<p>Hey all,</p>
<p>I'm in a bit of a situation. I recently transferred to UVA (University of Virginia) last spring from a community college in Virginia (3.93 GPA), and brought 60+ credits with me. My first semester just ended, and I didn't do as well as I would have liked. My GPA is around a 2.7, and I'm a pre-Economics major. I had a hard time dealing with the transfer and all the stresses of adjustment that go along with it, but I became settled in towards the end of the semester.</p>
<p>Now, I'm considering transferring to GMU (George Mason University). Although the name doesn't carry quite the same weight as UVA, George Mason has a few benefits to consider.</p>
<ol>
<li>Significantly cheaper. I'm paying for my entire education on my own, so this is a big one.</li>
<li>In driving distance from home.</li>
<li>I would be able to double major in both Economics AND Finance.</li>
<li>I would have another chance at a GPA closer to a 4.0.</li>
</ol>
<p>That being said, I know that I tripped up last semester at UVA, but I'm confident that I can do much better here on out. I have 3 semesters left, so I should be able to bring up my GPA to the 3.3/3.4 realm by the time I graduate. At GMU, however, I would be able to double major, and I'm confident I can achieve something closer to the 4.0 realm.</p>
<p>I have an extensive work experience, including holding a financial specialist/supervisor position for a well-know commercial bank.</p>
<p>I want to work for a few years after my undergraduate degree in the field of financial analysis/consulting, and then go back for my MBA. People say that MBA programs look at the numbers, so GPA outweighs the name of the school. Others say that the UVA name will get me the post-undergrad job that I want.</p>
<p>Any advice? Your feedback is truly appreciated.</p>
<p>-S</p>
<p>I went to Mason and didn’t regret it. After getting my bachelors there, I moved to Boston and worked for a successful start-up, then relocated to NYC and worked for an international aid organization. I found that Mason’s reputation has been rising steadily since 2000 when I graduated. The selection of GMU’s next president, Dr. Angel Cabrera, is a sign of how serious and how innovative the university continues to be. (Look him up if you haven’t already…)</p>
<p>If double-majoring in Econ and Finance is important to you, and as long as you’re open to choosing a slightly less prestigious school in order to improve your GPA and all-around educational accomplishments, I think it makes sense to transfer. In the future an MBA admissions committee will be more interested in the trajectory of your career than in the prestige of your bachelors degree. If you think Mason is a better place for you to study (it was for me) then don’t be afraid to opt out of Charlottesville.</p>
<p>Best wishes for your decision and career.</p>
<p>tamtimtom mentioned that in the future MBA programs would be more interested in your work experience than the prestige of your ugrad. While he is likely correct in that matter, the reason you go to a top ugrad school is to land a better job more easily than if you attended a less prestigious school.</p>
<p>Personally, what I think you should do is stay at UVA. Stay at UVA and kill it for the next 3 semesters. The opportunities coming out of UVA are astronomically more abundant than those from GMU. UVA, as I’m sure you know, is one of the best in the country for undergraduate business. You’re majoring in Finance and econ, so that is very relevent to what you’re looking to do. If you’ve payed any attention, you’ve probably noticed the amount of recruiting from big name companies that happens on your campus. I can assure you that it is not the same case at other schools such as GMU.</p>
<p>If money is enough of an issue that you will be seriously screwed by staying at UVA, then by all means transfer to GMU. If, on the other hand, you will be able to afford the UVA education without ruining the next 10 years of your life, the investment is absolutely worth the return.</p>
<p>My advice: sacrifice everything to bring up your GPA for the next 3 semesters at UVA, come out with job placement that would be near impossible to achieve at GMU, and never look back.</p>
<p>Good luck</p>