frosh undergrad looking to transfer

<p>Hi! I'm currently enrolled at Barnard College as a freshman. I like Barnard but I don't think that this is really the place where I belong. I'm looking for a school that has more of a community-feel to it, since social life in NYC basically involves going out into the city. I thought I wanted to go to a city school for college, but I'm starting to think that I'd rather just be NEAR a city. </p>

<p>Right now, I'm thinking about: Harvard College, Tufts, Georgetown, Penn, and maybe Yale..? I know that most of these have really low transfer rates though, so any other ideas?</p>

<p>Basic Stats:
HS average: 87
SATS: 710 math, 760 writing, 760 reading
SAT IIs: 710 math 1, 790 lit
College GPA: 3.7
Intended Mjr: Economics
ECs: In HS I had a few leadership positions, went on a service trip to Africa, wrote for the paper, capt of the dance team, etc.
In college, I was chosen for the service activities planning committee, am on 2 preforming dance troupes, and am thinking of working for the school paper.</p>

<p>What would help my chances of getting in/do you think I have a shot? Please help!!</p>

<p>Your grades are great. You have a decent chance everywhere but Harvard and Penn. And Yale. So, you’re left with Tufts and Georgetown. I’m applying to Tufts too, so I don’t want competition so I’d say don’t apply there it’s a horrible school and bad and dangerous and worthless. haha. kidding, of course. You have a good chance at both schools! goodluck, if we both make it to Tufts, then hope I get to see you there</p>

<p>If you are happy with Barnard except for the location in the center of NY, you could also consider Bryn Mawr. It is about 30 minutes from downtown Philadelphia by commuter rail.</p>

<p>you definitely have a chance at all the schools you’ve listed, but i would add some schools that are more transfer-friendly, such as vanderbilt and emory.</p>

<p>thank you all for replying!</p>

<p>milanista, that’s great that you are thinking of applying to Tufts too- I don’t know why I didn’t consider it the first time around but I really think that I would like it. I’m also aware that the Ivies are far reaches. I decided to drop Yale, but I’m just going to apply to Harvard and Penn just for the heck of it. I was waitlisted at Penn for freshman year, and I don’t know if reapplying will make a difference or not but hopefully they will accept me this time!</p>

<p>happymomof1, for some reason I didn’t mention this above, but I’m pretty positive that I want a co-ed college. I thought that I wouldn’t mind the single-sex thing, but I think that’s the problem- I also didn’t WANT it.</p>

<p>I will definitely take a second look at Vanderbilt and Emory. For some reason I didn’t think of any of these schools the first time around!</p>

<p>You might expand to also consider a campus-based school of larger size that is not near a huge city. If the campus community is large enough there may be plenty to do right there, then the need for the a huge city diminishes. Smaller city may be enough, if there is so much to do there that you are always on or around campus. (Perhaps very hard to envision this while at Barnard, but out there it happens). So for example my D2 is loving Cornell. </p>

<p>Also IMO you need to scout your urban and suburban schools carefully, for example we perceived some of the same weekend campus drain issues happened at Wellesley. At each of them you should make specific inquiries to make sure it will really be like what you are hoping for. The more convenient the big city is, the more potential for reduction in vitality of campus life.</p>

<p>During my son’s recent college search I asked a question about this on the Tufts subforum, and the people said this was not a big problem there. I, for one, really liked Tufts based on our visit, I think S thought he wouldn’t get in.</p>

<p>BTW you are not alone, and things can be better.</p>

<p>Thank you monydad, I have to say, I know a lot of girls who are trying or have tried to transfer out of Barnard but I still do feel pretty alone and the task of transferring in addition to all of my ECs and schoolwork feels extremely daunting. I’m just trying to take it in baby steps right now. </p>

<p>The campus drainage issue is one to think about. I didn’t even realize that there was a potential for that problem, but you’re right. I’ll definitely make sure to look into it.</p>

<p>At this point, I’m also thinking about possibly Babson (since I want to eventually get an MBA anyway) or perhaps CMC? I don’t think that I would particularly like Vanderbilt or Emory since I don’t want to join greek life and that seems very prevalent.</p>

<p>As someone who transferred into Wellesley (and is really happy here), I would suggest you check it out. I don’t find there to be a “brain drain” problem. Some people go to Boston all the time, while others hardly go. (It depends if one defines a 40 minute to an hour bus ride to the city as “convenient.”) There are events that happen on campus during the weekends (music performances, movie showings, dances etc.) It also helps that the vast majority of the traditionally aged students live on campus.</p>

<p>I defer to someone who attends, D1 formed a different impression when she did an ovenight there after she was accepted. In any event it remains something that should be investigated at all prospective colleges IMO.</p>

<p>any advice on a good safety?</p>

<p>Do you need a safety, or could staying at Barnard be your back-up plan?</p>

<p>If you want to be anywhere that isn’t Barnard, go back to the list of places that you applied to last year, and take a good long look at those that accepted you then. Chances are that they would accept you now if you re-apply.</p>

<p>You haven’t mentioned money at all, so I take it that you are full-pay and money isn’t an object. If I’m wrong about that, you need to figure out how much your family can afford, and you need to track down at least one financial safety for yourself.</p>

<p>“Do you need a safety, or could staying at Barnard be your back-up plan?”</p>

<p>That’s the way D2 looked at it, she only applied for transfer to places she thought she would clearly prefer to her current school. But none of these were “safeties” where admission was nearly assured. You can probably look up recent transfer admission %s for schools of interest.</p>

<p>Greek life is not as prevalent at Emory as it is at Vanderbilt. It is my impression that Greek life can be ignored at Emory, if that is your preference. (My D graduated from Emory last year.) Also, if you’re looking at a business program, Emory should definitely be on your list.</p>