<p>I'm going to be a sophomore this year. I'm thinking about applying to Duke as a junior transfer. Its political science department far surpasses that of my current institution. Does anyone have any insight as to how much more difficult it is to get accepted as a junior transfer rather than a sophomore? What are the key things I should keep in mind?</p>
<p>Also, for those who have gone through the process, what is the credit transfer process like? Were you able to transfer most of your credits to Duke?</p>
<p>To give you guys a better idea of my situation: I have about a 3.83 GPA after my freshman year and I don't expect it to change all that much before transfer time. At most, I'll be going into the application process with a 3.85.</p>
<p>My testing is pretty decent - 2360 (800M/790V/770W) on the SAT. A pair of 760s and a 750 on SAT Subject Tests.</p>
<p>I'm thinking about majoring in political science with a focus on comparative politics or international relations. I'm also interested in an econ minor and I'm one year away from a Japanese minor at my current institution.</p>
<p>Not sure about how the process works, but I do want to ask you if you’re transferring for any reason other than Duke’s poli sci dept “far surpassing that of your current institution.” From your location, I’m guessing you’re at Northwestern, which is a great university and probably on par with Duke. Personally, I don’t think an undergrad degree from Northwestern in poli sci means any less than a degree from Duke in poli sci. If you were a grad student, maybe there’d be a difference, yes, but not for undergrad. However, if you have other reasons for transferring (don’t like NU or think you like Duke better or something), then you should consider it. But if it’s purely academic, I would suggest rethinking the transfer.</p>
<p>duke’s poli sci department offers many more content courses and more opportunities for upperclassmen than northwestern. it’s also more encourages a greater degree of both depth and breadth: it requires inquiry into political thought along with a concentration in a particular subfield (IR, comparative, american gov, pol theory). northwestern’s political science curriculum, while definitely respective, lacks the structure that i’m looking for. it simply requires 6 upper level electives, with no focus on any particular concentration.</p>
<p>as an applicant for junior-standing transfer, i would imagine that most people in my position would be considered mainly about the upper level courses in their respective majors. i would also argue that although social factors matter as well, academic reasons are what come first in the transfer process. duke, northwestern, or any other school wouldn’t accept a transfer applicant just because they want to watch coach k and the blue devils all season long. although that’s somethign i want to do.</p>
<p>but then again, you go to duke. i’m sure you’re more clear on these issues than most people.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about the junior transfer issue, but Duke is VERY picky about transfer credits it accepts, and it will be especially difficult coming from Northwestern since you’re on the quarter system. I know for a fact that Duke does not accept summer courses taken at Northwestern for that very reason (quarter system; they argue that it doesn’t cover the same amount of material). But your best source of information is to ask Duke admissions directly. Credits are definitely on a case-by-case basis, but the transfers I know told me Duke is particularly difficult about accepting credits and they sometimes had to retake a couple courses. And, as I said, I know somebody who tried to get Northwestern summer credit (for organic chemistry), and Duke wouldn’t take it. I grew up 5 minutes away from Northwestern so can offer a relatively unbiased comparison of the two (although I don’t know poli sci specific differences, it seems like you have that covered) as well since I know a great deal about both if you have any questions. Good luck!</p>
<p>thanks for the input bluedog. would you say that you bump into a lot of transfer students at duke? what the breakdown in terms of sophomores vs. juniors? thanks</p>
<p>As I said, I have no idea how many juniors transfer in. It’s hard to say how many I “bump” into because the transfer issue doesn’t come up in normal conversations unless it’s a closer friend. No easy way to know. I do know that it’s pretty hard to transfer into Duke in general, but there are a fair amount and they seem to be incorporated into the rest of the student body pretty flawlessly (certainly, some adjustment, but it’s not like they’re unable to break into groups, enter Duke as outcasts, or anything like that).</p>