Conservatory to University

Transfer Students
1

<p>I just started my sophomore year as a vocal performance major at the Eastman School of Music (a small music conservatory associated with the University of Rochester). I have decided that I would be better off in a major in Cognitive Science or Psychology (preferably cognitive science). I had a very high GPA in High School as well as in my freshman year of college. I also had high SAT I/II scores. I am looking for a TOP program to transfer into. I have done some research and discovered Stanford, UC Berkley, Penn, and MIT have great programs. Unfortunately these schools require prerequisites to be completed before acceptance into their programs. All of my college credits thus far would be considered electives to them (Music theory, language classes, etc). I thought of moving to the University of Rochester for my spring semester in order to take my prereqs and have the ability to enter a top school in the fall of my junior year. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions about excellent schools for cognitive science and whether starting this major at a top program in my junior year is plausible. I prefer a school closer to my home (Philadelphia). This is why I am so focused on Penn. Also, will these upper levels schools except AP test scores? </p>

<p>I am open to any advice from the transfer process to what its like being a cognitive science major.
Thanks!</p>

2

<p>Given that you are an Eastman student… but not a double degree student, I would recommend that you first make an appointment with your own advisor as you can register for psych courses at the University of Rochester campus. I would also make an appointment with someone in the psych department or the academic dean of arts & sciences at the river campus to chat about the possibilities of either double degree or transfer to river campus. They do have a strong psychology department. This wouldn’t preclude you from applying to other schools. The reason I would recommend double degree is that it is hard to walk away from a school like Eastman and if you double degree, you will still be able continue studying voice. If you do walk away and transfer and find out you hate cognitive psychology… you will need to start over in a different field entirely. Just my opinion as the parent of a U of R grad, who was a music major at the River campus and did study voice at Eastman. She was a double major but both of her degrees were on the River campus as she was not accepted at Eastman when she applied.</p>