Can you transfer universities twice?

Applying to College
1

Well I’m new here and I created a CC account just for asking this question, that can I possibly transfer universities twice.

So here starts the long story

I came to the US as an international student after completing high school in my country, with my family because my Dad got an employment oppurtunity here. Back in my country, I had almost decided the college to attend which was one of the topmost of my country, but then I was forced to come here to the US with my family, for better oppurtunities. When we came here, we searched here for the cheapest college that was still accepting admissions ( because I missed all the ‘decent’ college deadlines). Also we were financially weak that time, which made me spend a year in the most crappiest school possible. I didn’t enjoy a single moment of college, with mostly dumb people, who are barely interested in studying. I don’t blame anyone, but those were the worst days of my life.I was just counting days to flee from my college ASAP.

One year later, My family got their residency here, hence I transferred with a 4.0 GPA to my state school with in state tuition. Again,my family was better off than before, but still we couldn’t afford OOS tuition. I had applied to several top colleges that time, and even got accepted, but again because of finances,I had to backout of them and attend the topmost state school. My state school is undoubtedly better , well it’s among the top 50, and the atmosphere is much better around here. The tuition is less, and the people here are WAY better. But at the same time, I don’t know why I feel like applying to even better schools, which I had rejected earlier.

I feel like I’m in a better position, to take some loans and maybe get my education from a top 10 school. I still have this deep sense of regret in my heart, for not living upto my own expectations. My friends back in my own country really don’t even know what college I attend, which makes me feel low at times. I feel like lacking motivation at times.I still have a decent 3.9ish gpa with some good stats, and maybe I still have a shot at transferring to an elite school, but will it be worthwhile?

I really need help folks, I’m inherently a bit sensitive person, and this feeling of regret eats me up at times.

So is transfer two times possible? or does it seem feasible?
Should I go ahead with it?

OR

should I stick to my state school and aim for a great grad school?
( Idk if thats possible from a state school)

Thanks in advance

2

What will an elite school have that your state school doesn’t? (Hint: “prestige” isn’t a correct answer.)

3

I guess, it’s just a sort of regret that kills me.I mean,I guess an elite school would have a better ‘name’, better oppurtunities, better connections etc.Specially among Asians ( I’m an Asian ), prestige plays a major part.

4

I’ll rephrase to be clearer – since these elite schools have very, very low transfer acceptance rates (1 or 2% in some cases; Princeton, on the other hand, doesn’t take any), a big hurdle for admission will be articulating why you NEED to go there over your current school. They don’t accept “I have always wanted to go to Harvard” or “The name is better known” as valid reasons. Everybody has those reasons, and the solution for that is often to suck it up.

If, for example, a Top 10 school is the only school in the area that offers a specific major you want, that would be a valid reason for wanting to go there. Wanting a more impressive bumper sticker isn’t.

You can always apply. But do you really want to spend that big chunk of time trying to escape your current school, only to be stymied by that >95% rejection rate? Or would you rather make the most of the (probably plentiful) opportunities already available to you?

The regret I’d have is ignoring what you have in front of you in favor of what you think might be just over the next hill, tbh.

5

Why should a top 10 school accept you as a Junior?

Just finish your degree and try for your best fit school for graduate school…

6

I guess you’re right,maybe it’s better to concentrate on my current school, pushing aside everything !

thanks @ClarinetDad16 and @bodangles for your views

7

Boolean04, go to graduate school. If you are so sensitive about relative prestige, you can take comfort in knowing that where you do your graduate work will completely eclipse where you do your undergrad. No one will care that you were at State U, if your grad school has a brand name. I personally think this is a poor reason to choose a grad school, but I’m not you, so I’ll just point out that your last degree is the one that those who are like you - prestige driven - will look at.

Of course, once you are in the work world, most employers don’t care about your degree either except in very limited circumstances. Then it’s all about what you’ve accomplished professionally.

8

“My friends back in my own country really don’t even know what college I attend, which makes me feel low at times.”

Your friends aren’t the people who will be hiring you for a job after you graduate. To be perfectly honest, this means that their opinion right now about your college doesn’t matter one bit. In the future though, once you have settled in well here in your life, your college will be one that those friends know about because “Oh yes, that’s the great place where Boolean04 studied. He loved it there.”