Transferring to a "reach" school?

Transfer Students
1

I’m going to try to not make this a “chances” thread, but it may turn out that way.

I am soon to be 22 years old, currently at a community college in Michigan.

Applied to: UMich, Michigan State, Cornell, Stanford, Harvard, Brown, Vanderbilt, Columbia, NYU, and UPenn
Major: Biopsychology, neuroscience, or similar
Applying for financial need

College
Completed Credits: 54 (12 additional credits granted for AP results)
Credits in May: 76
Likely transferrable credits: 50-55 (Junior or one class short) - enrolled in semi-difficult, but nontransferable social work program at CC.
GPA: 3.95 (three A-‘s, one W)
Course load: Most recent three semesters I took 17, 21, and 22 credit hours respectively. 4.0’d last two, hope to have 4.0 midterm report, then I can mail it in from March to May [JK!!]
Two nonconsecutive gap semesters with good reason and explanation
EC’s: “full time” school bus driver for public school district, unpaid internship with residential juvenile delinquency rehabilitation program, the gap semesters’ job and travel, and volunteer for four years on board of directors of local Little League, running their umpire program, as well as misc. items
LORs: Couldn’t imagine them being any better. Didn’t see them, but both professors adored me, and both hold PhD’s.
Essays: I’m a perfectionist, and I always felt like they left something to be desired. BUT, I know I am a great writer, so time will tell I guess lol

High School
GPA: 3.2ish
ACT: 28 (one and only sitting in March 2011)

I would consider Michigan State a safety, Michigan a match, and the rest a reach. NYU being a super reach most likely, due to my financial need. Am I accurate in this assessment?

Do I have a chance (oops) at a reach school or two?

2

I think you have a good shot at UMich, a decent chance at Vandy and NYU (at least in acceptance; can’t say about fin aid), and would consider any other acceptances a happy surprise if you get them.

3

How does your CC work with the public universities in state in terms of transfer?

You mentioned in another thread you were rejected twice to uMich.

4

@ClarinetDad16 It has a good working relationship with a few in-State unis, but only a true articulation agreement with Oakland University.

Umich did reject me twice, once as a freshman (look at my high school stats and you can see why I expected it), and once as a freshman last semester, as a sophomore transfer with only the 17 CH 4.0 semester as full time evidence of my work.

I got a strong inclination from the latest rejection letter as well as recent correspondence with the admission office that a strong fall semester this year would earn me a spot. I 4.0’d 21 credit hours