Help a transfer student decide where to apply?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>I'm a freshman now at Connecticut College and I'm not happy here. I'm from NYC originally and am finding the campus too isolated. Most of the students here also seem to not be academically-focused or at all intellectual. The vibe I'm getting is that they want to take four years "off" to party. I don't feel challenged academically at all. </p>

<p>Yes, yes, I realize this is not the case for <em>everyone</em> and I know, I know I'll continue to reach out, etc., but I'm pretty set on transferring. </p>

<p>In my senior year I got into AU, Bennington, Bryn Mawr, Dickinson, Kenyon, Mt. Holyoke, Reed, and Smith. I was also waitlisted at Davidson and Wellesley. MY ED choice was Haverford. </p>

<p>I would love to transfer to a college that's:
-more academically prestigious and attracts a slightly more erudite group of students
-in or near a city, esp. New York City
-on the East Coast.</p>

<p>So far my list includes: Barnard (DREAM school but as I'm from NYC originally it is hard to get into) , Bryn Mawr, Wellesley, NYU, Wesleyan</p>

<p>STATISTICS:
HIGH SCHOOL:
- 700s on the SAT (high 600 in math.. : /
- went to a v. well-known and prestigious private high school in NYC where general classes are the equivalent of AP and honors classes elsewhere
- very strong letters of recommendation and ESSAYS (which are my strong point, I would say)
- editor of school paper, president of Feminism club, volunteered often
- AP Art History: 5</p>

<p>COLLEGE:
- not sure of what clubs to join yet, thinking literary magazine, the Gender and Women's Studies Hosue (they run organizations and events, etc.), and possibly the Equestrian team only I sprained my ankle...
- taking Anthropology, History of the American West, Women, Madness and Power (a required freshman year seminar), and Advanced Spanish Grammar and Composition. American West and Spanish are advanced courses and I'm the only freshman in both.</p>

<p>QUESTIONS FOR YOU:
-Are there any other colleges you think I should check out?<br>
-Are there any other colleges I could check out that would be likely to accept me?
-Do you have any tips about transferring?
-What are the pros/cons for applying to a college for Fall 2011 v. Spring 2011? Is one more competitive than the other?
-Is there anything you think I should be doing on this end to make myself a more desirable candidate?</p>

<p>Any help would be much appreciated!! </p>

<p>Best,
Jane</p>

2

<p>Forgot to add!</p>

<p>My interests are Creative Writing, English, Art History, and History.</p>

<p>I plan to go on to Graduate School and get a PhD then teach on the collegiate level.</p>

3

<p>Carnegie-Mellon, Tufts, WUSTL, Cornell. Sounds like you see a bigger critical mass of people around you.</p>

4

<p>Thanks, I’ll look into them!</p>

<p>Anyone else? PLEASE?</p>

5

<p>Why did you choose Connecticut College from your list of acceptances? Did they give you a better financial aid package? If so, you may be better off sucking it up and staying put to save money.</p>

<p>If money wasn’t the determining factor, you should review your original list. Fire off a quick letter to the them now, and see if you can have your admission re-activated. You might even be able to start there second semester.</p>

6

<p>@HappyMomof1</p>

<p>Thank you for your response. (Re: your user name, I am an only child too!)</p>

<p>Financial aid/financial aid packages are not really important in my situation–I chose Conn because it seemed like a safe bet. It really is different now that I’m actually living here. </p>

<p>Would it only make sense to re-activate an application at a college I was previously accepted to?</p>

7

<p>buuummmppp ; )</p>

<p>Anyone else? Please? I need more suggestions!!</p>

8

<p>If you want out by second semester, the quickest way would be to contact the places you were admitted last year and ask if it’s possible.</p>

<p>If those institutions aren’t on your list now that you have been to college for a while, then it makes more sense to devote your energy to creating a new list.</p>

9

<p>Columbia, Cornell, Vanderbilt, UMichigan, Northwestern and Brown all have good creative writing programs (and have grad mfa programs).</p>

<p>Maybe check out DC and Boston schools if you want the big city feel. Boston College, BU, Georgetown, GW…</p>

<p>And Penn has a really good undergrad creative writing program</p>

10

<p>i am transfering too!!!</p>

<p>i hate it here. </p>

<p>I am looking at all girls schools now or state schools with honors/accelerated study programs so that i can get a jump start on my masters work</p>

<p>i know your pain!</p>

11

<p>Vassar sounds like a pretty good fit.</p>