Unique Transfer Applicant

Transfer Students
#1

<p>Applying: UCSC, Davis, Merced, UCSD, UCLA, UCB, NYU, UChicago, Temple, Georgetown, Northwestern, George Washington, Virginia, UPenn, Duke, Cornell, Emory (JUNIOR TRANSFER)
Major: History
Ethnicity: Mexican (1st Generation)
Age: 23 now, however by the time I transfer I will be 24.</p>

<p>Currently at East Los Angeles City College
Current GPA: 3.75
Estimated GPA at the end of Spring 2012: 3.8-3.85 (conservative estimate)
Will be IGETC certified by spring 2012.
Prerequisites finished with a 4.0</p>

<p>HONORS:
Dean’s List </p>

<p>ECs:
Worked full time for the past 5 years.
Volunteer at Placita Olvera (a church in downtown L.A) handing out food to homeless people.
105 hours of volunteer service at 2 convalescent homes. </p>

<p>The only drawback is that I have 26 W’s from the years 2006-2010 (I haven’t received a W since spring 2010). </p>

<p>During the time I received the 26 W’s I was severely depressed because I was sexually abused as a child, and I never received help (I still haven’t). And also within that time frame my mother became ill. So I had to support my entire family. I must say that it was really difficult because I had to handle 50+ hours at work, and provide for my ill mother, my disabled brother, and my schizophrenic aunt – all while handling school, and trying to live on my own. Then out of the blue in the fall of 2010, my mother recovered. So I had the opportunity to stop working and move back home to focus entirely on school. </p>

<p>Now, like many of you I have aspirations of transferring to a top school, but unfortunately my academic record will affect me even though I have shown an upward trend by not receiving any W’s.</p>

<p>What do you guys think? Any and all input will be appreciated.</p>

#2

<p>If you aren't going to admit to the depression, then your best bet will be to sit down with the transfer counselor at your CC, and ask about the best way to explain that you were working more than 40 hours a week during that time in order to help support your extended family. If your Ws are spread randomly through those years, you will need to explain why you tried to carry such a heavy courseload instead of electing to study part-time.</p>

#3

<p>Thanks for the input, happymomof1. </p>

<p>Most W’s were over the course of my freshmen year. From there on I was a part-time student and was enrolled in 1 course each semester. </p>

<p>I have no problem admitting and facing my past. After all, I am responsible for all my actions, and I have to own up to them. So, I do plan to include the aforementioned. </p>

<p>However, none of the counselors I have spoken to have been of any assistance to my situation. I have made several appointments with different counselors, and they all tell me they have never dealt with a situation like mine. And instead of giving me guidance to apply to the schools I desire to attend, they tell me I should apply to lower-end Cal State Universities like: CSULA, and CSU San Bernardino. </p>

<p>Since I will be admitting to the depression would it be safe to include the main trigger point (sexual abuse) ?</p>

#4

<p>I am in a similar situation, I am also Mexican seeking to attend these schools. You should give it a shot. Explain all what you said above and write it in your essays. Be passionate, concise, and meaningful. The essays is by far the most important component</p>

#5

<p>Thanks Cordova.</p>

<p>Would you mind sharing your stats? I ask because I was reading the UChicago thread in which you state you were rejected by UChicago and accepted by Cornell. </p>

<p>The only thing I fear about writing the essay and including everything is that I may sound like I am looking for pity.</p>

#6

<p>Strengthlikebear,
I remember seeking advice about a similar situation. My essay would have been about about sexual abuse too.</p>

<p>Someone on this forum gave me the advice to focus on how I learned from it and how I have grown and changed. She told me not to be too concerned about the actual event of it but use it as a background. The essay should mainly focus on what I got out of it, not what happened. That might ease up on the idea that you're looking for pity. </p>

<p>If it's possible, get someone else to read over it to make sure it really sounds like you're focusing on how it helped you and not the abuse/depression itself. </p>

<p>Hope this helps and good luck. :)</p>

#7

<p>Thank you, Lullabies for the help tip. I was looking for something along those lines. </p>

<p>What did you end writing your essay on? If I may ask.</p>

#8

<p>Strengthlikebear,
I ended up writing about my struggles with being a minority, basically. I didn't want my teachers to read about my abuse experience (I thought I could stomach it, but I ended up backing out) sooo that's what caused me to change my mind.</p>

#9

<p>Strengthlikebear,</p>

<p>It is perfectly OK for you to get in touch with the transfer admissions officers at the universities that you are targeting, and ask them about applying. Answering these kinds of questions is part of their job after all!</p>

<p>One thing that you should find out is if they would consider you a "non-traditional" student because of your age and/or working experience. Sometimes that can make a difference. For more ideas, take a look at the sub-forum on that topic. It is hidden under the heading "Specialty College Admissions Topics" inside the College Admissions Forum. Here is the link: Non-Traditional</a> Students - College Confidential</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

#10

<p>a non-traditional student is someone who has been out of school for an extended period of time, right? would that apply in his case?</p>

#11

<p>Each institution defines this in its own way. For some places, simply being a 23 or 24 year old junior transfer with several years of fulltime work experience would be good enough.</p>

#12

<p>NO problem. It is the essays b/c how would it be possible for me to get rejected by UChicago that isn't an ivy league? I think UChicago puts way more emphasis on the essay than anything. My stats are:</p>

<p>High school
4.65 out of a 4.00
13 ap classes
ranked 3rd out of 450s</p>

<p>ACT superscore 30, 29 composite, i got above a 30 in every section except stupid english </p>

<p>college
double major in spanish and political science pre-med focus
i have a 3.9/4.0
i am a sophomore but have senior standing due to ap credits
i have taken rigorous courseload every semester so far</p>

#13

<p>"NO problem. It is the essays b/c how would it be possible for me to get rejected by UChicago that isn't an ivy league? I think UChicago puts way more emphasis on the essay than anything. My stats are:"</p>

<p>Getting rejected by UChicago and accepted by Cornell actually makes a lot of sense. The "Ivy League" is first and foremost an athletic league of schools concentrated in the northeastern seaboard. There are no academic standards set by the "Ivy League" and in fact, many of the schools in this conference are much lower ranked than non-Ivy League schools such as MIT, Cal Tech, UChicago and Stanford. The only three schools that stand out in the group of "Ivy League" schools is HYP, and that primarily due to their large endowments.</p>

<p>Cornell, as an undergraduate institution, doesn't even make it into the top ten in the US.</p>

#14

<p>@Archie: Yes, but rankings aren't everything. People get rejected from both institution, or might get accepted into either. Depending on where you go, some people may hold Cornell higher than UChicago. Also, they look for different students. All in all, getting admitted into any top 20 school is a privilege. But like I said, my essays weren't that great and I do go to another university in Chicago, that might have affected my admittance. I wouldn't hold ranking too strongly, once you're in the top 20. Also, Cornell does have certain departments better than UChicago, you have to consider that</p>

#15

<p>shadglore -</p>

<p>You need to start your own thread. At the top of the forum, look for the tab that reads "New Thread" and click on that.</p>

<p>Make it very clear in that thread whether or not you are currently studying in the US or outside of the US, and whether you are classified as an international applicant or as a US applicant. That information will help you get advice that is applicable in your situation.</p>

#16

<p>thanks happymomof1... this is my thread... Please chance me for fall 2012 transfer to ivies</p>

#17

<p><a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1240847-please-chance-me-fall-2012-transfer-ivies.html%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/what-my-chances/1240847-please-chance-me-fall-2012-transfer-ivies.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

#18
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