I have a 3.8-4.0 average as of the end of this semester. I have been at University at Buffalo for 2 years. My major is Mechanical engineering/Computer science. I would like to transfer to a top research university. Like MIT, UCLA, UC Berkeley, Cornell and what not. I want to be a roboticist. I have over a year of research and will be starting a co-op this summer. I am in two robotics clubs. My professors like me a lot, so my letters of recommendation are good. Although, my SAT score as of my junior year in high school is only 1630. In high school I was homeless for the last two years and so as a result my grades were horrendous. My situation has since improved significantly. I am unsure about what to do with this. Do I have a chance? Is it wise for me to transfer? I am okay financially with transferring. I just want to know 3 things: 1) Do I have a chance at transferring to a top university? 2) Should I even transfer? I am okay financially, but I am a bit weary. 3) If I don’t have a chance, please explain why! BTW: This is serious to me. I have thought about this a lot. I have realized that Buffalo just isn’t that good in teaching me anything great in robotics. I want to feel like I am receiving the best education! Most of my heroes have come from places like these and I want to place myself in their ranks. I am okay with the truth. In the end I know that I will succeed. I just want to do it in a place like MIT, where their resources can let my imagination and hands run wild.
Edit: I also want to go tongrad school fro robotics!
Apply, and see if you get in and if you get the financial aid you might need.
If you aren’t admitted anywhere affordable, stay where you are. Work with your professors on their research projects, so that they can write you good letters of recommendation when you apply to grad school.
SUny->Cornell is a possibility, especially if you apply to these:
http://infosci.cornell.edu/academics/degrees/bs-cals
http://infosci.cornell.edu/academics/degrees/bs-engineering
However, how many credits have you earned in those 2 years?
Typically, students transfer during their sophomore year. Only those who only have 40-45 credits apply during their third year - not sure Cornell even allows you to apply if you have 60 credits at the time of application and plan to earn more.
UCLA and UCB will cost you over 60K a year, no financial aid, so I don’t think they’re reasonable.
Vanderbilt guarantees full financial aid for transfers.
UMinnesota Twin Cities has good scholarships for transfers, but is likely to be more expensive than a SUNY.
I have earned 65 credits. All of them are legitimate engineering classes but I would not mind shaving some credits off. I honestly did not mean to garner this many credits lol.
You may no longer be eligible for a transfer - check on the transfer page for each and every university you’re interested in.