The reason I didn’t apply to Yale last year was that I grew discouraged at the price of a lot of the schools that I applied to, and so I didn’t apply to a lot of my top choices. But I regretted that pretty soon after I did that, and I recently decided that I should at least try to transfer.
Gibby, I have worked in a staffer’s position on a campaign for State Assembly in New York, so I have real, practical political experience.
But mariner: did you not finish HS with a GPA ~3.5 and a 1970 SAT? Did this have anything about not applying to Yale? You made several “chance me” type posts about other selective colleges – and the replies were universal: you just weren’t a realistic candidate. That wasn’t then (nor is now) and indictment on you as a person.
It’s simply that the very selective schools are — very selective. And thus, someone with good but not stratospheric stats has almost no chance.
Another item that you’ve not heeded but stated earlier: typical Ivy transfer applicants were viable applicants as HS seniors. This doesn’t seem to match your history.
My SAT was actually more of a 2050 when I took it again. I did well on my ACT and I got nearly perfect scores on my subject tests, and 5’s on most of my APs. I also had very strong extracurriculars, founding one club, serving as an officer in several others, and, as I said before, working on a political campaign as a staffer.
@mariner123, nobody here wishes you anything but good things. It just doesn’t sound realistic to transfer to Yale. Are you considering other schools?
I am, don’t worry. Yale is a high reach transfer. It’s just something I feel like I need to do, just so I know.
@mariner123, I can understand. You don’t want to wonder, 10 years from now, if you could have. In any case, good luck.
Thank you! And if I don’t get in, there’s always law school, right?
I have read all the advice that you have been given. IxnayBob’s is probably most on point. If you don’t want to go your whole life wondering “what if”, then apply as a transfer to Yale. But also apply as a transfer to some other schools that have the level of academic rigor that you want. Choose wisely this time so that the school is also a “fit” for you. Where ever you go, you should be prepared to complete your college career there. Good luck, keep us posted.
@Tperry1982 gives some very good advice. I’d recommend applying also to some LACs slightly lower down on the selectivity scale: Hamilton, Lafayette, University of Denver, Dickenson, etc. I think those would likely have the type of serious students you are looking for. And if you are a woman, the all-female schools.