<p>I would disagree that transferring from a state school to an Ivy is totally innocuous. Any sort of transferring has risks. Having to restart the processes of getting involved on campus, developing relationships with for LOR’s, finding volunteer, research and shadowing opportunities, are all negative effects of transferring. While negatives can be overcome, it does take effort and persistence, and the later in your college career a transfer takes place, the harder it becomes. If you aren’t vigilant in getting these activities back into place at your new school, your application will be weaker compared to what it would have been had you stayed.</p>
<p>That said, there are plenty of reasons why you made need to transfer, and depending on what those reasons are, I think the potential impact of what medical schools think should be far down on your list in terms of reasons why you should or shouldn’t transfer. Certainly a transfer based solely on prestige is different than one in which you move closer to home because of a sick parent.</p>