I am considering transferring from UMD for the Fall 2015 semester, I don't know where. Help?

Transfer Students
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<p>Okay, so long story short, I was admitted to UMD for the Spring 2015 semester, meaning I had to do Freshman Connection (a program for spring admits where you take classes with only each other and in the afternoon/evening). I hated this semester. My classes were not interesting, I didn't feel challenged, and it was difficult to meet people. I could barely do any clubs because the Freshman Connection classes met during club meetings and when everyone was out of class.In high school, there was an awesome community (private, catholic school), and I felt like I mattered (somewhat). UMD is a big school, and I have yet to feel the sense of community and belonging that I desire. </p>

<p>Also, I still value prestige. I applied to many schools (including Ivies), and I didn't get into the higher ranked schools. I was waitlisted for William and Mary, but I got into UMiami with a $30,000 scholarship. However, I didn't choose Miami because I couldn't visit and I wasn't sure if I'd fit in with the party culture. I feel UMD isn't...intellectual enough. That sounds very elitist, I know, but I want to be somewhere where people actually enjoy learning and talking about bigger issues than themselves.</p>

<p>I am from Maryland, so it's instate for me. I don't really like College Park too much, I would prefer being closer to the city. From what I can tell, people don't venture out to DC too often, and it's more of a once in a while thing. I loves cities, so this is kind of disappointing to me too. I want to get out of Maryland and see new places, fall in love with a new setting. I don't love UMD.</p>

<p>So for actually transferring...</p>

<p>I'd like to seek admission for fall 2015. This semester seems to be pretty good. I took a summer class, which started me with a 4.0 GPA. Then this semester will most likely end up a 3.7-3.8 GPA. High school was not as good, my GPA hindered me (I ended up with around a 3.0-3.1 unweighted GPA). I did the IB Diploma program. My SAT was a 2030. I also participated in a few clubs (Speech and Debate, Black Student Union, Track). </p>

<p>What places would be good for me to transfer to? Should I transfer? I appreciate advice :)</p>

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<p>Oh, and I am a Psychology major, but I’m considering switching majors. I am unsure of what I want to do after college. </p>

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<p>Bump</p>

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<p>Well, spring semester as part of the campus as a whole may be better. Seems like UMD’s Freshman Connection is not too well thought out.</p>

<p>Your transfer chances will be better if you aim to transfer for fall 2016, so that you have more of a college record to wash away your less impressive high school record.</p>

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<p>@ucbalumnus it isn’t, at all. It might be better next semester, just this one was really rough for me. And that’s a bit long to wait, imo. Two years of a place I kind of don’t like?</p>

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<p>But if you apply now your HS records will be looked at, as a result, you won’t be able to get in a good school. </p>

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<p>@artloversplus you think so? I thought getting good grades first semester would count for something. And my SAT wasn’t bad at all. I’m not sure how much the transfer application process differs from the regular application process.</p>

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<p>What is the target school? Makes difference. Yes I believe most schools will look at your HS records at least w&m</p>

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<p>@artloversplus I don’t have a specific target in mind. USC (LA) is reaching, same with Carnegie Mellon probably. Any ideas?</p>

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<p>Better transfer as a Jr with a higher Gpa. I am sorry to say right now stay put is your best bet. </p>

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Most schools that take sophomore level transfers will be looking at one semester of college work. High school records will still be considered important for such applicants.

Junior level transfers will have three semesters of college work to present for transfer admissions. High school records will likely be considered less important, or not used at all by some schools for junior level transfers.

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“From what I can tell, people don’t venture out to DC too often, and it’s more of a once in a while thing. I loves cities, so this is kind of disappointing to me too.”

For crying out loud. The Metro stops right on the UM-CP campus. If you want to go to DC, go. Don’t be waiting around for someone else to go with you.

Where did you live during your Freshman Connection semester? Did you commute from home, or did you find housing near/at UM-CP? If you were a commuter, and now will be on campus, that might make all the difference.

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@happymomof1 I lived on campus, but my floor is a mix of sophomores and freshmen, so it’s a bit different from other dorms. I don’t feel living on campus has helped me too much.

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I’ll take your spot

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Bumping it up again. Also, I just realized that my cumulative high school GPA was a little below 3.0…I had issues with depression, so that kind of affected it. The IB program was also difficult. But, I still got into some colleges (UMBC, Delaware, Penn State, UMiami, full ride to Howard). However, I was rejected by higher tier schools (Emory, UVA, Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Columbia [only applied to HYP because my parents were wayyyy too optimistic and wanted me to]). Like I said before, I still value prestige and rigor. Is there any hope for me, at all, if I wanted to transfer for fall 2015?

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Bump. I’ve also made a list of some schools I’m considering (Emory, American or GW, CMU, Rice, Richmond) and possibly considering (USC, Northwestern, … )

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Focus on getting good grades and get involved on campus. It is true that your GPA will be looked at, but they will see that you have made a big turn around and that you are capable of college-level work. Maybe you won’t get into those top-ranked schools but you’ll never know unless you apply. How come you decided not to go to Penn State?

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I am confused about your timeline. You said you were admitted for spring 2015, which commences now, but you also speak of the spring freshman connection as if it already happened. So if you have already completed one semester, would that be spring or fall of 2014?

Regarding your college list, I’m also confused. You said you feel as if the college is too large and impersonal, but you’ve chosen other large universities (don’t go USC…). Have you not considered a liberal arts college? Granted, the top ones are also difficult to be admitted, but they are part of consortia (Amherst, Pomona, Swarthmore) and offer university-level depth and breadth of classes. And lac’s have small but closely-bonded students. You said you value prestige, and generally that’s an indicator of high quality. But don’t be put off by less-prestigious options. Application as a transfer will be more difficult. Consider that you should not stay in a place where you are unhappy, as that unhappiness has effects far greater than bad grades. But also consider that you haven’t explored your campus enough to judge it accurately. After all, freshman connection sounds awful, but at least it’s over (right?)

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@fallenwinter I never got to visit. But it’s insanely big, not close to an urban area, and not really diverse.

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@chowling the FC program was for the fall. This spring I will be a regular student. Liberal arts colleges are too small for me, I want somewhere bigger than 2,000 people. And that’s true, I want to see how this semester goes, but I feel like I’d be happier elsewhere.