Cornell Transfer Option [Choosing an Undergrad School]

Colleges and Universities A-Z Cornell University
1

I have been offered practically full rides at both Colgate and Hamilton.
I have also been offered a Transfer Option to Cornell (InfoSci at CALS).
I plan on taking that it unless I really like the school I’m at; positive that I’ll transfer though.

I need to maintain a 3.0; Where should I attend?

I don’t seem to fit the class profile for either school [1920 SATs / Top of My Class / Asian / Poor / STEM Prospect].

However, I feel like I’d fit in more at Colgate and Colgate did offer me a full ride (I pay absolutely nothing) but I don’t really know how I feel about the Core curriculum there nor do I know how I feel about how severe the grade deflation I keep hearing about (as I really might want to transfer, Cornell or not). I like the idea of having an Open curriculum but I can’t really figure out what Hamilton’s average undergraduate GPA is as much as I tried to find it (I also have to pay a couple thousand more). It might sound like I should be happy with where I’m at right now but the GT offer by Cornell is just too good to pass and I feel like I’d fit better at a bigger school with the options of engineering.

Essentially, where should I go if I want to maintain at least a 3.0 that’s practically guaranteed given that I put in the work? The issue I have right now is that I live too far to visit and right now, I’d like to pick the school I’d feel the most at home at while being able to keep my options open by having a 3.0+.

2

A GPA is never guaranteed so my advice would be to choose the school that seems a better fit to you. Have you visited both schools? That usually helps. My advice to my own child was to choose the school she could imagine herself at for four years in case things with the TO did not work out.

3

I haven’t visited yet and I feel like I’d be content at both schools; in fact, I’m actually very lucky to get into both schools considering my test scores.

I guess the idea of attending such small schools limits the opportunities for diversity, both ethnic and socioeconomic.

How did that work out? Did your child end up going through with the Transfer Option?

4

Yes. She did not think she would because she did not want to “start over” after freshman year, but after meeting the requirements she decided to pursue it. We have heard that Cornell has a lot of transfers so it’s not like she will be the only one.