<p>I am currently a student at a top 5 LAC. While I love my classes, socially I'm just not happy and am considering transferring. I am anticipating about a 3.2 (which feels low to me coming from my weighted high school GPA of 4.3) but I don't really know whether the fact that I'm coming from a great school will have a heavy impact for admissions. </p>
<p>I have not really gotten involved in my current school, and am only a freshman. My grades are good but not phenomenal. I am a swimmer, and swam all through high school and am now swimming on the varsity team for my college(this is my big "involvement" at my current college). My resume for high school was quite impressive, but I feel that my college one is not quite so special. However, I feel a certain pressure to still be at a top notch college or university. </p>
<p>Can anyone give me any advice about sophmore transfers/GPA/recommemdations? I'm just an unhappy first year college student, hoping to be able to someday have the college experience of my dreams. :)</p>
<p>I am considering Amherst, Dartmouth, Tufts, Harvard, and Wesleyan. I don't need safeties because I would just remain at the school I am currently attending. If there are any recommendations for other schools as well, I am completely open to any and all suggestions. </p>
<p>well, they will take into consideration that you're at a top school, because often top schools have harder classes freshman year in certain majors to "weed out". im in engineering, and they say freshman year is one of the hardest just because its all random, bottem-knowledge classes but they make them hard just to cut out those who cant handle more technical and newer material later. i would say definently apply, as you can always reapply for junior transfer =)</p>
<p>i'm in the same situation as you ... im thinking of transferring to larger universities for the social aspect, but im not sure if transferring for social reasons is a good reason to transfer per se ... maybe it's just me</p>
<p>Yes it does. Assuming that Univ of Michigan is a better school than Indiana Bloomington (I believe it is). Is a 3.6 in Indiana better than a 3.4 in Michigan?</p>
<p>Your GPA depends on quality of students around you. So a 4.0 from some less competitive university is not of much significance when you apply to the top tier universities and are competing for admission with students from other top univerisities.</p>
<p>Yes, the school's calibre is one of several factors that matter. Still, there will be applicants from similar caliber schools with 3.5 and above. Some schools have official or unofficial minimum college GPA's for transfer. The 3.2 might not make that cut, in some cases. You can check each school's website.</p>
<p>If you are a varsity swimmer, that may be a factor that helps you in transfer apps as well? I don't know and NCAA rules may get in the way (college athletics not my specialty ;) ).</p>
<p>Since you see your current school as a safety, that puts you in a good position. You can just go for it. However, I think you would benefit from asking yourself why you think the places you listed will be any different socially from your current school. The academics will be basically equivalent. Why will the social atmospheres be any different? It could well be that actions you could take at your current school could yield the social happiness you seek.</p>
<p>Just my opinion: with a varsity sport, feeling you need to have a longer college "resume" of activities is probably nothing to worry about. Academics and competition and training can make a pretty full plate for a freshman. However, getting more involved at your school might fill your social needs better.</p>
<p>Of course, if you are at the "top 5 LAC" which happens to only admit women, that would totally explain why you expect a different social atmosphere at the schools you listed :D.</p>
<p>I transferred out of Columbia with a 3.3 and got into all the schools I applied to including Brown, Duke, and Dartmouth. I think my strong high school record and great ECs at Columbia helped alot. </p>
<p>Noodle,
Social reasons were the primary reason I transferred. Columbia just wasn;t the social life I needed. I think transferring was the best decision I ever made.</p>