I'm REALLY need some advice on what to do...

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, this is my first time posting here, though I've been reading the boards for a while. I'm attending a big public school in SoCal, and while I do like it here a lot, I've been thinking about transferring. Admittedly, while I do love the school I'm at now, it wasn't my first or second choice of places to go. My question is, if I'm content here, and would be happy staying there for 4 years, should I even bother with transfer applications? If I do decide to transfer, are there any suggestions as to where I should apply? </p>

<p>High School Stats:</p>

<p>GPA: 3.99
SAT: 1420
SAT II: M1C: 660 (not too great, I know)
Bio: 700
World Hist: 720
Writing: 740
US Hist: 760
ACT: 30
AP's: Took 5 in all, three 5's and two 4's
Almost all the classes I took junior and senior year were either honors or AP, my recommendations were pretty good, and I did several ECs, including a sport, for all four years, though I only had a leadership position in one of them (President). I also did my own endocrine research, and hopefully will have my data published soon. </p>

<p>College:</p>

<p>1st Quarter GPA: 3.9 (Admittedly, when GPA's here can go up to 4.3 it's not the best, but it's still a high A-/ low A range. The courses I took were relatively light compared to what I thought they'd be, though they weren't 'easy-A' courses either. Second quarter course load is looking much more intense and more focussed, but is skewed slightly more towards science than humanities because of my intended major)
EC's: I'm pretty involved with 3 groups, two of which I'm very, very involved in and have leadership roles. </p>

<p>So, the big question: I really feel like I should apply for transfer this year, whether I do or don't actually go is another story. The idea of transferring has held me back from doing a lot of things (joining a frat, for example) that I want to do, and wouldn't want to hold off for another year. Where should I apply? How good are my chances? Are schools like Cornell, Northwestern and Georgetown out of reach? Is it even worth the application money, or should I just stay content here?</p>

<p>Any advice anyone can give would be most greatly appreciated.</p>

2

<p>those are excellent stats my man. i think if you want to go to school on the east coast, you should consider NYU, Cornell, and maybe Columbia, although transferring into there is incredibly unpredictable. if you want to stay on the west coast, i would give Stanford a shot. its not a lock of course, but it wont hurt to try. i think if you stay another year or so at the college you are at and continue to get top grades, you could go anywhere you want really. but as of right now, you have plenty of options. good luck and keep us posted</p>

3

<p>Question is: Are you planning on going to grad school? If so, just stay where you're at, do the best you can there, enjoy it for all you can, and then go to grad school at a place like Cornell, Columbia et al. That would be my advice, because transferring is a big undertaking (new social scene, new academic approach, new food, etc. etc.), and should only be done if you are extremely unhappy with your school, or feel like your school is not going to provide you a good foundation for a career or grad school. From your post, it appears that you go to a good southern Cal school...so if you do well there, you will have a lot of options for career, or grad school. Besides, most schools are more concerned about their graduate programs than their undergrad programs, so going to your #1 school for grad studies is more likely a better experience than just your undergrad. This, ofcourse, is only if you plan on going to grad school anyways.</p>

4

<p>I agree with the previous poster, if you're happy where you are stay there - and get more involved (join that frat!) - and your stats are better than you seem to believe.</p>

5

<p>Does anyone else have any advice? And, does anyone know the transfer acceptance rates for the schools I mentioned earlier?</p>

6

<p>OH, I should have realized this earlier, but I guess I forgot. My GPA at college is based on an A+/A- scale, where an A+ is a 4.3, A is a 4.0, and A- is a 3.7. I'm not sure what it'd be on a 4.0 scale, and whether that'd have a major effect on my transfer chances.</p>