Unique Situation

Transfer Students
1

<p>I’m currently a freshman looking to transfer. My top/only choice is Northeastern University. I just visited the school over spring break and definitely want to go there. Their average GPA for transfers is 3.26. I’m not sure my grades match that because of my “unique situation”. Please bear with me as I try to summarize it.</p>

<p>In 9th grade I was playing in an indoor soccer tournament. I had headed the ball many times and was then knocked into the boards and got a bad concussion. I immediately had a severe migraine headache and began vomiting and was incapacitated for 5 or 6 hours. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of the headaches. All throughout high school, because of the severe concussion, I had these headaches that kept me bed ridden for many hours and caused me to miss school. By junior and senior year they had increased which resulted in me being absent for over 1/5 of the year. My grades began to go down as a result of this. My parents and I looked all over the place/met with many neurologists for a solution. We considered a 13th year for me to boost my grades if the headaches did not subside. Toward the end of senior, I went to the Chronic Headache Clinic in Philadelphia. They prescribed a powerful medicine which seemed to temporarily stop the headaches. I decided that because of this, I would goto college. Last fall they started up again and my grades in college began to reflect it. I began missing class and falling behind to the point where I had to drop Biology. However, in November, I met with a neurologist from Johns Hopkins who suggested drastically altering my diet to exclude many unnatural foods. This method has worked and I haven’t had a migraine since then and my grades show it.</p>

<p>1st semester:
Biology: W
Chem: C
Calc: C+
First year seminar: B</p>

<p>2nd semester(currently):
Comparative politics: A
English: A
Islam and politics: A
Modern terrorism: A</p>

<p>Clearly my grades have improved since my migraines stopped. My cumulative GPA would be 3.34. Unfortunately, Northeastern would only see a mid-term report for the 2nd semester(which I will send in as late as possible to put more weight on it). Also, NEU doesn’t require high school grades if you submit a mid-term report instead.</p>

<p>What are my chances if my essay describes my whole situation?</p>

<p>I’m certainly not trying to gain sympathy from NEU through this essay but just to point out that I have started to show what I am capable of this semester. Also, should the essay go under the reason to transfer section on the common app or the additional info section? I don’t know if I should have two seperate essays. Basically I feel my current school is not competitive enough/doesn’t have oppurtunities that NEU would give me through Co-op.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance for any responses, I really appreciate it.</p>

2

<p>I think they’ll understand your situation if you provide serious backup but you’re still at a disadvantage. You only have a semester of work that truly reflects your potential.</p>

<p>Also… thanks for this tidbit… I did not know that
“Also, NEU doesn’t require high school grades if you submit a mid-term report instead.”</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the response. Does anybody know whether or not I should explain my situation under the “why I’m transferring” section or the “additional info” section on the common app??? </p>

<p>My reasons for transferring are simple: I want a bigger school, more competitive, and more urban. So I’m thinking it should be two seperate essays now…o_O</p>

4

<p>There are other schools that are big, competitive and urban. IMO you might want to tailor it a bit more to show you have a compelling reason for wanting to go there specifically.</p>

5

<p>Yes. Explain as much as you can.</p>

6

<p>I just finished my essay for why I want to transfer. If anyone wants to read it and give me some advice that would be great.</p>

7

<p>You
INSPIRE
Me.</p>

<p>I have been touched. Really. I absolutely LOVE people like you. Do you know why? Because you guys just never give up! And it is amazing. For me, it honestly hurts sometimes to watch the competition before my eyes where everbyody is on top and I’m left to feel like the underdog. But as the game says it–Hate it or love it, UNDERDOGS on top–I’ve realized that if it wasn’t for the difficulties I endured in high school, I would not have been the more passionate person I am today–and you know what, I totally see that in you, even though you put yourself in one paragraph. I believe if you talk about your situation, it would really make a difference. Good luck! I really hope you get into NEU!</p>

8

<p>I’m applying to Northeastern too! If I were you I would try to get an interview with them. You have a unique situation here and it is very inspirational. If you explain it well, than I say you have a very good chance of being admitted.</p>

9

<p>I know this thread is a few months old but I figured I’d just say that I got accepted and am going to NEU in the fall =]. Thanks for the advice/support.</p>

10

<p>Congrats cpSCHICK, I also hope your headaches have not returned. Good luck at NEU</p>