Cumulative Unweighted (Freaking 3.9 if Fairfax County wasn’t so idiotic and made 94+ an A, etc)
SAT II World History: 800
SAT II US History: 740
SAT II French w/ Listening: 610
SAT II Math I: 570 (…yea I totally rocked this one.)
SAT II Literature: 680
Lots of ECAs you guys don’t want to read about</p>

<p>Yea my stats aren’t so good. I guess I’ll have to rely on my essays / maybe GPA? to pull me through. Any thoughts? They’d be much appreciated :)</p>

2

<p>in terms of chances: youre certainly in range, college and hs gpa are sound…i’d encourage you to apply to all three schools, although i wouldnt get my hopes too high…
your gpa is solid and certainly won’t keep you out of any of the schools, same for your sat’s (perhaps your sat I’s are low for columbia, i wouldn’t worry about your sat II’s if youre looking into going into foreign affairs)…i’m just wondering what will get you into the schools…after these schools weed out the weaker applicants, what is going to seperate you from the rest of the competitive applicants…it will likely come down to ec’s, essays, and prof. recs…i’m sure they’ll be people with lesser stats than you that get in and people with higher stats that get rejected, its largely about those three afformentioned factors…make sure you’re as strong as possible </p>

<p>don’t get me wrong, theres certainly a good chance that you could get into one of the schools you mentioned, but you have to be prepared if you don’t get in…could you stand being where you’re at now? if not, perhaps put some schools a little more on the safer side on your list (george washington u would be a good one) </p>

<p>as for the prof recs.</p>

<p>what concerns me is that all of the classes that you listed aren’t too relevant to a foreign affairs major…foreign affairs is a very specific major, not like a politics or history major, and having 5 classes not particularly relevant to such a highly specialized major is a tad concerning…it would be ideal to get a rec. from a prof. teaching in your intended concentration…getting a good rec. from a chinese or french prof. is nice, but if its not going to be relevant to the rest of your academic career it might not as mean as much as if the rec. was coming from, say, an international relations teacher…i’d advise you to make sure you are taking at least a couple of classes in politics/IR next semester and really get to know those profs. right off the bat…its not ideal, but i think it is possible to forge a relationship with a prof. in your first 5-6 weeks with them…</p>

<p>gl</p>

3

<p>Tnaga, if you don’t mind me asking, what don’t you like about uva? This is just out of curiosity, as I have been interested in this school</p>