<p>I'm currently a freshman at Brown. After finding myself still unhappy there, I have decided to try and transfer to Dartmouth. I understand that Dartmouth has a very low transfer admissions rate (I hear it's because so few people leave!). I hate to post yet another "what are my chances" thread, but I was wondering if there is any advantage to transferring from another Ivy (especially Brown--has anyone here done that particular transfer?)</p>
<p>May I ask why you want to transfer out of Brown?</p>
<p>That is sort of a difficult question for me to answer. I know that Brown is a great school with lots of great opportunities, yada yada, but it just isn't for me. I am consistently unhappy there--it just doesnt "feel right." I've idolized Brown since I was really young in the way that a lot of people idolize Harvard. In the whole admissions process the first time around, I more or less let myself be guided by my lifelong (although fairly blind) love of Brown. And, unfortunately for me, it turns out that its not all I thought. In fact, its really not for me. At the beginning when I was first thinking about transferring, I mostly just wanted out of Brown. But as I've come to terms with my feelings about Brown, my desire to transfer now is 100% about going to Dartmouth. I absolutely fell in love with Dartmouth (I never even looked at it when I applied to colleges in high school). I know that I will be fine if I stay at Brown but I really know that Dartmouth is the place for me and I will be SO much happier there, and I've never really been one to settle--especially without even trying.</p>
<p>I transferred from Columbia to Dartmouth. In my transfer class (about 30) it seemed like about 25% were from other Ivies. I think its totally an advantage to transfer from Brown. I had a 3.35 gpa at Columbia first semester btw. You clearly got into Brown, so you were a strong high school student. If you did well enough you should have a strong shot. Good luck!</p>
<p>Thanks tgllama. Are there any specific reasons you want out? I totally understand about the feeling though, that's why I want out of my school. Brown is my first choice, but Dartmouth is also up there (except for the drinking scene as noted on my other post). Also, I think you definitely have a chance esp. cos of your record and passion for Dartmouth, which is to you a new kind of passion you could write about.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies. Good luck to you too, lovecollege. I don't mean to bash Brown. It may be the perfect place for you. Slipper, do you have any other advice about transferring to Dartmouth? Did you do anything special? I have no idea how to proceed with a transfer application. I mean, obviously all the stuff that it says, but with my first app I included all these other things like a portfolio. Are those things still valid? Also, do you know what I should do about the recommendations since all but one of my classes were lectures and I'm not quite sure I feel comfortable asking the one?</p>
<p>tgllama,</p>
<p>i have little doubt that you will be very competitive as a transfer if you are planning transferring in for your sophomore year, and you've done well during your first year at brown.</p>
<p>i'm not sure what it is about brown that made you think it is not a good fit, but you should know it's pretty common for college freshman to feel that way about their school at first. i'm at brown and my brother is at dartmouth--both were our first choice schools. neither of us felt great about our schools after the first semester, but ended up loving where we were. both socially and academically, dartmouth and brown are unique and different enough that one could be a better fit than the other. but you might be surprised how things turn out where you are.</p>
<p>I agree Brown is pretty awesome. As for advice, I'd send a lot of your materials you sent in to get into Brown. Also, are you taking any small classes this semester? When they ask why Dartmouth on the transfer application have good reasons. My reasoning for leaving Columbia was that I gave it my all - was on class council, planned a huge service day, etc - but no matter how hard I tried Columbia wasn't going to offer the community atmosphere I was looking for.</p>