<p>I have been at Berkeley for a year and a half, and I feel that there is something missing about the entire experience. I believe I would be happier and more productive at a smaller school.I would like to be at a smaller school for smaller classes, 4 years of housing, more professor interaction, and a more supportive student body. School is school, but I rather be at a small school and know a smaller community. Berkeley is too big for me and I fill like I do not it in and have no real friendships since coming here. I would like to Major in Architectural and economics, and have a strong design/ art portfolio to demonstrate. </p>
<p>My stats:</p>
<p>Berkeley gpa: 3.6
EC: tutoring and outreach to HS youths
work: Anchor Blue, Clark Construction intern
scholarships: 2 architecture scholarships, and many other small ones</p>
<p>HS gpa: 4.0+
APs: 9 ( scores all 4 )
Rank: 14/759
HS ECs: mock trial, engineering programs, business programs (usc and ucla ), architecture programs, volunteering with key club and stuff at the local library </p>
<p>I would send in a portfolio of my architecture work. One of my drawings made it to the architecture school's graduation commencement.
My SATs arent perfect, but I think I show a lot of interest and knowledge when it comes to architecture and economics, and I consider myself more well-rounded than certified genius, actually, Im far from it. </p>
<p>My top four acceptances were: Brown, Columbia, UCLA, and Berkeley. All great schools, but I feel like I belong in a smaller community and I want to know people more intimately. I just haven't found the school and people that i wanted to meet in Berkeley. I think columbia is a stronger match, bring in an urban area and smaller, so I get the best of both worlds. Any and all comments are appreciated, thanks.</p>
<p>I remember your posts from other college threads. Obviously you're a great student and have a talent. But the question I think you should be asking about Columbia is not what people think about your chances but whether it makes sense for you. </p>
<p>Start with the core curriculum. Could you complete it and do one major, let alone two, in two years? Do you want to spend or could you afford to take an extra year? How many credits would Columbia let you transfer (it's not known for being liberal about this). Do you like the architecture program at Columbia?</p>
<p>Your desire for a closer community and more contact with professors is understandable. But, again, does that add up to Columbia for you? In architecture you would likely have faculty contact I assume, but the economics department is large and not particularly personal. Socially, Columbia's lack of a residential college system and it's location in New York City do not make it as cozy a community as some of the other colleges you're looking at. Columbia students seem to make their friends in the freshman dorms and through some of their clubs, but they also scatter out into the city for social life. Since social reasons are a large part of your motivation for a transfer, I'd advise you to seek info here and elsewhere about what it's like to be a transfer student at Columbia and how easy it is to make friends.</p>
<p>Columbia's a great place and I actually think you have a good chance of getting in. But I'm not sure it's a match for you at this point, especially when Brown and Stanford are also on your list. I may be wrong. Why don't you post some questions beyond admissions chances and see what other opinions and info you get?</p>
<p>Have you thought about LACs? Pomona, for example, is supposed to be a really friendly place with a lot of bright students.</p>
<p>i know that rice university has a great architecture school and the school community there is supposed to be awesome...you might want to check it out...</p>