I’m at headed into my sophomore year, during which I will be studying abroad and I find myself unhappy with my home institution so I have decided to transfer the fall of my junior year. I have earned a 3.8 GPA and I am heavily involved in extracurricular activities. I am the president of my dorm, member of numerous clubs and have conducted my own research project. As a member of a living and learning community I recieved the freshman of the year award and I was the only undergrad student in a school of 35,000 to be chosen to give a TEDx which I gave the spring of my freshman year. I am a political science and economics double major with a history minor.
I went to college prep high school and had several personal struggles my freshman and sophomore year. However my grades steadily increased and I finished with a low 3.1. As for the SAT I will be retaking it in August (Yes college students can retake the SAT for the purpose of transferring). I understand that my past performance in high school may bar me from some schools but it is my hope that the effort I am now putting forward and have for the past year and a half will land me into a better program.
I currently go to a state school and I want to go to an IVY or a school with a more substantial political science program. (I currently feel unchallenged)
Please send me any recommendations on where I should apply and where I could get in.
The best reason for any school to take you as transfer is that your current school does not offer what you need academically. To that end, your best bet is the school that has the strongest program in what your current school does not and that you plan to major in. Continue to do well at your current school and take advantage of what is available – sounds like the time abroad could be helpful on that front.
Transfer admission to the Ivies and peer institutions can be even more selective than first year, first time admission.Last year Brown, for example, accepted only 95 out 1862 applicants (~5%). Not too many students want to leave these schools. They may expect a very good justification for wanting to transfer. At Stanford, of the small number of transfer applicants accepted (~1-2%), a fairly high percentage seem to be military veterans. An interesting life story may be almost as significant as a high GPA and scores.
(https://news.stanford.edu/2017/11/01/small-mighty-cohort-transfer-students-joins-stanford-community/).
Many other universities have strong government/political science departments. You might want to check out schools in the Washington, DC area (American U, George Washington, UM-CP, maybe Georgetown). If you’re intent on an Ivy, consider Cornell.