<p>Hi parents, I would like some of your advice regarding my current situation.</p>
<p>As a transfer student, I have a choice between two schools. </p>
<p>School A: This school has been very stingy with my transfer credits. Thus, in order to graduate in a timely manner, I have very little academic freedom. I won't be able to take classes outside of my major (so I will have an unbalanced education skewed heavily toward math and science), and I will have to take on a very heavy course-load. I won't be able to take on the minor that I want.<br>
Outside of academics, I love the campus, the opportunities, the activities, and I think the school is a good fit. I think everything is amazing here. I'm just very bummed that I will be so restricted in the classes that I have to take, and I think I will be more stressed here. I'll definitely have to work very hard, and I'm already worrying about how I will balance school with my extracurriculars if I go here... </p>
<p>School B: This school has very lenient requirements, and has on a strong liberal arts basis, which fits me better as a student. I am in love with the flexibility I am allowed, and I'll be able to take a diverse set of classes that I think will really give me a strong intellectual foundation. My course-load would be very manageable along with extracurriculars. However, I don't like the like the location (very isolated), and the very very strong Greek presence on campus. I think I would be happy academically, but not socially. Luckily, I know several people at this school already, so maybe socially it won't be THAT bad. Hard to say. The student organizations aren't very active or well developed, because the Greek life is so heavily emphasized. The research programs are not particularly strong, either. </p>
<p>Since you, as parents, have far more life experience that I, I'd like to know your thoughts on my current dilemma. I do value academic freedom very strongly, but at the same time, I think School A is the overall better (but not perfect) fit. Please let me know which school you think I should pick!</p>
<p>I would like more info before commenting. How long have you been at your current school? How long would you have to go to complete your degree? Why are you leaving the current school? What major/minor?</p>
<p>I have been at my school for two years, and I have two years left, with a summer in between to complete my degree. I am going to major in Biochemistry, and I want to add on a Math minor (which I can do at School B easily, but not A).</p>
<p>I am leaving my current school because it’s just way too big and impersonal. The quality of education is quite poor. I basically taught myself in almost all my classes because the most of my professors didn’t care to do their job correctly. I was just very unhappy here… I love learning but after two years at this school, I feel very dispassionate. Students here can really feel the burden of budget cuts and the administration that doesn’t give a crap about us. </p>
<p>At least I can rest in the fact that whether I choose School A or B, I’m fairly certain that my future educational experience will surpass that of my current school.</p>
<p>Barrons has a good idea if you can afford it - take a summer to add some of the classes so you can squeeze in the math minor. Otherwise I would probably go with school B to make sure I got the minor in. Biochem is not an easy field to get a job.</p>
<p>If you believe that your current school’s education is of poor quality, then you should check the old final exams for the lower division biology, chemistry, and math courses at schools A and B to see how well you know the prerequisite material for upper division biochemistry and math courses at schools A and B. Otherwise, you might find either school’s upper division courses to be an unpleasant surprise.</p>
<p>Is the lack of free schedule space you would have at school A due to the need to repeat lower division work due to school A not accepting your course work at your current school as equivalent to its own?</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus,
Yes, school A is being very picky about not accepting my course work as equivalent. In addition to that, the way they structure their courses is very sequential so there isn’t much wiggle room. </p>
<p>However, when I was talking about the quality of the education of my current school, I was talking more so about things like class sizes, professor-student interaction, and the lack of discussion-based learning. The school itself is very reputable (top 30) and has a very demanding curriculum…I am more dissatisfied with the teaching; the course content is fine and pretty advanced. Just wish that school A would recognize this. Hope this makes sense! </p>
<p>School B, on the other hand, has accepted all my credits with no problem. School A and School B are both equally prestigious for my intended major. They just have varying policies for transfer credit.</p>
<p>Have you checked the actual class sizes for upper division courses at your current school, school A, and school B (in their online class schedules)? Upper division courses tend to be much smaller than lower division courses, although for a popular major like biochemistry, they can still be relatively large. (On the other hand, upper division math courses are usually small, presumably because usually-considered-to-be-difficult courses like real analysis and abstract algebra benefit more from greater opportunity for in-class discussion with the faculty member teaching the course.)</p>
<p>Also, are cost and financial aid significantly different between the three schools, and how much of a consideration is that to you?</p>
<p>@ucbalumnus (sorry, can’t utilize the option to quote you)</p>
<p>As far as the class sizes at my current school, they do get slightly smaller for upper divisions, but are still pretty big — on average 50 students, with the popular classes at ~150.</p>
<p>School A and B both have smaller class sizes than my current school (5-25 students). But between the two, School B definitely has even smaller class sizes because it has about 2,000 fewer students.</p>
<p>As for cost, School B is $2.5K cheaper than A. So $5K over two years. Current school is much cheaper, by $7-10K… but really, I don’t want to stay there. I tried my best to enjoy my two years there, came in with an open mind; it just didn’t work out.
My parents tell me not to worry TOO much about cost though. They are willing to pay more for Schools A and B just because we think the value is worth it.</p>
<p>Are you set on biochemistry as your major and math as your minor? Would you consider school A as a math major and biochemistry minor, which may give you more freedom to take electives, since math major degree programs tend to have fewer requirements, and fewer long sequences if you have already completed the lower division math courses?</p>
<p>For Biochemistry check on the lab facilities. How many students in discussion and lab classes? What courses are required for the major at each school- compare them. What is each school’s reputation in biochemistry? Why would you want to add a math minor to biochemistry, it won’t help you- just take some courses that interest you.</p>
<p>The above questions are not to be answered here but for you to consider in deciding your future. Look at the best program in your major. It can be worth an extra semester if you really want the added breadth. Also, you likely did your breadth requirements your first two years and usually spend the last two doing upper level courses in your major.</p>
<p>If you choose a school whose social life isn’t your style you may find it harder to do the academics as you will be at odds in your free time.</p>
<p>Definitely review the academics in your major- specific courses at each school. Only transfer if you feel you will get a much better education. You may be eligible for courses you haven’t considered at your present school when thinking of class sizes. You should be passionate about your major to want as much of it as you can schedule, not being a dabbler in other fields. You can always learn about other fields on your own- educating yourself is not limited to the college environment.</p>
<p>I’m still at odds with which school to choose. I’m so afraid of making the wrong decision, since two years ago, when choosing my current school, I know I made the wrong decision as well. </p>
<p>I reached out to some students at School B (where I thought I wouldn’t fit in socially), and they assured me that while there is a dominant Greek scene, that I can definitely find like-minded people… even invited to meet up with me and get to know me once I get there, which I thought was really kind. They also said that the school environment does get tiresome after a while, but since I’ll only be there for 2 years, I should be fine…</p>
<p>ahhh help…</p>
<p>Other than the academic flexibility at School B, the Biochemistry programs at A and B are pretty much tied, as well as the overall prestige of the schools. While I am very passionate about the sciences, I feel that I could benefit greatly from taking humanities classes and improving my writing skills, which School B would allow me to do.</p>
<p>It sounds like you are leaning toward School B – at least that’s my read on emotional resonance. I think your heart is telling you that you would be more comfortable there in the long run. I do think you should weigh academic satisfaction over social life as a transfer, simply because it’s harder for transfer students at any college to make a lot of friends, so it is likely that you will form friendships around people you meet in your classes or in whatever campus activities you can involve yourself with. So if you feel too locked in with your course schedule, you might also feel that it is a social damper as well. (You’'d end up meeting only others with the same or similar majors,-- whereas if you take some humanities classes, then you’d meet a wider range of students in your classes)</p>
<p>Anyway, if you are confident that the academic quality of both schools is similar, then listen to your heart over your head --as I can already see the seeds of discontent in your description of School A. </p>
<p>Don’t be so sure that the Greek life issue will be a problem – all Fraternities/Sororities are not the same. Keep an open mind, at least as to social events.</p>