HELP! - Want to transfer.

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey guys, so I'm an ordinary sophomore currently in an LAC seeking to transfer to either another LAC or a bigger university as a junior. I hope you guys on CC can kindly help see if the list of colleges I am applying to is sufficient, flawed, or otherwise (list is below) or suggest additional schools.</p>

<p>What I find lacking in my current school and consequently what I desire:
1. Research opportunities for econ/philosophy (they have ample research opportunities for freshmen and above in biology and chem, but none in the departments mentioned above)
2. Surrounding town bores me to death. I need a more happening place that is easily accessible via public transport which is also easily accessible. By happening I mean a city/town which I can go out and walk around, sit by a cafe, listen to jazz band, contemplate by a lake etc. Nothing to do with drinking. It would be nice if there were conferences on current events or think tanks surrounding that area, but that is not vital.
3. Less hook-up culture and more opportunities to date, damnit.
4. A sizeable majority who think it is ok to talk about philosophy and current affairs for fun during the weekend. Basically, a real 'nerd' culture. And people that really care about their future - like seek to do harder classes, seek out internships; fellowships, research etc. and not be so freaking lazy about things.
5. A sizeable conservative population. I am a moderate, and the politically liberal atmosphere is my school is kinda stifling. All that talk about being open to dialogue and accepting other people's views - utter rubbish. </p>

<p>What my school has and what I hope to still find in wherever I transfer to:
1. Talented but humble students. I'm still amazed by what some of the students in my school can do. Piano maestro, pastry chef, suicide hotline personnel, NASA interns, 4-5 language speakers etc etc. But you don't learn about them until you get to know them well or 'catch' them at it.
2. Lack of cutthroat atmosphere. I've always believed in the value of being competitive with yourself, instead of backstabbing others, as a means of building character, intelligence and skills. The existence of competition is necessary and ok.
3. Great dorms. Oh man, the school I'm going to transfer to either better have great, non-cockroach dorms, or at least accessible off campus housing opportunities that are clean (I am a hypochondriac) and I still get to meet people.
4. Friendly students.</p>

<p>Other concerns:
1. Weather: Four seasons would be superb. But otherwise, I don't really care too much.
2. Ease (or relative ease) to make new friends. I am very concerned over that as a transfer student.
3. Name recognition and prestige. Dude, I need to know that employers are not going to look at my application and come up blank over my college/university.
4. Lack of drinking culture. Or at least a sizeable number of people who don't like to drink. Lack of pothead culture. </p>

<p>My qualifications (which are very modest, to say the least)
GPA (over 4): 3.8 over the last two semesters. I am doing pretty badly this semester, expecting a 3.4 but will try and improve my GPA next semester so my final average at the end of sophomore year will be at least a 3.6.
Organizations: Student Union; Acapella group, Choir in first semester, Christian fellowship. Debate Union freshman year. Also a student mentor for freshman this year.
Internship experience in consulting firm this summer in NY</p>

<p>I am a Asian Chinese, international student, who does not need any financial aid. Parents are also willing to support me for a additional semester or two if required. (since I am transferring to become a junior). I want to double major in philosophy/math. </p>

<p>This is my current list of schools:
U Chicago (top pick)
Yale (I dunno, it's like I'm throwing money at them for no good reason. But then again, we human beings aren't entirely rational, at least in the traditional sense of the word)
Columbia (same as Yale)
Swarthmore College
Amherst College
Brown
Tufts
Cornell (?????)</p>

<p>I am restricting my search to top 30 USNWR universities and top 20 LACs. End of story. I need some recognition back in my country too you know.</p>

<p>BTW, if you need to be blunt about something, please be.</p>

<p>Thanks so much!</p>

2

<p>need to know more</p>

<p>what school are you currently at? basic stuff</p>

<p>are you currently a junior? or are you a sophmore applying for junior standing next year?</p>

<p>what were your hs stats? sat's?</p>

<p>it sounds like the lack of prestige might be the greatest factor in you wanting out...it would be helpful to know for sure either way, we won't bite</p>

<p>the only thing i can really say without all of the above information however is that a 3.4 this semester, if you are currently a sophmore, will likely preclude you from being a competitive applicant at most, if not all, of those colleges...college ec's do not make you stand out...i would lower my expectations if i were you and include some more realistic options</p>

3

<p>How strong is your current school? SAT scores? Level of courses taken and major?</p>

4

<p>My current school is an LAC in the USNWR top 20.</p>

<p>SAT scores: 2250
Math: 740
Writing: 720
Critical: 790</p>

<p>Level of courses taken:</p>

<p>Freshman year:
Principles of Econ classes (micro and macro)
Philosophy - Intro class and ethics class
Intro to cognitive science
Calc 1 and Calc 2
Freshman seminar class</p>

<p>As you can see, it's really pretty pathetic. Most intro classes, doesn't matter if I got a good grade in those because it's intro classes and doesn't say anything about my intelligence. (Actually, at this point I think I'm an ordinary person in terms of intelligence, so never mind about that)</p>

<p>Major: Want to double major in mathematics and philosophy.</p>

<p>My high school record was not great - I was from the 'top' high school in Singapore but did badly in the 'A' levels - 1 A, 2 Bs, 1 C - which is why when I got accepted by this top LAC I was estactic.</p>

<p>It's not the lack of prestige that irks me - I think my school has enough to ensure I won't want for a good job - but it's just the lack of research opportunities in the areas I'm looking for and the general death and boredom of the area surrounding it that make me want to leave. I don't harbor bitterness against my school but I think after 2 years, I think I'm ready to do more self directed and intense learning.</p>

<p>On the other hand, I'm doing really badly this semester:</p>

<p>Microeconomic theory: pulling a B
Linear Algebra: pulling a B-
Epistemology Class: B/B+
An intro level (full of fluff) English class: A</p>

<p>So I don't know if I will drown if I go to a large place. But I figure that a bigger school will:</p>

<ol>
<li>Have more opportunities to find my niche</li>
<li>Give me enough prestige for all practical purposes</li>
<li>Have a sizeable community of students that actually share my interests and my temperament (that is hard believe me - I'm not obnoxious I hope but I'm quiet and kind of traditional, whatever that means)</li>
</ol>

<p>If only society didn't have to be so hard, I'd wake up in the morning, surf all day, and read books all night.</p>

<p>But never mind. Can you guys help me with more of the info I provided above?</p>

<p>I really honestly need help. Thanks so much.</p>

5

<p>And I'm looking at schools in the East Coast. Not West Coast. I like the jazz, preppy, dress nicely kind of vibe. I can consider schools in the Midwest too if they have the same atmosphere as the East coast ones.</p>

6

<p>If your grades could be brought up i'd say Notre dame, Georgetown, George Washington, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Lehigh Uni... Tulane..</p>

7

<p>They'll look less ant HS and more at the coursework and grades. You're SATs are fine for consideration anywhere.</p>

<p>the fact that you're having a bad term will make it very hard for a top school. It says that once you got past intro classes things got tough.</p>

<p>Frankly, you will have a hard time doing better than a top 20 LAC. Any of the schools on your list will expect better grades. Can you make it better where you are?</p>

8

<p>FWIW, I think you've expressed yourself very well. I think if this same voice comes across in your applications, it will be a plus.</p>

<p>Minor (?) note: you would be submitting apps this winter/spring for a fall 2009 transfer into junior status. Therefore you will be largely evaluated on your GPA through this semester. Your ending GPA after sophomore year won't come into play very much. Still, your GPA is good. I would do whatever I could, if I were you, given your planned Math major to get that Linear Algebra one up up up.</p>

<p>Hopkins occurs to me as one to add to your list. It and its area has a lot of what you want, especially the research opportunities. That is an emphasis at Hopkins. It has a reputation, among some, as "cutthroat" but many there would say it is more self-driven competitiveness vs. students attempting to undercut each other. More importantly, even that doesn't seem to prevail so much outside of pre-Med and Engineering (so I've heard).</p>

<p>The problem, of course, with your list (the only problem) is that they are so selective that anyone's chances are a bit slim - even a strong candidate such as yourself. I like snowrider's additions to the list. They'd give you some options if your current list didn't pan out, and his/her list includes some with higher transfer acceptance rates.</p>

<p>Another idea: McGill in Montreal.</p>

9

<p>Yeah to add to my post.. Umich. lehigh, Tulane and i think GWU would be easy to transfer too. All above 20%.. resonable stats - like 3.3+ with good essays and you'll be fine. Gt, ND would be the hardest.. Tried to transfer to Nd and GT last year. denied from nd with legacy and a 3.92 gpa but in at GT... but go where you want to - all yours have the preppyness that you want..</p>

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<p>Thanks guys.</p>

<p>Concerns about the additional schools suggested:</p>

<p>Johns Hopkins - Renowned for IR, and I've heard good things about the math department. But what if I simply decide to major in philosohy? Will I get laughed at for majoring in philosophy at a school which is really an IR and pre-med school?</p>

<p>U Mich - Huge school, not sure how much research opportunities I can get - since it seems that the world will be vying for research opportunities. I may get lost in there and not be able to make friends.</p>

<p>Lehigh - way too much drinking. I worked in NY over the summer and a Goldman intern told me all they do is drink, since, in his words 'there's nothing else to do there'. So, no to Lehigh.</p>

<p>Tulane - I don't like the idea of studying in New Orleans.</p>

<p>GWU - In DC, which again, seems to be fantastic for IR/politics majors, but ordinary for everything else. Don't think it's worth my while to transfer there, even if in the unlikely event I was accepted.</p>

<p>ND - Hmmm. Jesuit schools tend to have low endowments. Ditto for G-town. I visited G-town before and the area is boring and expensive, almost exactly like mine. And besides the SOFS, which someone in CC here is excoriating with frightening ferocity, I don't think much of the other schools.</p>

<p>So I really don't know. I may add U Mich to the list, but it's so big - I'm really not sure if I could fit in there. Johns Hopkins is definitely a possiblity - but again, for a philosophy major?</p>

<p>Hope I'm not being picky, but for me, it's really a matter of applying to schools which I know I will accept in a heartbeat if accepted. Keep suggesting!</p>

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<p>Nd is not Jesuit. It is catholic but is a CSC - diff sect of Catholicism i guess you could say. But it has an endowment expected to top 10 billion next year... yes it isn't a research university. it is still consistent in its LAC roots but it is sending more students into the research fields - especially in fields such as theo and philosophy. i would look into it... only about 500 kids apply for transfer each year. so if you have the stats i would recommend it...</p>

<p>the learning enviro is unparalleled. you should visit.</p>

12

<p>it does sound like a good idea. But in Indiana? Is there a nice town surrounding Notre Dame? It's rural isn't it? I guess if the academic and social engagement is there, it may not matter as much, but I think it will be cool to have an active town around.</p>

13

<p>Maybe it would be beneficial for you to try to, I don't know, SUCCEED academically before you think about "research" in econ/philosophy. Maybe try to, I don't know, get better grades than B/B- in subjects of your intended "research".</p>

14

<p>Excellent point. I'm not sure if I would take it kindly if you told it to my face (I'm not that mature yet), but something about enduring the delay in typing as a means of expressing thoughts rather than shooting off my mouth verbally has made me be able to take this as a very true point, something which I have stuggled with this semester.</p>

<p>Regarding research interests, I'm not going to do any research in math. I know I'm not good at it, even if I am still interested in it. The next two classes I will be taking next semester will be the final decisive factors - vector calculus and combinatorics.</p>

<p>I am interested in research in philosophy. Or if there is no such thing as research in philosophy, then seminars and intensive examinations of such subject matter. My grades are ordinary, but not disastrous for philosophy. B+ would be my aggregration of all my philo classes so far. But of course, I'm also not good at it. Same goes for econ. I'm pretty sure that I can pull my econ up to an A, and my prof thinks so too - he told me that to my face, take it what you will, since we are in cyberspace, I will not attempt to persuade you that I make a true claim.</p>

<p>Regardless, as I continue to struggle and improve, I will still submit transfer applications because I am fairly convinced that some of the problems I identify with the school I am in is not due to my manifold shortcomings, but institutional problems that I am also, at present, with other similarly dissatisfied students, attempting to engage constructively with the head of departments and whatnot.</p>

<p>And whatever turns out, if I still cannot succeed academically, then you are undoubtedly right. I should not transfer, because if my reason for transferring is to 'do more self directed study and research', then my lack of getting even basic affairs like grades in order should, and will, eliminate that 'wish', 'desire', call it what you will.</p>

<p>Any more suggestions for colleges?</p>