<p>Would it be difficult to transfer to Columbia College from Lehigh University, assuming I get all As (This is a definite that I will get that 4.0 GPA at Lehigh. I want to go to Lehigh for a year first because it would save me a lot of money as it is completely free for me.) and will have 2 years of research experience? Also, would I have to still have to take all the classes for the Core Curriculum, like University Writing and Frontiers of Science? Would I be able to substitute them with similar classes I took at Lehigh instead? What about the Global Core?</p>
<p>It’s generally more difficult to get into columbia as a transfer than as an undergraduate. This year was the best ever for transfers and it was around a 5% acceptance rate I believe. </p>
<p>You don’t have to take frontiers of science as a sophomore transfer, but you do have to take 3 science credits (including up to 1 math)</p>
<p>The Global Core can be filled in with classes from a previous university.
The science core can as well, as can university writing. </p>
<p>It’s difficult but possible to get credit for literature humanities etc</p>
<p>This is an extremely relative question. I’ve just transferred in this year, as a sophomore, and can state, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that I would not have been accepted to Columbia had I applied as a high school student.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Columbia, you should want to take the Core. Don’t waste your time applying if you don’t have a desire to take Lit Hum or CC. (You won’t need to do the UW or Frontiers, which are typical college mundanities anyway.)</p>
<p>Most of your courses will transfer. Try not to take too many professional courses, like business or journalism, though these usually count anyway.</p>
<p>Your scores/GPA are necessary prereqs, but applying as a transfer is heavily reliant upon the narrative you provide in your transfer essay. Make sure you know the school you are applying too, I guess is what I’m getting at. But yeah, you have as good a shot as anyone. Go for it!</p>
<p>Yeah, I look forward to taking Lit Hum and CC; it’s just Frontiers of Science and the Global Core that I don’t care much for. Also, most colleges require a first year English class. I’ll be able to use this in place of University Writing, right?</p>
<p>A lot of people said that it’s harder to transfer to get admitted as a first year. Is really this true?</p>
<p>Before I speak, full disclosure: I am a wait-listed Columbia transfer (wait listed twice, in fact, both as an RD-er and a transfer, but whatever). So, perhaps I’m a little biased.</p>
<p>BUT, in my opinion, the schema for accepting transfers are not overtly merit-based at all, and take into account the more “fuzzy” aspects of the admissions process (passions, personality, weltanschaungen, and what have you). So, for example, I was applying with a 2250 SAT (770 CR, 740 M, 740 W), a 770 in chem, a 760 in math IIC, a 3.9 from Cornell, 2 fantastic letters of recommendation, and what I consider to be a very compelling essay, and was wait-listed. Meanwhile, a kid with a 3.6 from UVA and a 1380 was accepted. He was also, as he explained, a homosexual looking for a more liberated setting. There were 3-4 other accepted students who were also significantly less competitive than I was from a strictly academic standpoint (really, no contest - I don’t recall precise numbers but none broke a 1500 or a 3.8).</p>
<p>So, what I would tell you is: once you establish yourself as someone within the middle 50% of a Columbia student, they’ll start looking at smaller factors. Good luck. I ended up very happy at Penn, and you’ll likely fit in wherever you make it, as well.</p>
<p>On a related note: Penn takes a completely different approach than Columbia, and accepts transfers based almost SOLELY on merit. So, most students had a 3.8+, broke 2200 on their SATs, etc. They also arrived without the same “bone to pick” that some Columbia transfers do (e.g. a gay kid from a conservative area re-insinuating himself within a more accepting culture, blossoming as an individual, yada yada yada). It makes for a completely different setting. Not necessarily better or worse, but certainly different, and it’s something to think about when you make your final choice. Harvard’s strategy is similar to Penn’s, while Brown and Dartmouth are more in-between.</p>
<p>And Yale, as far as I can tell, only accepts demi-gods and space aliens as transfer students.</p>
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<p>demi-gods, space aliens, and scammers: [SKEEVY</a> IVY ‘SCAMMER’](<a href=“http://www.nypost.com/p/news/regional/skeevy_ivy_scammer_UhjmZhbiWbT6FvQA3XeOUM]SKEEVY”>SKEEVY IVY ‘SCAMMER’)</p>
<p>If I am not mistaken, Harvard does not accept transfers anymore.</p>
<p>I believe they start again this year.</p>
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<p>Aha, very cunning muertea, anything that is quantifiable is merit and anything that isn’t is not, how convenient for someone with good stats. You can’t possibly believe that a few test scores in high school and high GPA alone make you a top notch student (which you have to be to transfer in). Columbia rightly maintains a loose threshold for score based achievement and takes a judgment call on all the other qualities that would make successful students. </p>
<p>With your waitlisting and others’ acceptance. Did you have great ECs? what makes you think your essay was great!? 75% of posters on this site claim their essays are great, yet 75% of the essays that I read are pathetic. In my experience, so far people on this site are delusional and have no clue what makes a good essay. Many are also hopeless at evaluating themselves relative to a high standard, when it comes to non-quantifiable achievements. How seriously did you take yourself in your essay for example? Those other people who got in, did you inspect their entire applications? and even if you did, what makes you think that you are qualified to judge quality of applicants given that you yourself were an applicant in the process.</p>
<p>Penn’s process is no more merit based that Columbia, it’s just less dimensional, it places a high emphasis on what is quantifiable (keep in mind though that Columbia still has higher SAT scores than penn). </p>
<p>98.9% in the top 10% of their high school class, really? Kids in the 89th percentile at Andover and harvard westlake with great ECs, Recs and essays were good enough for Harvard, Stanford and Columbia but not for Penn? Doesn’t seem like a good trade-off to me, strangely enough it doesn’t seem all that merit based either.</p>
<p>A bit off track, but I think Penn is hurting itself by placing undue emphasis on the “top 10%” test. Counselors, parents and applicants will begin to apply a 10% litmus test in deciding whether one should apply to Penn. The other top schools, each of which could create classes with 100% in the top 10%, continue to invite applications from great students who may fall below the bright line. Ultimately, Penn will not receive applications from those students. Perhaps the phenomena has already begun, explaining in part some of the hand-wringing by Penn promoters who lament its inability to attract more applicants than it does.</p>
<p>Uhh… to sort of get back on track, and make a couple comments.</p>
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<li><p>Why wouldn’t you want to take the Global Core? I would think one of the best parts of coming to college is to experience diversity and perspectives you won’t find just around the corner…</p></li>
<li><p>English can’t replace a writing course, unless that course involved a good deal of writing (25-30 pages) and emphasized the writing process. Columbia’s first English course is largely Lit Hum.</p></li>
<li><p>Judging by your comments, it seems like you need to go back and do some more research, visit the school, talk to some people. Perhaps speak with a Professor about it. If you are already thinking about what you DON’T want to take, that’s kind of a negative start.</p></li>
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<p>I’m not trying to get out of Lit Hum. I just don’t want to take University Writing again if I’ve taken the same course at another college.</p>
<p>I not really saying that I don’t want to take these Core courses, I just don’t want to take them again if I’ve already taken them at another college. Okay, so Frontiers of Science is one class that I don’t want to take, but that’s because I’m probably going to be majoring in Biochem or some other science, so it’s kinda useless for me.</p>
<p>will i be at a disadvantage if im trying to transfer from penn (wharton)?</p>
<p>relative to what? Good grades at Wharton will definitely be viewed more favorably than equivalent grades at lesser schools, if that’s what you’re asking. But that’s kinda self-evident, no?</p>
<p>Really, everything hinges on your ability to tell a compelling story for why (A) Wharton isn’t the place for you (but it doesn’t suck! don’t be negative in your essays), (B) Columbia would be the perfect fit, and (C) you realize this now but didn’t when you were first applying.</p>
<p>Aren’t you just looking for better financial aid, rebel21? I looked at your previous posts, and you’re applying to Stern (NYU), a strange move for a Wharton student. I would either a) contact Penn financial aid, which is one of the best (only HYPSM offer better, as well as a few LACs), and see if you can wring some more money out of them b) if you truly can’t afford it, apply to Yale and Stanford, as they’re the only schools with BETTER aid, or bite the bullet and go to your state school. Columbia probably won’t help.</p>
<p>i think another part of my it is that i dont want to sell my soul to business so early. id like to explore other fields as well before i do decide to sit down and declare a major. i understand applying to stern wouldn’t solve that, but i think columbia would. what i meant about being at a disadvantage was: will columbia be less willing to take someone from another ivy league since i am not exactly at a school where im deprived of any academic/social opportunities?</p>
<p>I believe you just (briefly) explained why Wharton cannot offer you what you want. If you are able to eloquently explain why the narrow curriculum of your current school does not meet your needs, I suspect Columbia will understand. Although I’ve lived almost 30 years in the finance world, I firmly believe that undergraduate business school is generally a mistake, and Columbia probably believes the same.</p>
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<p>People transfer between Penn and Columbia from time to time. I met 2 girls and guy from Columbia who transferred to Penn my year, and my friend’s roommate transferred to Columbia last year. You can defend the position if you need to.</p>
<p>Also, Wharton is slightly more selective than Columbia, which could help you in the process - although I’m not sure. Regardless, you’d have to convince them why Columbia is more of a fit than Penn CAS, which is honestly a peer school and would be fairly easy for you to transfer to. You’ll have to write a heartfelt and meaningful essay beyond “Penn isn’t in NYC”…</p>
<p>Your reason to come to Columbia from Wharton is pitch-perfect. If you really want to grow as an individual, and as a member of your global community, Columbia would be happy to fill that bill.</p>
<p>From Wharton’s vocational track to Columbia’s Great Books setting. That’s your narrative.</p>