<p>Hello everyone. Well I'm a freshman at Notre Dame and I have not made friends with anyone in my dorm. I feel really lonely, and as if I don't fit in here. It's a very jock-ish environment, and not really following any sports I just don't fit in that well. I know it's really early to decide to transfer since I've only been here a short time, but I really feel as if that is what I want to do. Of course, I will give it more time, and try to make friends this semester. However, if I don't have that many friends by winter break then I will most likely transfer.</p>
<p>So my question for you is, what do I need to do to be able to transfer to a school like Brown, UPenn, Columbia, Duke? I know I will need to make high grades; I'm going to try my hardest to get all A's in the challenging classes I am taking (Calc 3, Engineering Physics, Intro to Chem). What else do I need to do? Since I will apply this following spring, are they going to expect me to have much community service, and extracurricular stuff?</p>
<p>I have an ACT of 34 if that helps at all... I know I'll have to resubmit that to all the schools I try to transfer to. I'm thinking that my ACT is high enough, but what else do I need to do?</p>
<p>Get involved and give it time. If it still doesn’t work out you will be able to put your activities on your resume. </p>
<p>The “Transfer 101” thread will have a lot of useful information. But basically, if you are transferring as a sophomore, colleges will see your first semester grades, and maybe the midterm grades of your second. One major difference of applying as a transfer student is that most schools have (much) lower acceptance rates for transfers. On the other hand, the importance of grades, essays, and recommendations haven’t changed. The general consensus on college confidential is that there isn’t enough time when applying for sophomore standing to increase the strength of your application a whole lot. </p>
<p>The college board posts acceptance rates for transfer students. </p>
<p>Why are you looking at Duke? Duke has one, among many, reputation for having a very sports centered environment.</p>
<p>Slow down. If others haven’t said this already, you really need to take it easy. Here’s the key phrase - NOBODY FEELS GREAT THE FIRST THREE WEEKS OF COLLEGE.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with looking into transferring, but you need to take what I said into account. Everybody feels lonely and homesick at first. It takes a few months to get over it. If by the end of the first semester you still feel the same - then look into transferring. You might make a lot of friends and completely change your mind by then. Many (most) people love it at Notre Dame - it is a prestigious, wonderful institution.</p>
<p>Should you choose to transfer (or not, regardless) keep your grades high - above 3.5, better yet, above 3.7. Make good connections with your professors in case you need recommendations. Get involved on campus - nobody is going to baby you. Join clubs, teams, etc… mentor people.</p>
<p>You may find that the environment is not right for you. This is fine. But don’t decide the first week. Everybody is miserable right now. It’ll only get better.</p>
<p>Do what you want but don’t apply to Brown, that’s where I want to transfer next year haha. All threats aside- I think you should give it a chance. I know this is coming from a person who attended the Air Force Academy…basic training and got out as soon as possible. My situation might seem the same as yours, but trust me- it wasn’t. I KNEW the military wasn’t for me the second I realized that I wasn’t making friends with my roommates because I wasn’t popular enough, but rather because we were all busy standing at attention. Like others have said- Notre Dame is a GREAT school (not better than Brown, but hey, what are you gonna do). College is also the time where you find yourself and leap out onto the unknown, just make sure that you know what that unknown is if your getting your hair buzzed and given an M-14. Enjoy it for a while, the freedom from parents and try to go places around campus that you would like, you’re bound to find people like you at those places (If you’re into animals- volunteer at an animal shelter, if you’re artsy- go open your macbook at a coffee place, etc). </p>
<p>Good luck bro, and again- do…not…apply to brown :]. Ok, have a nice day.</p>
<p>honestly sounds like you’re looking for an excuse to go prestige-whoring. it’s cute and all, but grow up, adapt, put yourself out there and see whether you really want to transfer when applications are due. you might respond, “oh but i have to decide now because then ill go get the grades.” that’s the wrong mindset. you should be trying your hardest, regardless, to get the grades.</p>
<p>Thank you guys for all the advice. I have been looking through the Transfer 101 thread and it has been helpful. I’m not looking for an excuse to go “prestige-whoring”, I’m just trying to find a school that has a very intellectual reputation. I was accepted to Northwestern and right now I’m really regretting not going there… :/</p>
<p>Exactly, flowerhead. I feel as though I would have been happier if I had chosen Northwestern… instead I let my family pressure me into choosing Notre Dame. Of course, it’s not all their fault. I genuinely thought that I would be happy here. So far I’m not. I hope it will change.</p>
<p>I know exactly how you feel. My situation is a little bit different because I wasn’t attending a ranked school so I totally felt out of place. I decided to come home right before the semester started and enrolled at my CC. </p>
<p>However, I took the easy way out and just came back home but for your case, Notre Dame is a phenomenal school and I guarantee you’ll make friends if you try. Get involved and party it up.</p>
<p>If you are really set on transferring then start thinking about solid reasons to transfer because your essay will be the most important factor. Your academic stats are good and if you get a solid extracurricular or two, you should be set. </p>
<p>PS: If you do apply to Penn and decide to do abbreviations in your essay, write “Penn” and not “UPenn” =O)</p>
<p>I’m confident that I can write a compelling essay on my reason for wanting to transfer, but I’ve read that GPA is usually the most important factor for transfer students, is it not?</p>
<p>Regardless, can anyone tell me if it’s very likely that I’ll be able to transfer to UPenn, Brown, or Northwestern after one year at ND? I’m going to do everything I possibly can to get above a 3.5 GPA. Hopefully I’ll be able to pull of a 3.7.</p>
<p>Call Northwestern, PRONTO. If you withdraw completely from ND now then you may reserve your status as a freshman. Of course, you’ve lost a lot of money.</p>
<p>Nahh… I don’t think I’ll do that. I mean I would have missed all of orientation and I wouldn’t have a proper housing assignment. I’m just gonna stick it out at ND this year.</p>
<p>College gpa is very important for transfers, but since you want to apply as a soph transfer, you’ll have only 1 sem/qt completed at ND when you submit your application. Therefore, your HS record (gpa and rigor of courses) and test scores will be carry more weight.</p>
<p>Well I think my test score will be good enough to get me into these schools, and I did take an extremely rigorous course load in high school (11 AP courses). So I can’t do much to change that. I heard the UPenn is one of the friendliest Ivies in terms of transfer students. Is this true?</p>