<p>So I'm currently enrolled at California State Polytechnical University, Pomona. I chose this school because up to late June/early July I wanted to study Engineering. so I enrolled because out of all the schools this was the best for me and my major. Then I was decided to study economics because I loved the class That I took during my senior high school year. I enjoyed all the topics and was something i could picture doing fin the future. So then i research and found out that Cal Poly Pomona had economics as a major, so i decide to go on and stay there. Just recently, I have been questioning my decision and now I'm not sure if i want attend Cal Poly. So i contemplated not attending Cal Poly pomona anymore(I've registered, attended orientation, and I'm currently enrolled in 3 classes, waitlisted in 1, but I have NOT paid the tuition fees. School starts Sept. 22). I've Been thinking about this and arrived at two conclusions:
1: I've thought about finishing this fall quarter, and somehow transfer those credits to California State University, Fullerton( this is the school my high school teacher attended and I spoke to him yesterday and he recommended this school) Or canceling my attendance at Cal Poly and Apply to Fullerton(or another school in which I can get accepted to with high school grades. GPA=3.86, AP Calculus AB & BC= 5, SAT approx. 1400, ACT=21( will retake both if I decide to apply to another school. the scores are low because i took them at the beginning of my junior year) for the next available enrollment date.</p>
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<li>I thought about completing my General Education at Cal Poly Pomona and then transfer to one of the major school for economics (Harvard, Yale, University Of Chicago). I will contact these schools to see what classes I need to take in order to be eligible for a transfer.</li>
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<p>Which would you recommend? and why? and if there is anything else would need to do or forgot to mention please let me know. Thanks in advance!</p>
<p>Do you have financial aid? And is money a consideration? You didn’t mention it so maybe it isn’t. But -</p>
<p>If so, I would compare the aid you would be getting if you transferred to someplace versus starting out at that school in the first place.</p>
<p>I don’t know about Cal schools but in Texas, transfer scholarships are significantly less impressive than those for a incoming first time freshman. And all it takes is one semester at another school and you are no longer a freshman. So if you are going to transfer you would at least want to get the first two years in at the original school, if possible, assuming it was less expensive after freshman scholarship than the second school after transfer scholarships.</p>
<p>From what I understand of your putative transfer schools, you should probably have a good safety in mind just in case you don’t get a transfer into Harvard, etc. My understanding is that they turn away many stellar students.</p>
<p>I think you have a classic case of Cold Feet. </p>
<p>Let’s take #2 first. Harvard and Yale have their pick of 3.9 to 4.0 students with 1600 SAT’s and 5 to 7 AP’s. They take very, very few transfers. (Check their websites for the exact numbers but it will be just a handful any year). You have a much better chance at a Master’s or PhD in economics there than as a transfer. U Chicago may also take few transfers. (Again you can check past numbers on line). Bottom line: kiddo, it is highly unlikely that this path will work for you. </p>
<p>So your teacher likes Fullerton. Great. Glad to hear it. But CalPoly has a better reputation. If you do want to go on for graduate work, it would be a better background and make you a stronger candidate. </p>
<p>What I don’t like about the Fullerton plan, too, is that it keeps you from investing yourself fully in CalPoly. </p>
<p>You are blessed. You have a high school degree with good (but not stellar) stats. You have a path to college. A good college. Why flush all that without giving it an honest try?</p>
<p>If you were my kid, I’d say go AT A GALLOP to CalPoly. Do your best and do everything you can to make friends and learn what the professors there have to offer. Don’t go as a half hearted whiner. Go and do the best where you are planted. Try a couple of economics classes. Then see what you think at winter break. If you just can’t stand CalPoly by December, then think about other paths. </p>
<p>One of the things that CalPoly offers is Engineers without Borders. Check that out. There is an opportunity to see and serve the world that not every college has. There is a need for folks who understand both economics and engineering. Quite frankly, we need engineers more than economists. But by sizing up both paths ON CAMPUS you’ll have a better idea of what really suits you. (High school economics is a lot different than the upper level college material – you may or may not like it as much). </p>
<p>Please don’t think it is easy to transfer “up” (as in CalPoly to Harvard) - it is far more likely that one transfers “down” (as in CalPoly to a local Community college). I’m sure there are exceptions but one young friend up here found it a lot harder than she thought to successfully transfer to another college of some merit. Good luck!</p>