Freshman or Transfer? Help!

Colleges and Universities A-Z California Institute of Technology
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<p>Hello. My name is Roy, I'm a 21 year old Singaporean. I'm currently serving my country's compulsory conscription term and I expect to get back to school in the Fall of 2008. Rather than sticking with the obvious chioce and applying for a local university, I've found the programs offered in the States is much more varied and attractive. I know its a long shot but I'm going to try for the school of my dreams, Caltech. However, I've run into some confusion as to whether I qualify as a freshman or a transfer student.</p>

<p>Unlike most of my counterparts I did not follow the standard Singaporean education path of the GCSE 'O' and 'A' Level examinations (sort of the equivalent of Grades 10 and 12) - naturally those in this category are considered freshmen. For me, I took the 'O' Levels and then applied for a polytechnic (Singapore Polytechnic, if you need to know). The three-year course earned me a Diploma in Aeronautical Engineering.</p>

<p>I recently visited the US Education Information Center (<a href="http://www.useic.org%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.useic.org&lt;/a&gt;) and the counsellor explained to me that with my post-secondary education, I'm considered a transfer student. However, she also honestly told me that being a transfer student my chances at Caltech are seriously jeopardized. A quick check revealed that the school only admitted an average of 8 international transfer students annually, hardly encouraging stuff. Perhaps our countries have different ideas about polytechnics. The standards expected for transfer students seemed awfully high.</p>

<p>With all respect to my alma mater, I certainly did not have "exposure to mathematics and physics courses on a level comparable to those at Caltech prior to entry" (quoted from Caltech's admission website). While I did study 3 courses of engineering calculus, the physics that I've had exposure to were mostly aeronautical related - namely mechanics, aerodynamics and some electronics. Besides, those of you who have ever been enlisted in the military would understand the 'brain-rot' phenomena. The absence from school for 2 years certainly degrades your cognitive abilities. I do not think that I'll able to survive the Transfer Entrance Examinations. That being said, I'm not making excuses for myself, I fully expect to get myself geared up for my return to school before the term starts.</p>

<p>Lastly, I plan to major in Physics if and when I enroll, therefore I'll have to start with a clean slate anyway. I'm not expecting and do not even want and credits/exemption. That's also another dilemma for me - would wanting to 'change majors' affect my chances or reflect poorly on me.</p>

<p>Prior to my trip to the USEIC, I've already made preparations to apply as a freshman. I took the SAT I in May (800,770,610) and will be taking the SAT II in October. Other than these 2 standardized exams, I'm also prepared to submit my GCSE 'O' Levels results (taken in 2002 - 8'A's and 1'B') and the transcript of my Diploma (graduated 2006 - GPA 3.79/4) together with the details of my course as my academic CV. </p>

<p>I've pretty much convinced myself that I'll be better off applying as a freshman. Whether I'll be able to argue my case to the school or am I bound by my qualification as a transfer student is the advice I'm seeking from the kind people on this board. I'm also fully aware that my odds are exceptionally slim, but I'll never forgive myself if I don't give it a try.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

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<p>I think it's really funny that deadstroke writes better (more sophisticated language and articulated thoughts) than at least 90% of the CollegeConfidential population, despite being educated in Singapore. (Yes, I'm aware it's a former British colony, everyone has nice Oxford accents, and they have lots of English classes in high school, but still...) </p>

<p>Anyways, for that alone, I wish you the very best of luck. Frankly, I think you'd have a decent chance at Caltech grad school in a few years. Take that option into consideration.</p>

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<p>If you want to apply as an undergrad, you must apply as a transfer student. And yes, it is harder than applying as a freshman. I don't even know if you can apply as a transfer given that you've earned a diploma, but I believe you can't apply as a freshman.</p>

<p>Edit: What type of diploma have you earned? If I remember correctly, if you have an associate's degree then you're OK, but if you have a bachelor's degree you will have a strong likelihood of being rejected.</p>

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<p>Curse the day I decided to take the diploma route! Curse my lack for preparation for college!</p>

<p>Okay, anyway, my diploma is definitely not at the level of a Bachelor. In fact its not even strictly an Associate's Degree. Exemptions are usually given on a case by case basis. To take the local Nayang Techonological University for example, I would be given one whole year's exemption if I choose to major in Mechanical Engineering, and selected module exemptions for other engineering degrees. I would be still allowed to apply for a variety of science and arts majors on top of that.</p>

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<p>Hey deadstroke, I was in your case though from another remote country (france), and was admitted to transfer for next fall.</p>

<p>As from what I have read here and there the tranfer Examination counts a lot, so its a good point: I guess that if you ace it, then you have good a chance if your courses were rigorous.
You don't need to know a lot for the transf exam, its more to test your agility with basic concepts (in mechanics, EM,...): you won't have quantum stuff on that. </p>

<p>Also ask directly the admissions office for your question - fresh or transfer. From what I know the comittee that examins the fresh applications is not the same as the one for transfers.</p>

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<p>Okay, seems like no one could give me a definite answer, but thanks for all your support and help anyway. I guess I'll have to write direct to Caltech admissions.</p>

<p>One final question: I know that all students enroll undecided, but when I write in should I come clean that I hope to take a major that is different from my diploma or should I market myself as a engineering student?</p>

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<p>Another question, perhaps more specifically to Bali-balo, would the school really care if my institution did not really give me the academic exposure that Caltech requires for Transfer Students if I still do well in the transfer examinations?</p>

<p>Also, which year are you enrolled into and what was your previous qualification?</p>

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<p>Yes, I think it would care, but surely not 100% of their list. I don't know for sure...at least try to have the equivalent of their 1st year and bits of 2nd I would say because transfers are meant to enter 2nd or 3rd (still while losing a lot of credits due to transferring).
I don't know which year I will enroll, that will be determined later, I had the equivalent of 2 or 3 years of College.</p>

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<p>Hey Roy,
How did you end up your plan? I have a similar dilemma that you had . I graduated from Nanyang Polytechnic with diploma in Electronics, Computer and Communications and I scored 3.92 overall. I am also planning to apply as freshman this year and emailed to a few institutions that I intend to go. Some of them demand me to apply as transfer whereas some of them as fresh man . I want to consider myself as a first year since I am adapting to new learning culture where Liberal arts curriculum is conducted.
I had already taken subjects tests as maths and physics and scored 760 and 720 . I took SAT 1 in this October and expected to score high except the reading section ; around 600.
I hope to get your suggestion what should I proceed my application. </p>