<p>I applied to Emory for freshman year and got accepted; however, my parents were under the impression that I was set on another school (the school I attend now), and didn't apply for financial aid. That was all part of some big misunderstanding between my parents and I due in part to the net price calculator on Emory's website and the fact that whenever I brought up the school, all my parents could talk about was how expensive it was. I eventually just got frustrated and quit bringing it up with them. That was a mistake, of course- I never told them how upset I was about not going to Emory until we were eating lunch during my move-in day about two weeks ago. They told me to give my school a chance, and if I genuinely didn't like it, they would let me go to Emory next year (I think they meant regardless of my financial aid package- I'd just have to take out some loans and deal with it after graduation).</p>
<p>I really am trying to give my school a chance, and I know it's only been two weeks, but I honestly feel like an outlier here. I'm on the honors hall, but half the kids are so obnoxious and lewd that you wouldn't think they're honors at all. Also, most of my classes are a mix of honors students from all years, and I've noticed (I don't mean this in a conceited way- just in an honest way) that I'm a bit more advanced than some of them. Gosh, that sounds conceited, but really! In my philosophy class, we have to post discussion essays online and read everyone's, and my writing skills and comprehension of the material were noticeably more advanced than everyone else's- and one of the guys was a philosophy major. Again, I'm not saying that to be arrogant- it really is true... And I don't really feel challenged by any of my classes except for that one. I know it's only been two weeks, but the homework assignments and readings have already started rolling in, and they're not any more difficult than any AP classes I took in high school. It might have something to do with the professors; aside from my philosophy professor and my freshman seminar professor, I'm not very impressed with any of them.
I just really feel like I don't belong in a large, football-oriented university, and Emory just feels right to me...so, since I was accepted as a freshman, does that mean I'll automatically be re-accepted, or is there a chance that I won't be accepted at all? Do I have to refill another application?</p>
<p>Since the transfer admissions process is a separate process, you will have to submit a completely different application and there is a chance you won’t be accepted (particularly if you do poorly at your current school). However, given that you were admitted as a freshman, there’s a reasonable chance you’ll be admitted if you present a good reason for transfer (“The programs are a poor fit and Emory is a better fit for XYZ reasons” is better than “The people here are dumb”) and do very well at your current school.</p>
<p>You need to make sure that stuff isn’t in your head for one (as in, you’re projecting your desire to come to Emory as “the students here are dumb”). What if Emory ended up being the same? At many selective schools, the humanities courses often end up the same or lower caliber than AP/IB in terms of standards. Often the difference will be that the reading load is higher, and yes, perhaps more students are really solid writers. Often you’ll find yourself more challenged by the students than the humanities/social science course itself (as in the discussions and discourse can be excellent provided most people do the reading, but making an A won’t necessarily be much harder). Sciences, however are a different story to a large degree. Did you get any oppurtunity to attend a course session at Emory. If so, can you say for sure that what you observed is different from what you are getting now?</p>
<p>I mean, seriously, just think about it. I am all for you wanting to go to Emory, but make sure it’s for legitimate reasons that have some experiential foundation.</p>
<p>Similar answer from me as well.</p>
<p>Humanities in general attract the partying/sorority/fraternity/sports type people (especially at state schools), and you’ll always (even at Emory) be around people who are there for the easy grade and don’t care much about school or writing. At Emory, the students will be better writers, sure, but the atmosphere will not necessarily be better. </p>
<p>There are people here that really care about the humanities -probably even a higher proportion than your current school, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t find anyone at your current school that is a strong and interesting writer.</p>
<p>My advice: Apply for a transfer. And then see if you still want to a year later. A lot can change in a year. And then go from there.</p>
<p>FWIW: I’ve been trying to get you to come here for like 9 months now, but, now that you’re somewhere else, I don’t want you to have unrealistic expectations of this place. Because the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.</p>