Considering Transferring to a more 'well-known school'

Transfer Students
1

<p>First, let me just make it clear that I'm not looking for lectures about how it might not be a good idea to transfer simply for the sake of a school's prestige. I just want people to be able to tell me what might be some good options for me given my situation.</p>

<p>I'm pretty happy at my school but my dad, as well as some extended relatives, have made it a goal to pester me like hell about the school that I'm attending. I feel incredibly conscious about the school I'm attending, despite the fact that I don't necessarily consider it to be a horrible school (Tier 1 in US News and World Report's National Univiersities ranking 50>). I'm a very adaptable person, so leave the worrying about factors like weather, student body, location, etc up to me.</p>

<p>What I want is suggestions about schools that are fairly prestigious (NYU, Georgetown) that I could transfer into. I'm looking for schools to which I can be a competitive transfer applicant, I'm not looking for safeties or reaches. </p>

<p>I'm an international student and I'm an incoming college sophomore, planning to apply for the fall of my junior year. I have a 3.89 cumulative GPA and I've already declared a double major in American Government and Philosophy (don't know if that's pertinent or not). Highly involved in extracurricular activities, not simply by nominal association but actual knee-deep involvement. The two in particular that I've put a lot of time into are mock trial (captain of my school's 2nd team) and a group that deals with dating violence (director-in-training). </p>

<p>As for recommendations, I have one professor in the government department with whom I've taken 3 courses. He had me for intro to american gov't, a junior/senior level course which he recommended that I take, as well as a comparative courts and law class in a summer program. I got A's for all his courses. He is my pre-law advisor and faculty advisor, he knows me very well as I've made it a point to visit him often and show up for all the prelaw events. I've heard several faculty members from the government department having heard praises about me from him (not trying to boast, just trying to illustrate that he knows me very well and seems to like me as a student). I also have a philosophy Professor who knows me quite well, I had him for 1st sem and 2nd sem (A then B+ - I slacked off...), he was my faculty advisor for first sem. An alternate person to ask a recommendation from is an alumni of my school with whom I've worked with on various events regarding dating violence and sexual assault. He knows me very well and has known me probably since around October of last year. Another alternate could be my mock trial professor who is a practicing attorney. He also knows me very well and is very fond of me. I received an A for both his intro to trial advocacy and adv trial advocacy classes. </p>

<p>Lastly...my test scores. I did pretty badly on the SATs (yes, it maybe an understatement, but let me have some dignity!). 1850/2400. As an international student, I'll have to submit the toefl as well, but I'm not worried about that since I got an 118/120. </p>

<p>I would appreciate any input that you guys have regarding schools that I should apply to, given my stats and my preferences! Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>Sounds like you have formed great relationships with your current professors. It also sounds like you are receiving a good education where you are currently. Keep in mind that an overall “prestigious school” may not be as prestigious in the department you are interested in. A “less prestigious school” may be more “prestigious” in your interested department.</p>

<p>I think you are wanting to transfer for the wrong reasons, but nevertheless if you are truly unhappy with the university you are currently at, or if it isn’t a good “fit” for you (ie it doesn’t have the name your parents perceive it should) then I’d recommend the following schools: Harvard University, Princeton University, Stanford University, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor,Yale University, University of California-Berkeley,Columbia University, University of California-San Diego, Duke University, University of Chicago, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin-Madison, NYU, Ohio State University</p>

<p>All which according to US News have an excellent Political Science Program. Good luck on whatever you decide to do.</p>

3

<p>Georgetown all the way! Good luck.</p>

4

<p>Harvard and Princeton don’t take transfers. The University of California schools will be even harder than usual to get into because they are admitting fewer students due to budget cuts. Make sure you look up the admit rates for transfers for the schools you are applying to.</p>

<p>You can retake/ take the SAT/ ACT if you want. It will matter less as a junior transfer, but a “good score” cannot hurt you.</p>

5

<p>I don’t think I’d attempt the ivies with an 1850 but NYU level schools sound reasonable with the strong GPA.</p>

6

<p>Your college grades will matter a lot more since you will be applying for admission for junior year. Try not to stress too much about your SAT, although it can only help if you retake it and get 2000+.</p>

<p>I would say that one of the absolute crucial determinations of admission is the “Why do you want to transfer to our institution?” essay. </p>

<p>Cornell University is my suggestion (in addition to NYU, Georgetown). ILR is more lenient in terms of test scores, while the Arts & Science school is traditionally known to be very tough to get into. I think you have a fair shot.</p>

7

<p>hey all =) thanks for all the recommendations so far. would appreciate more suggestions from others!</p>

8

<p>Hey, just to add my personal experience. I am transferring to a Top 20 school with a lower GPA from an unranked university and with a similar SAT score. Try Emory, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame and Georgetown. You can’t be a part of the statistic at all if you don’t give reaches a shot. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>“I’m pretty happy at my school but my dad, as well as some extended relatives, have made it a goal to pester me like hell about the school that I’m attending.”</p>

<p>You need know which schools they think are “the right ones”. If they are unhappy with your school and are driving you mad about it now, just imagine what it will be like if you do score a transfer and then find out that it isn’t one on their list!</p>

10

<p>“You need know which schools they think are “the right ones”. If they are unhappy with your school and are driving you mad about it now, just imagine what it will be like if you do score a transfer and then find out that it isn’t one on their list!”</p>

<p>Well, they’re the type of crowd that are easily swayed by rankings. I guess I’m talking about schools that are ranked 50 or above in the US News and World Report. It would also help if people could suggest colleges that are known to place less of an emphasis on test scores than their competitive counterparts.</p>

11

<p>For transfers, your college grades are much more important than your ACT or SAT test scores. While there is a lot of learned debated about whether or not the ACT and SAT have any predictive value for your first year grades in college (and if so how much) your college transcripts actually DO indicate how well you perform in college-level coursework. Many colleges and universities don’t even ask for an ACT or SAT exam score if you will be enrolling as a transfer after completing two years of college-level work elsewhere.</p>

<p>It shouldn’t take you all that long to work through the top 50 colleges/universities and find out whether ACT/SAT exams are required for transfers. Eliminate the ones who ask for it if you think your scores aren’t good enough. Your GPA should make you reasonably competitive for most of the schools that remain.</p>

<p>Wishing you all the best.</p>