<p>Hey, so I just completed my first semester at Boston University and hate it. I'm looking to transfer to a school that is academically better and has more of a "classic" feel (school spirit, athltics, pride, campus, etc.) </p>
<p>I've seen a lot of threads on this site about students from lower level state colleges and cc's with extremely high college GPA's. I got a 3.4 my first semester but I feel that at a college known for harsh grading and grade deflation, I've done pretty well. Do colleges take into consideration the differences between cc's and BU? <em>Just to note, no disrespect to cc's at all, I only mean to point out that in general its much easier to get higher gpa's when your taking classes at a community college for a number of reasons</em> </p>
<p>Anyways. Here's my stats fro sophomore transfer:</p>
<p>HS:
GPA - 3.5
ACT - 30</p>
<p>College:
GPA - 3.4</p>
<p>Schools I'm looking at:</p>
<p>Florida State
Ohio State
Maryland
Penn State
U. of Miami
Tulane
U. of Washington
U. of Michigan
U. of Virginia
U. of North Carolina
U. of Wisconsin
U. of Georgia </p>
<p>I was going to apply to BC, Duke but after researching I've found that privates have much lower acceptance rates and much higher standards for transfer admission</p>
<p>Thanks for any advice</p>
<p>Most schools are aware of BU’s famous “grade deflation” so I think you should be covered with that. I havent transfered yet (im @ a comm. coll) but from reading a billion posts on this site I can tell you that the consideration is different since you are already enrolled in a four year school. You should have a decent chance since those schools are public. Besides, you have many on your list your bound to be accepted to atleast one of them ( i hope) lol…I’m thinking of applying to BU but I agree, the campus was not what I expected…didnt even feel like a university campus</p>
<p>Tulane is not public, btw. Anyway, I think you have a decent shot at many, the issue will be space. If Tulane, just to stay with that example, retains most of its freshman class, then there won’t be many slots because it was full going in. Of course a few slots will open up, there are always some they don’t retain, like any school. I think Tulane averages about 90% retention lately (since Katrina). It was pretty shocking they retained 87% right after Katrina, so that tells you something I guess.</p>
<p>I think it is a numbers game to some degree and so would advise applying to as many as you can afford.</p>
<p>Wow I’m in the exact same situation mkellerman…except I’m a sophomore now. I’ll be applying to Emory and UNC-CH. I think you have a decent shot. Which college are you in at BU? I’m in CAS.</p>
<p>mkellerman and runnergirl - what is it you are dissatisfied with at BU? Mostly curious, but knowing might also help people steer you to a better (for you) choice.</p>
<p>runnergirl, I’m in CGS, part of the reason for my lower gpa and dissatisfaction. My unhappiness at BU is attributed to every aspect of the school chemist. First, my carriculum in the college of general studies makes 3 out of our 4 classes required and unopen to choice. SO i’m forced to take art history when I want to be a political science major. Not only are the required courses unecessary, they also operate like a high school class, marking down grades for absences (I had to fight my professor to hcange my grade from a B to B+ because of ONE unexcused absence). And of course CGS at BU gets a reputation as the school for less intelligent students. And for the most part, its true in the sense that its full of rich east coast slackers that want to “live in the city”. Also the majority of the kids got in with 3.0’s in high school, some even lower, when I had a 3.5 And the cgs classes are actually harder because they operate like a high school class, my only CAS (arts and sciences) class was my easiest, and I got an A-. So I’m stuck in a two year rip off full of spoiled brats when I know I can be challenged at a much higher level.<br>
Socially, BU has no campus, no school spirit, and no sports. It’s disgustingly ugly campus crosses a giant freeway and claims to be so close to downtown. The truth is that kids rarely go inside the city, instead going to MIT fraternity parties or BU frats. I even tried to join a fraternity, I completely dedicated myself to it, wasting enormous amounts of time and money only to be tortured and betrayed. I quit, and now feel exiled from a greek life composed of losers and dropouts. Not to mention how terrible the parties were, and how it pales in comparison to greek life at other school. And so BU is a place in which students have nothing to center around, and thus become disinterested and disjointed. The hockey stadium is a joke, our sports are pathetic.</p>
<p>So I feel like im in a community of rich girls (who all seem to love the color black when they go out) and seem to have watched one too many sex in the city episodes. Most of them wanted to go to NYU anyways. And then they diverse population of guys that I can narrow down to Spoiled slackers, pompous *******s, and dorks. </p>
<p>I couldn’t be more unhappy and the only thing keeping me motivated to get through the next semester is the excitement of transferring somewhere else. Of course my generalizations don’t apply to everyone, and so runnergirl or anyone else that goes to BU don’t think Im attacking everyone. But my description is pretty accurate, and every aspect of Boston University has either failed my expectations or betrayed my enthusiasm.</p>
<p>Thanks for the support everyone, I hope my gpa holds up, lord knows I worked my ass off for it so I can get out early.</p>
<p>ive heard the same things kellerman about BU numerous times. I’ve tried ignoring the negative comments since the only other boston area school that i like is northeastern. I think im going to remove bu from my transfer list since one too many students complain about the campus and its students.</p>
<p>Absolutely do not apply, horrible environment and institution</p>
<p>If you’re going to apply to other schools, try to express your dissatisfaction with BU without completely bashing it. </p>
<p>Why you’re upset is completely understandable, but I’m sure admissions boards will not want you to come to their school if they can sense the hatred.</p>
<p>bquin21 - just out of curiosity, how would the admissions department at another school have any idea how he feels about BU? Do they have a place on most transfer applications asking why you are transferring?</p>
<p>Yeah it’s called a personal statement and a common transfer essay question is “Why transfer?”</p>