<p>Its been a while since I've posted, but I've come across a dilemma that I think you guys can help me with. </p>
<p>I'm currently a sophomore at a small, private, top university in the north east, and I want to transfer. I feel like I'm missing out on a lot of the school spirit of a big school and the fun that they have there, and the way I see it I only get one shot to be at a big school but graduate school will probably provide an environment similar to a smaller liberal arts college. Right now I'm considering a transfer to CAL, UCLA, U of Michigan, and UT at Austin. I'm originally from Cali, so I'd get instate tuition at CAL and UCLA, but they're hard to transfer into from a private school. UM is the easiest to get into (I'm positive I'll get in), but its also the most expensive. I think that UT is probably the best all around experience in terms of academics, social, and culture, but I'm worried that I might feel left out/not connected with the school if I enter as a junior from CA and I don't know anybody there. </p>
<p>Do you have any advice for what I should consider or input on where I should go? Any is welcome. This is assuming that I can get into all of them (which isn't guaranteed, but once I decide on a school I'm willing to do whatever I have to in order to get in.)</p>
<p>thanks</p>
<p>Also I forgot to say that I'm not sure what major I'll be exactly, but it will be either econ, poly sci/govt, or communications/media</p>
<p>Will you have taken sufficient course work so that you won’t have trouble graduating on time (four semesters or six quarters from entry as a junior)? As public schools, these universities may not want to take students who would have trouble graduating on time, since each extra semester or quarter you take means that one fewer other student can attend that semester or quarter.</p>
<p>The problem with waiting to decide is that I’ll need to do different things for each school for next year, so I was hoping to get some input on what people thought of these schools. </p>
<p>Yes I should be able to graduate on time, especially from the UCs because if I went that way I’d enroll in CC, I’ve talked to counselors and such and I have it all worked out, and I considered a transfer last year so I’ve been mindful of the courses I took so that they could transfer.</p>
<p>Remember that some UCs including Berkeley do not like transfer applicants who have more than 80 semester units (or 120 quarter units) if any of them are from a four year school. So if you have 60 semester units from Tufts, and then decide to attend a community college to prepare for transfer to a UC, you may want to avoid taking more than 20 semester units (or 30 quarter units).</p>
<p>If you decide to leave Tufts, be sure to file the withdrawal paperwork instead of just dropping out without notice. In case you decide to return to Tufts later, that may help you get readmitted more easily (many schools will readmit former students who left in good academic standing more easily than they will admit new students).</p>
<p>UNC Chapel Hill has excellent programs in poli sci and communications; econ is also good, as is the interdisciplinary PPE program. Along with UVA, it is one of the few public colleges to meet the full financial need of all admitted domestic students. Tons of school spirit, great athletics, a great college town, good weather, a nice campus, and cross-registration with Duke are nice perks. The only downside is (if you’re female) the skewed female/male ratio.</p>
<p>It would be a better bet than most non-UC publics, I think.</p>
<p>Does Tufts have agreements with other schools to spend a semester or more on other campuses?
So much of the big school experience has to do with arriving with a cohort of first year students who become your friends for the duration. Tougher to do entering 3rd year.
I get that Tufts will never be considered a “rah-rah” kind of college experience, but I’d be inclined to enjoy the friends you have, take what Boston offers, and spend your energy planning your post-graduation life.</p>
<p>" but graduate school will probably provide an environment similar to a smaller liberal arts college."</p>
<p>What makes you think that? </p>
<p>And all the schools you are planning to apply to, not to mention many more like them, have graduate programs. If you want a ‘big school’ experience, you can have it in 2 1/2 years without losing all the ‘social and academic capital’ that you’ve built up at Tufts thus far.</p>
<p>I think you are suffering from ‘the grass is always greener’ syndrome. Yes, there may be more ‘rah-rah’ culture at some of these other schools, but you are taking for granted the kind of intellectual vitality and the resources that Tufts offers - including the alumni network and the access to faculty. Will you even be able to graduate from CAL or UCLA in 4 years given the resource constraints the cal system is facing? Consider too the possibly different requirements to complete your major and additional distribution requirements to graduate, which may force you to take classes you hadn’t planned on - and may have trouble getting into. Class sizes will almost certainly be larger and personal attention from faculty will require sharper elbows since you don’t know any of them from prior classes. If graduate school is definitely in your future, then you will need letters of recommendation, not to mention the personal relationships that give you research and other opportunities. Lastly you are right to be concerned about transferring as a junior - people are apt to have their own circles of friends and be somewhat less open to new people: You’ll have to make an extra effort.</p>
<p>Of course, if you are saving a lot of money by going in-state, that might make some sense - but you don’t even get that at UM or UT.</p>
<p>I agree with MM, the schools you are considering is NOT that much better than Tufts and the money savings is not worth the efforts. Even if you can transfer up to HYS (no Princeton), IMO it will bring you some betterment, but not going to give that a BIG boost in your future career to worth the transfer. In addition, you are running the risk of getting into an unfamiliar environment and unable to perform as well as Tufts.</p>
<p>If I were you, I will stick it out and try it at the graduate level. No one will question your undergraduate degree, once you have a master or phd from HYP or the like.</p>
<p>Thanks a lot guys. I really do appreciate taking the time to read the thread and help me. I think the thing that I’m wrestling with though is that I’m primarily concerned with being happy and enjoying my college experience to the fullest, whereas many of the responses have been concerning my future and how it will affect graduate schools, etc. </p>
<p>That shows a pretty interesting facet of our culture, and could make for some interesting discussion in the general forums. hm…</p>
<p>I think I’m gonna have to postpone any decision until after this semester and see if I feel the same way then</p>
<p>I read this last night and it looks like several other posters are seeing this similar to me. Are you doing okay academically at Tufts? Or have your family’s financial reasons changed since you started attending? Are you finding the east coach culture difficult compared to what you’re used to in LA? Is there a special someone in CA? Other that those 2 two things, it is inconceivable why you would leave Tufts, one of the very top LACs in the Northeast. When you apply to grad school, this can also hurt you as your stated reason sounds lame. The schools you listed are fine, but Tufts has so much more going for it on a broader context.</p>
<p>I agree with the concept of getting your big school experience through grad school. I went to a huge big school with a strong football culture, and there were certainly grad students enjoying that, but you may also find that in another 2 years that scene is not all that it’s cracked up to be as you get older and more mature. I would definitely recommend thinking this out this semester. A junior year transfer is more difficult than you think, both in terms of transfer credits and your own expectations.</p>
<p>I love that I’m surrounded by smart people there, it makes it great for talking to other students and such. I’m doing great academically, although I don’t know what I want to study yet so I’ve only taken a few advanced classes. You hit it on the spot in a lot of ways Snowflake, the culture is much different, although tolerable, and yes finances are also a factor in my decision, but no girlfriend back home anymore. </p>
<p>Do you have experience with the transfer process yourself or is that just what you’ve heard?</p>