<p>I have just been accepted as a transfer student to both Columbia and Stanford and I do not know which school to choose. I was wondering what the requirements were for a Columbia transfer student as well as any recommendations in regards to a prospective medical school student and being able to network and participate in extracurricular activities.</p>
<p>Was it necessary to make a new thread?</p>
<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/176180-help-stanford-vs-columbia.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/176180-help-stanford-vs-columbia.html</a>
<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1123201-columbia-vs-stanford.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/columbia-university/1123201-columbia-vs-stanford.html</a></p>
<p>Other than the requirements, what you’re asking about is the same for Stanford and Columbia. What preferences do you have? Are there specific things that you’re looking for?</p>
<p>Light Airen
Thanks for the link. I did not see this thread before posting my own. I found it very informative</p>
<p>phantasmagoric
In terms of the class sizes, I was wondering if you knew anything about how many students are in the classroom for upper division science and art history classes? Do you know how stringent Columbia with the core curriculum for transfers? Also how is the undergraduate research opportunities at the two schools, and which is more financially supportive of their undergraduates? For the medical schools, do you know if the undergrads have the opportunity to network, shadow, or conduct research at the universities’ medical schools?</p>
<p>Class sizes:</p>
<p>[Spring</a> 2011 Subject: Biology](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/BIOL/_Spring2011.html]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/BIOL/_Spring2011.html)
[Spring</a> 2011 Subject: Chemistry](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/CHEM/_Spring2011.html]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/CHEM/_Spring2011.html)
[Spring</a> 2011 Subject: Art History](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/AHIS/_Spring2011.html]Spring”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/bulletin/uwb/subj/AHIS/_Spring2011.html)</p>
<p>There is almost no chance that they’ll let you place out of the Core.</p>
<p>It’s easy to get research at Columbia. There’s a biology research program called SURF, which gives you money to do research over the summer:</p>
<p>[url=<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/]SURF[/url”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/biology/ug/surf/]SURF[/url</a>]</p>
<p>I also know people doing research at the medical school during the school year and they said it was pretty easy for them to get those gigs.</p>
<p>pacificpremed,</p>
<p>I can answer your questions about Stanford. If you’re admitted to Stanford, you can log onto Axess and search classes by department, which will tell you how many students are enrolled. Art history classes will tend to be smaller than biology, which is one of the most popular majors. Stanford offers lots of seminars, and you’ll also be able to take almost any grad-level course you want, which tend to be small (grad-level courses already have many undergrads in them). 75% of the undergrad courses have under 15 students, and 2% are over 120.</p>
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</p>
<p>I would give the edge to Stanford here, where research expenditures were around $1.2 billion last year, so there are tons of research opportunities for undergrads to get involved in. Stanford spends more money dedicated solely to undergraduate research ($4 million a year) than any other university; you can get grants to do large projects, small projects, art projects, conference travel, off-campus and field research, etc. Summer and school-year internships are also very common; every department offers research internships for undergrads, and the standard rate is $5,600 for 10 weeks.</p>
<p>That said, Columbia’s a major research university that will offer you plenty of research opportunities. But given that Stanford’s endowment is much larger, it’s more willing to throw money at its undergrads, and there’s a strong emphasis on doing some kind of project (either an internship, or off-campus project, etc.). I’ve had a research internship every summer (I’m finishing soon).</p>
<p>[Research</a> Sites | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://biology.stanford.edu/research-sites]Research”>http://biology.stanford.edu/research-sites)
[Research</a> | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://biology.stanford.edu/research]Research”>Research Areas | Department of Biology)
[Studying</a> Abroad/Away | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://biology.stanford.edu/studying-abroadaway]Studying”>http://biology.stanford.edu/studying-abroadaway)
[Careers</a> and Extra Curriculars | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://biology.stanford.edu/careers-and-extra-curriculars]Careers”>http://biology.stanford.edu/careers-and-extra-curriculars)</p>
<p>50% do an honors thesis, 25% do research without an honors thesis, and more do the senior reflection, a capstone project in your last year:</p>
<p>[Senior</a> Reflection | Department of Biology](<a href=“http://biology.stanford.edu/senior-reflection]Senior”>Log in | Department of Biology)</p>
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<p>Students can definitely do all that at the medical school. You’ll also have the opportunity to take classes with med school students. I remember there’s one undergrad seminar where undergrads actually work with human cadavers (and IIRC a human brain).</p>
<p>Here is my sincere advice: neither. Don’t transfer, unless your current institution is lacking in opportunities or is very unsatisfying socially.</p>
<p>And here’s why: as a premed student, your GPA is crucial, particularly your science GPA. At both Columbia and Stanford, you will be competing on a strict curve in science classes against the smartest, hardest-working students in the world. My high school friends who went to decent schools a tier down from the Stanfords and Columbias of the world performed better in med school admissions than those that went to Ivies–even, in a couple cases, if the students at a lesser school were also a bit less smart. The curves at these top schools are killer. </p>
<p>I get the feeling you might be transferring because you are seeking a more prestigious undergraduate degree. Fair enough, that motivates many people, and I don’t fault you for that. But keep in mind that if you are ultimately going to med school, the caliber of med school you are admitted to will determine your future opportunities. The name on your undergraduate degree is not important at all.</p>
<p>I don’t know your class year–maybe I missed it in your post somewhere–but let me say that ESPECIALLY if you are already a sophomore (transferring out for junior year), I would advise against transferring. The relationships you already have with professors at your current school will be very important for letters/research for med school admissions. Of my friends that transferred, those that transferred out after freshman year had far more pleasant, rewarding experiences than those that transferred after sophomore year. </p>
<p>Finally, as someone that knows a lot of transfer students, let me say this: it is often a lot harder to fit in as a transfer student than you might expect. Unless you are pretty dissatisfied socially with your current institution, odds are high that you will have a substantially better social experience staying there than you will at a new school. </p>
<p>We need to know more: why do you want to leave your current school? I have a feeling, though, that it would be a good idea for you to give your current school a second chance. </p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>The curves at Stanford are definitely not “killer” – in fact, the only way that a class is curved is to help students, not to harm them, and in general the classes are curved in a way that allows most people to do well; most grades given are As and Bs. That’s why there’s grade inflation (and the average GPA is something like 3.5).</p>
<p>I know several transfer students at Stanford, and I don’t think any of them complain about being able to fit in: all 20 transfer students live in Kimball Hall for their first year, mixed with other students, and they do quite well. Also, I think Stanford often requires that you complete 3 years at Stanford if you transfer as a sophomore (not sure whether it’s case-dependent), so it’s very easy to set up connections with professors with that time. Even if it were 2 years, that’s enough time to set up strong connections to get good recommendations.</p>
<p>I think what you say is true for most schools, but it’s just a different situation at Stanford.</p>
<p>I was referring to the science classes that, as a premed, the OP will need to take. His/her grades in these classes will be particularly important for med school admissions. At Stanford/Columbia, other departments may be grade inflated, but math, chemistry, and biology certainly will not be: the average course in these departments is likely curved to a B- or C+. Curves in science courses are, in fact, killer. I promise you. </p>
<p>Stanford’s efforts to help transfers fit in are commendable. I was not aware of those. Still, my advice to the OP remains: do not underestimate how difficult it is to fit in as a transfer, when others have already formed many of their friend groups after freshman year.</p>
<p>If you, OP, are still set on transferring, go for it. I only wanted to provide you with helpful information and caution you about some things that people generally forget to take into account. I wish you all the best.</p>
<p>^ I’m graduating from Stanford now (having taken mostly science classes here) and can tell you, the curves in even the math, chem, and bio departments help students, never hurt them, as a matter of policy. I’d say that the grades in those departments are less inflated than most, but still a bit inflated. They’re hard, no doubt, but if they curve them at all, then the curve helps students.</p>
<p>“Was it necessary to make a new thread?”</p>
<p>why does everyone always get so ****ed because people start new threads? Does it honestly bother you so much that someone asks a question over the internet that has already been asked in the same context at an earlier point…? Just answer the person’s question or direct them to a previous thread. No snark necessary.</p>