<p>This is a long shot, but is there any chance that Berkeley will take me back, and ASAP? I was accepted as an out-of-state freshman for the Fall of 2006 semester. I'm currently a sophomore at NYU Stern. I feel like I'm not being challenged in the way I would like to be here. Will calling the admissions office and begging be of any use to my case?</p>
<p>I have already thought of my potential arguments. First of all, I would like the opportunity to explore a broader range of studies, instead of just limiting myself to just one specific aspect of business so early on. I believe Berkeley can help simulate me intectually thus so. Also, I would like to focus more on my education, since Stern is mainly a career and GPA-oriented program (or at least the reality of it is).</p>
<p>I don't feel like I'm being intellectually challenged here in the right way, if that makes any sense. And I'm a Stern Scholar, if it makes any difference, which I doubt it does. I don't feel like I have a chance to really explore anything, since I have so many required business courses to complete. I'm considering studying abroad and maybe even graduating early (because I feel like I'm wasting my time here), so I don't have many extra credits to take things I'm actually interested in.</p>
<p>But other than that I'm content with my friends and social life and grades. I'm not just complaining for the sake of complaining or because I'm sad or lonely. I've actually thought of transferring for months, though my parents weren't on the same board at the time.</p>
<p>I'm even willing to push back graduation by a year if not all my credits will transfer (I'm sure most won't, since they're very specific business courses and I doubt that I can get into Haas, or even if I really want to).</p>
<p>I'm just not pleased with the way the academics are. A lot of people that I know also transferred from Stern. I think it's the misleading way NYU and Stern advertised itself to incoming freshmen and prospective students. Personally, I feel more than a little deceived.</p>
<p>There is no harm to call Berkerly admission to seek advice. Keep you option open. What about audit a class or two at Columbia? That should keep you intellectually stimulated. Don't despair and become bitter.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, according to Columbia's website, it costs $1500 per course to audit, and you can't be an auditor while enrolled in another college. But thanks, that was still a good idea. Maybe one of these days I'll get a friend to go with me and we can sit in one class or something.</p>
<p>I second the idea of auditing at Columbia or even Barnard if that is an option available/affordable to you, but if not, try searching your catalog to seek out the most challenging courses available to you. If you don't find your classwork stimulating enough, how about finding a job or an extracurricular activity that you are passionate about and to which you could commit a significant amount of time? I don't think pleading with Berkeley admissions will go favorably, to be honest, and transferring later is obviously no guarantee despite your previous acceptance. But regretting what might have been is neither helpful nor productive. There's no reason you can't get a great education and experience at NYU; the city itself has so much to offer, and you say you've already built strong social and living ties, which is great, and as it should be. Be proud of the choice you have made and stick with it; don't look back! :]</p>
<p>definitely call. The UCs (used to?) have a little known policy that would allow a transfer after one year only if a student was accepted the previous year. Dunno if that policy is still in effect and whether it was in effect at Cal.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>fwiw -- a reason for transferring than Stern vs. Cal's Letters & Sciences? An app reader would immediately wonder why you just don't transfer into NYU's liberal arts college and out of Stern.</p>