Advice to Transfer out or Not

Transfer Students
1

<p>So, this is a rather boggling time to have cold feet during the transfer process, but I find myself heavily reconsidering transferring to begin with. As of now, I've been accepted as an OOS to the University of Virginia's CAS. I'm currently enrolled at SUNY Stony Brook (yes, yes, a moment longer), and a pre-medical student. </p>

<p>The quandary: to transfer or not? </p>

<p>A little bit about me: I graduated HS in '08 with a 93 UW GPA, taking about 14-15 APs over my years, in the top 5%. I've got nearly a full ride to Stony Brook, maintaining an upward 3.9 GPA trend (3.7, 4.0, 4.0, on track for another, if all goes well), and am involved in several campus/community organizations. I'm on track for a poster presentation next spring, and a likely publication following it. </p>

<ul>
<li>The main reason that's holding me back is, essentially, my research. I have almost a year of committed research to my laboratory, which has an exceptional turnout rate from graduates. A recent graduate was accepted into a top 5 med school with a 40 on his/her MCAT and a similar GPA to mine, while another got a half-ride to a top 20 with around a mid-30 MCAT. While usually my peers wouldn't affect my judgment, the close similarity between our stats means that it's quite likely, given that I perform well, I still obtain a reasonable chance at top medical schools. </li>
</ul>

<p>I suppose there's a lurking degree of loyalty to the lab that also inhibits my decision, but that's somewhat extraneous. </p>

<p>As for this year's transfer turnaround, I was rejected from my reaches thus far, and out of the rest, UVA is one of my most favored - it was originally, back when I started at SB, my motivation. I just don't know if it's, academically speaking, worth it, at this point. I haven't been able to accrue much information relating the relative strengths and differences in sheer difficulty/rigor of the relative science programs, and on a world scale, the rankings aren't ground-breaking in difference. While I love a great many other things about UVA, I'm trying to keep my decision on an academic focus, rather than an institutional and social one. Leaving Sb at this point would probably isolate me from possible TA positions at UVA, as well as research, while undeniably weakens my possibler recommendations, and absolutely stilts the ability to present a poster/publish once. </p>

<p>I should also add that, while quite a few CC-ers here are former SB students and some current, I disagree with many root points on why the campus is bad. I don't necessarily mind it, because I swim in the circles that are somewhat estranged from the rest. </p>

<p>Sigh. I'm sure my indecisiveness is clear here. Any and all advice is welcome.</p>

2

<p>well you said you don’t agree with the former sb students, which includes me. so i’m not really sure what you’re looking for. we’re going to tell you to leave. stay if you want. i’m sure there’s another uva applicant who would love to take your place. your 2 examples of med school applicants don’t really have much to do with your research lab (btw, sb’s med school acceptance rate is pretty dismal, as is their 4-year graduation rate. i’ll bet that the people you know are in the HC). it’s gpas/mcat scores/other ECs. you can still do good research somewhere else and get into med school from there. why do you think you can’t be a TA at uva? if you’ve taken the same class or a similar class, you should be fine. also you say that you’re trying to focus on academic reasons for transferring versus staying. many more people know of uva and also think it’s a good school. no one outside NY knows what stony brook is. </p>

<p>again, i’m not really sure what you’re looking for, but you can do everything that you’re doing at SB and then some at uva.</p>

3

<p>“I’ve got nearly a full ride to Stony Brook”</p>

<p>Why on earth would you transfer and pay OOS tuition and fees, when you can save the money to put toward the something like 250k that your med school education is going to cost?</p>

<p>If you are interested in continuing your current line of research, your PI surely knows if anyone is doing related work at UVA, and something about the national reputation of that lab. These days it’s not all that hard to find out who has grant money for what.</p>

<p>You seem to have found your place at SUNY-SB. There is nothing whatsoever wrong with deciding to stay there.</p>

4

<p>Stay at SB. Med schools care more about the research and recs than quality of undergrad school.</p>