I’m in the depths of transfer applications (only filling out 3 since there’s only 3 schools I would want to attend), and I just found out I have to get a college report filled out. I still have about 3 weeks so it’s not too much of a problem, I was planning on asking my advisor. He emailed me asking to schedule a check up meeting so I was planning on doing it then: does anyone have any advice on telling him that I want to transfer / asking him to fill out the college report?
As for my relationship with my advisor, we’ve met multiple times and he thinks I’m studious and ambitious, and generally likes me. I took 19 credit hours last semester and again this semester and have a 4.0 (for now). I’m just hesitant to ask about him filling out the college report because a) if I don’t get in then I feel like our relationship will be weird for the next 3 years and b) I have no idea what I’m supposed to tell him when he asks why I want to transfer. My reason for transferring is largely I feel like even though I got a 4.0 I have not grown as a person at all. I started reading a book a week and for the entire second semester I just yearn for the weekend because that’s when I teach myself things and during the week my time is consumed by coursework that I feel like doesn’t align with my interests. I don’t know how I should go about telling him that I don’t feel like this school has tested me at all, or how I could go about it without making it seem like I hate the school.
If my experience at my college / decision to transfer would seem relevant then I can share them if that would help.
Also, any advice for letters of rec? I’m a freshmen so with the exception of one class, all my classes were large lectures with 100-400 students so I don’t actually know any of my professors. For the one
Someone suggested I ask a lab TA (I’ve been in 4 labs so far); there’s one TA I had a platonic relationship with (or as platonic as you can be when you see each other once a week), so I was considering asking him. However, I feel like asking him would definitely be the first time someone asks him to write a rec (not a reflection on his character, just his position/career). Can someone give any input as to whether that’s a good idea?
And do “academic” letters of rec have to be from college? I would really like to use my high school guidance counselor’s, but I can’t find whether it is limited to college or not. All the schools recommend at least one college prof (which I do have) but for the second I’d really like to use my GC’s since any of my lecturers at college hardly know my name.
I don’t think that this will bother your advisor at all. I am sure that pretty much any experienced academic advisor has seen far worse than a straight A student who is considering transferring.
Given that you are at a 4 year university, then your advisor might want to know why you want to transfer. However, they are not going to take it personally.
Be aware that university does get more interesting and more challenging as you get into upper year classes. Also, if there are other students who are “goofing off” in your freshman year classes, be aware that they will either (more likely) become studious by the time they get into upper year classes, or (less likely) be gone. You should be able to find more interesting and more challenging classes at your currently school. Your advisor should be able to help you do this also.
Your advisor should also be able to give you good advice regarding other people to use for academic references. He or she will be familiar with the issue that the professor in a class with 400 students is not going to know each student personally.
You are pre-med, right? Getting a 4.0? Have you changed form being pre-med? Are you taking advantage of everything your current school offers? Volunteering, or applying for research, or…???
Consider the possibility that at the top colleges it isn’t just a one-way transfer in which they deliver to the student, but a two-way exchange in which students ready and eager to take advantage of opportunities thrive in a fertile environment.
One reason colleges care so much about ECs and recs in admission is it lets them find just these students. Nothing stopped you or these other 100-400 students from attending office hours to discuss the subject with a true expert, yet I bet virtually none did. And colleges will note this.
In other threads you posted on forums for Yale, Columbia, Chicago, etc. All top schools looking for the best students. Perhaps you already are at the place right for you.
“during the week my time is consumed by coursework that I feel like doesn’t align with my interests”
This is what you discuss with your advisor.
Coursework that doesn’t align with your interests is a perfectly good academic reason to apply for transfer. However, you need to be able to formally articulate what you know about your targets that makes you believe the courses offered there align better.
If you after applying for transfer you would change your mind about leaving (or find yourself forced to stay because you don’t get into one of your targets) you will want to be able to work with your advisor to figure out what you can do at your current institution to get into coursework that does align with your interests.
If you want to have a difficult conversation, just be honest. That does not mean it is necessary to list out all of your grievances or suggested improvements.
Just tell them that “you need their help. You are filing out transfer applications to some other schools and need advisor sign off on your official records”.
If they ask why. Just tell them what I heard you say in your post. “despite all the great things the college offers, you’ve not really found your stride there and want to see if some other opportunities are available to you.” If she presses you for more information, let them know “despite your best efforts it doesn’t feel like it is working for you 100%… So you would like to see if there are other options open to you and making this change now may give me the best opportunity to stay in track.”
Quite honestly after you give a polite first response of some sort. They will most likely move on. And be open to actively listening and respecting their feedback.
Usually they will not take it personally if you have solid reasons.