<p>Hello everyone,</p>
<p>I am currently in my Freshman year at NYU, but am planning on applying for transfer to several schools for next (my Sophomore) year. I don't really think that my reasons for wanting to transfer are necessary here (if responders say that they are, I'll follow up...), but I definitely will comment on the fact that it seems as if NYU boasts a negative, competitive attitude towards the schools to which I wish to apply...</p>
<p>I love the city and want to stay in it, so Columbia University is my number one "transfer school" choice (there are other reasons for it being number one too). I'm also considering places like MIT, Brown, and Cornell. As I mentioned before, though, people at NYUthe majority whom I've talked to anywayseem to "look down" on these schools. It isn't as if they think that other schools are academically worse; rather, it almost seems as if they have a "What? We're just as good as them![indignant]" attitude. Of course, for many reasons, them having that sort of mentality makes sense.</p>
<p>Enter my problem: this air that everyone has about them makes me really nervous about asking for the letters of recommendation. I've developed (and am developing) nice relationships with professors, so it's not as if I don't have anyone to ask (and please note, whether I wanted to transfer or not, I would still be developing these relationships...). I'm simply uncomfortable going to profs and saying "Hey, I want to transfer out of this school [that you teach at] in favor of another school [that the majority of the people here dislike talk of]. Would you be able to write me a positive letter of recommendation [so that I can leave your chosen locale]?" Of course, I wouldn't say what I put in brackets, but I fear it's what they might think.</p>
<p>I really do like the professors here, and would not at all want to offend them (besides, I would want them to write the most positive (honest) review of me that they could in their letter anyway..), so I'm just really unsure of how to approach everything.</p>
<p>Thanks for your thoughts!</p>
<p>There are so many people here wanting to transfer out of NYU… myself included</p>
<p>Students can have any number of reasons for wanting to transfer. Some profs may ask you for your reasons, while others may not require the details. I would think anyone who would take it so personally (“What, /I’m/ not good enough? My /department/ isn’t good enough?”) is not being professional in any way and would probably not be someone you would want to write a letter. </p>
<p>Talk to a couple of your prospective letter writers about transferring, but not necessarily mentioning the letter just yet. Just ask for some of their feedback. Be professional and sensitive about the subject, and if you sense that they have negative feelings about your wanting to transfer, do not ask them to write a letter. Those feelings may end up influencing (whether intentionally or not) what is written in the letter. </p>
<p>If they ask for reasons, do not - in any way - speak ill of NYU. I’m not sure what your reasons are, but if it is financial, or they don’t offer your desired major or certain opportunities, then that’s not something they can change and should be accepting of your decision.</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply.</p>
<p>I guess that in a way, my reasons for wanting to transfer can be interpreted as negative thoughts about NYU, though they’re really not—which has the potential to cause major problems. I really just don’t feel “right” here (which has the potential to lead into a very long discussion of how one can determine what “right” feels like, etc.) and I don’t seem to share the perspective(s) of my peers. It seems to me that the majority of them are more concerned about other things than academics (it’s a very understandable viewpoint, I admit), whereas I’m really into “college” for the learning parts. It seems that this mild-apathy on the part of many of the students causes the professors (TA’s etc.) to lower their standards… which I’d rather not have be the case.</p>
<p>Of course, it’s bound to get harder as time goes by… but finding myself knowing (or being able to quickly reason out) the answer to every question, and actually having to spend time explaining these answers to my peers every time a question is posed in recitation or just before class is… annoying…</p>
<p>Thus, I guess I’m saying that I don’t feel challenged, because (again) I don’t share the mindset of many of my peers.</p>
<p>(nota bene: I’ve definitely met people here who are interested in the academic part of college as well. Also, I mean no offense to anyone. I understand if you want to “party-it-up” in college… I’m just not that type of guy.)</p>
<p>Well, you don’t have to state it in a negative way if they would ask. Just let them know that NYU isn’t turning out to be the “fit” you would like, and that while it is a wonderful school, you have your reasons for wanting to look elsewhere. If they start asking you for reasons or trying to talk you out of it by telling you to do x, y, or z, then politely tell them that you’ve been thinking it through for some time, and although you are not sure yet if you will leave NYU, you would like to at least explore other options. </p>
<p>I don’t see a professor getting rude about it unless there is something else going on causing them to dislike another school (they know a prof there that they don’t particularly like, but even that sounds juvenile). And if they show that, then you know not to ask them for a letter. I’m sure you’ll be able to find a few who might be sad to see you go, but who would be willing to write you a good letter.</p>
<p>Yeah. Considering that NYU really is not the best fit for me, I guess it makes the most sense to just say that. Honestly, I don’t think I would have any problems truthfully explaining my reasons for wanting to (at least have the opportunity to) transfer. My reasons are not a poor reflection on the school or them, by any means–worded appropriately, of course.</p>
<p>I definitely do not judge any of my professors to be juvenile in any respect (I absolutely do hold them in high esteem). I was just somewhat worried about how their subconscious might take the fact that I’m considering transferring out. I suppose I should know better than to worry about professors’ subconsciouses [sic] getting the better of them. I’ve talked to a few others who have reminded me that professors are generally out to help the students, whatever that might mean or entail.</p>
<p>Ultimately, I think it just comes down to me thinking through exactly how I want to approach them and being as polite and straight-forward as possible. Thanks for your thoughts/reminders NovaLynnx. I’ll bear them in mind.</p>
<p>@lullinatalk My best wishes for you as you either find your place here at NYU or transfer out. I hope that either way you are contented.</p>