<p>I will enroll in a top 25 school. While I'm sure the educational quality I'll receive here is as good as from anyother schools, but I dont think I'll be happy here. My girlfriend, my best friends, and my cousin are all going to/already at very top schools like HYPC. I want to be with them.</p>
<p>My HS gpa was 3.6(probably bottom 25% for those in my hs with ivy ambitions). My SAT is 1500+, average 700 sat scores. Nothing standing out.</p>
<p>I dont think Im going to have done anything extraordinary by the time I apply first year. There is really not much of a compelling reason other than I want to be with my gf. The only thing I'll have are recs from professors who'll say "Damn this guy, 100% test scores from day 1"</p>
<p>Is there anything else I can do to strengthen my transfer app or am I just pretty much stuck herE?</p>
<p>I think that's your problem. It's fine to have ivy ambition and the stats to back it up, but you really need to be involved and passionate (or at least fake it well) about some ECs, and look involved in either your community or school. Are you a member of an honors program, or do you volunteer for anything? I don't think your stats alone are compelling enough for admit.</p>
<p>Best of luck getting closer to your girlfriend though :)</p>
<p>I assume this is your first year at the univ. so I would say that you should really give it a chance. Plenty of couples go to college away from each and survive. I hate to be a realist but as you mature and have more experiences and your gf as well, you guys might not even want to be with each other. It happens a lot! As another poster said, your stats aren't enough for the Ivies b/c they have way more people with your stats then they could possibly admit. Try to find something, anything that really inspires some passion in you if you really want to transfer. However, I say thatyou give current college a try b/f you decide that you must transfer. I'm a very strong proponent of things happeninf for a reason.</p>
<p>I knew I'd get these responses. I'll definately go into Duke with an open mind. But I really want to be with my girlfriend and want to put myself in the best position to decide whether I want to transfer or not.</p>
<p>I think Duke is a fine school and I am as smart as many other Ivy applicants. Just that they did a whole lot more "app padding" than I did.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say there's no hope, especially coming from Duke, but is your primary reason for wanting to transfer the HYPS factor, or being closer to your girlfriend? If it's being closer to your girlfriend, why not transfer to a school more on level with Duke, rather than stretch it for something with more prestige than the institution you're currently attending? If you probably could have gotten in after high school, than you should have no trouble getting in now, but only one year of college that only shows that you handle coursework well isn't enough to get you into incredibly selective colleges like Harvard, that have 79 spots for 1000 applicants.</p>
<p>She's at H, along with the fact that it's H. My family is in Stamford Ct, that's why I'm considering Y. Of course the fact that they are the best schools in the country induces considerable influence. So it's 55% wanting to be with family/friends, 45% wanting to go to a better school. </p>
<p>I'd say that out of HS, I probably had a 1% chance at HY and a 15% chance at the other ivies. But after applying with 1 year of college grades, my theoretical chances should be higher seeing that I will do better in college than hs if I want to transfer. However, just by being a transfer, whatever percentage points I picked out from good college record is completely offset and negated. </p>
<p>Unless I apply for junior transfer, applying for sophomore transfer is nearly impossible unless I cure cancer. correct?</p>
<p>From what I've heard, sophomore transfers are most successful in getting into better colleges than their current institution only when the jump is slight. I don't know that you need to cure cancer, but you're right in thinking that grades alone just aren't going to do it. What about something like Brown? </p>
<p>I'm not sure about transferring twice, but perhaps that's an option?</p>
<p>john, I don't know what to tell you. src and I are just being realistic I guess. I know that coming out of hs, you really want to be with your gf and maybe you even want to be close to your family. It's just that once you actually start to live on campus and start to live college life, a lot of things change. I really just think you should give Duke a chance. Keep your grades and get involved in something b/c YOU WANT TO not b/c in the back of your mind, you think you might want to transfer. It will make your time at Duke (however long it is) more enjoyable. I mean if you still feel this way in November of December, then definitely think more seriously about transferring but right now, you really should just focus on settling down at Duke.</p>
<p>Also, as a person who has had friends at Harvard and Duke, I honestly don't think there is much difference between the educational quality of the two. Yes, I know Harvard is no. 1, yada, yada, yada but when applying to grad or professional school or getting a job, no is going to hold attending Duke against at all.</p>
<p>The reasons that you have pointed out don't seem to be justified. YOu haven't even entered the college yet, and already you are wiswhing to transfer. </p>
<p>I say go to the college and find a new gf...problem solved! jk.....:D</p>
<p>Duke will offer you an education and opportunities that are in no way inferior to either H or Y . It is time for you and gf to meet new people but also stay in touch. Time will tell if you two should plan on being together after college graduation--meanwhile learn as much as you can and broaden your horizons.</p>
<p>i disagree, dude you're 18 don't determine which school you're going to go to because of some high school crush.....and even if it is more than that...put things in perspective for yourself...</p>