What are extra things transfer-seeking students should do?

[PoPPeR]

I realize the grades are a huge part of it but are there other things students who are looking to transfer should/could be doing to improve their chances? I'm currently in my first year of a JC, I think i'll end up probably with around a 3.5 GPA, which probably isn't enough to get me into the great business schools out there. Are there other things, such as certain jobs or volunteering or just extra things on the side that can help improve my chances?

 

[dolph]

keep your grades up. 4.0 from here on out, make no mistake. plus, contact the deans of the programs at the schools you want to get into (i see you're in walnut creek; you're probably considering haas) and ask them exactly what classes they would recommend you take. whatever you do, take jc more seriously than anything you ever have before. this is one of the best second chance you'll ever get and it's damn easy to fvck it up.

btw, if you just started your 1st year and it's only a couple weeks into the semester, i don't understand how you can think you'll end up with a 3.5 this early. thinking negative ain't gonna help

 

[PoPPeR]

I think a 3.5 is the most realistic GPA I can expect just because I think I know myself pretty damn well. I realize anyone can get a 4.0 if they work hard enough, but quite simply there are just subjects that no matter what I do, it's really hard for me to get an A and I think between a 3.5 and a 3.8 is the most realistic GPA I can expect if I commit myself. I have attention span problems where quite simply it's extremely hard to study for some subjects. I have extreme difficulties with science classes, mostly the ones that require a lot of memorizing. My imagination active to a point where halfway through tests I just can't concentrate on stuff I don't want to know about anymore. That's why I took geology, which is what the counselor recommended for those that hate sciences.

I'm pretty confident in my ability to score high B's and A's in Math/English and the other social humanities etc. classes, but it's hard for me to think I wont get a couple of B's along the way, no matter how much time I put into the studying aspect. I feel as though I'm better off getting experience in other area's. I'd prefer a business school farther away from Walnut Creek then Haas, but I realize that the quality of the school should outweigh whatever my feelings towards the school is. I'd like USC or UCLA, albeit I know it's harder to get into. Basically I think it will be more realistic for me to achieve a 3.5+ GPA with a lot of extra's rather then a straight 4.0