<p>I am currently a soph. @ a large state school in SC. I was in the military previously and did spring/summer @ CC (4.0) and this past fall I transferred into my current 4yr state school & started taking pre-med requirements here (Bio/Chem/Phys). Managed a 4.0 with a full course load. My teachers love me, managed to score in the top 1% on our ACS final nationally in Chem and got a personal email from the prof congratulating me and indicating I had the highest score by 5% out of her two sections of 80/ea. She knows my med school goals and already has stated I'll be getting a great rec letter. Doing the clinical hours (6/wk) and am also involved in research w/a professor here in the realm of infectious diseases that he wants me to aim for publication late in 2013. In other words life's great and I feel like I'm on a strong path to medical school acceptance.</p>
<p>My issue is that I am relying on state funded scholarships via the military to cover tuition and that fund has gone bankrupt for the fiscal year and likely longer. I am pondering transferring to a more prestigious school in the 10-30 range on the US News rankings that will offer me full financial aid coverage. I am an economics major so my future semesters starting fall 2013 won't include any science classes. My pre-med requirements will be complete after I take Orgo this summer at my current institution. Will I be red-flagged if I complete my science requirements at my current SC state school and ultimately end up with a degree from a school perceived to be more demanding/competitive? I feel like my reasons are reasonable (financial aid) and perhaps all I would need to do is explain things during interviews? Not sure how this will impact me or potentially be viewed as an attempt at gaming the system like kids who take requirements at easier schools/CC? Any insight appreciated!</p>
<p>Don’t look back. You’re good to go. Good luck.</p>
<p>the only issue with transferring is that you’re leaving an institution in which it sounds like you could easily find several teachers to write absolutely glowing recs. If you transfer for your junior year and plan on going straight to med school from undergrad, you will be applying from a school you were at for 1 year.</p>
<p>My answer was based solely on OP’s statement that FA was gone at the current school. Transfer up, itself, will not be an issue.</p>
<p>But IWBB is correct and I think the OP should really investigate the pre-med situation at the transfer school. Dealing with a pre-med committee could get very dicey if they don’t know you. Not a good situation but better than not going to school at all.</p>
<p>do follow…was planning on getting my science LOR’s from professors @ my current school and bypassing any committee situation I may encounter upon transferring. I should have enough time to impress teachers in my given major over the course of 1 year enough to get one or two LOR’s during my jr. year.</p>
<p>Can a lack of a committee letter, should I find myself at a committee school, be explained away during interviews by the fact that I am newly transferred (due to finances)? Then elaborate on my feelings that the 2 science, 1 or 2 non-science LOR’s seemed more appropriate? I appreciate all the feedback thus far!</p>
<p>The lack of committee letter will red flag your application if the transfer school offers committee letters. (At least this is what a med school adcom on that site which must not be named has said.) </p>
<p>I think you need to consider going through the committee process even if some of your recs come from your previous school. Most letter committees require an interview as part of the committee process. You need to make your case to them AND try to have at least 1 letter from a prof at your new school available for them</p>
<p>that is great information! It is possible to include rec. letters from my previous institutions science professors? If that is indeed the case then will most certainly do so and get in touch w/the committee people the moment I get on the new campus in August!</p>
<p>It’s indeed possible to submit letters from sources outside the school as part of the committee letter process. (Both my children either did or will do so.) The question is how those letters will be viewed by the committee. That is what you need to discuss with health professions committee at your new school.</p>
<p>Yeah, I don’t think there is a standard nationwide committee letter procedure. I.e. each school can choose how they handle issuing a committee letter and whether or not they will accept outside letters (the med schools certainly look at outside letters). </p>
<p>WOWMom is definitely right though that if you apply from a school that issues committee letters without a committee letter it will be a big red flag. While your situation would be understandable, the first thought upon seeing it won’t be “well let’s hear what this kid has to say,” it will be “What is wrong with this kid that the school didn’t want to endorse him?”</p>
<p>key then is to meet with those in charge of the committee letter process, explain how I’m a new transfer as well as the circumstances and convince them I’m a viable candidate. I appreciate all the guidance!</p>
<p>yolocholo,</p>
<p>not quite (although I may have misunderstood you). the key is to contact schools you are interested in transferring to now, before you transfer, and find out how they handle people who transfer for junior year. Find out if they will write a committee letter, will they use recs from people not affiliated with the school, etc. Some schools have policies for which there won’t be much of an issue at all, but they could have a policy like “we only write committee letters for students who spent at least 2 years at the school” which in your case would mean a forced glide year. I have no idea how flexible schools would be about this stuff or what kind of policies they might have and so I definitely wouldn’t wait until you’ve already transferred to find out this info.</p>