Intra-university transfer?

Colleges & Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>I am a freshman student at The College [Arts and Sciences]. I went into this liberal arts program, forgoing acceptance letters from biz schools at other universities, with ambitions in poli sci and economics. But now I’ve come to realize that that was a phase more than anything, that liberal arts is not for me, and my true interests lie in something more entrepreneurial.</p>

<p>I’ve already looked into my options within The College. Given the restrictive nature of our electives choices, however, I am certain that there is nothing feasible here in satisfying the more business-oriented education I now want for myself. As such, I am prepared to transfer to a business school, the question being, might Wharton be that new home, or will I have to leave Penn entirely?</p>

<p>What I need to make that decision are statistics on intra-university transfers here, if any of you happen to know where to get any. I would like to know the criteria used to evaluate students in the process, as well as any averages available. If I stand a decent shot, I may apply to Wharton before sophomore year. If I’m close, I may hang in the College for another semester to try and improve my credentials and then apply. But if I don’t stand a chance, I will probably be leaving Philadelphia entirely after this semester.</p>

<p>This has not been pleasant, coming to realize what a miss-match I’m in during a time I’m supposed to be getting settled for the next four years. So please, if you have any information that might help me sort out this corundum, be forthcoming.</p>

2

<p>Criteria for transfering to wharton: GPA, nothing else
Minimum GPA for transfer: 3.4
Lowest acceptance limit ever: 3.46
Highest acceptance limit ever: 3.64</p>

<p>Requirements: Econ 1, Econ 2, Math 104. Can also be completed during the summer between freshman and sophomore years. If you are apllying in first or second semester sophomore year, other requirements apply.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the GPA info.</p>

<p>Any idea about the time trend of those GPA figures? Variable from year to year or decidingly upwards? I'm more towards the bottom of that range currently, but after this current semester, I should be up near the higher end, since I'm pretty much an A student outside of calculus, which I am taking pass/fail this time (114) unlike last (104). Who's idea was it to center the math curve around a B-/C+, anyway? I felt the pain on that one...</p>

<p>Secondly, how certain are you that GPA alone is considered? With how different various classes are curved/graded, that seems kind of odd. Not that I'm complaining.... If it doesn't matter what courses I take, outside of the finance/math/econ they require, I suppose one could really use that to their advantage. I have a lot of easy general requirement classes still to do...</p>

<p>And then one last thing I've been wondering pertains to my "Plan B". Do you know exactly how the limit on non-College electives in SAS works? I know that if you take a standard 32 c.u. curriculum, the maximum is four. But I'm wondering if that four is set in stone, or if you can take more non-College classes if you take more classes in total, so long as you fulfill the 16 College electives requirement. I suppose if it is the later, then in the event that I don't get into Wharton, I could take summer classes and otherwise beef up my course load, such that I meet the College electives requirement but can take a healthy portion of business classes... </p>

<p>Eh, in theory that would work, but it'd still mean a lot of classes I don't want to take... It's also be a crazy amount of coursework. And it'd probably be frowned upon by SAS. Plus, there might be a prioritization/quota system limiting my ease of registering for Wharton classes...</p>

<p>Ugh, if only I had known myself better a year ago.</p>

<p>But I guess what's done is done and the most helpful thing I can do now is boost this GPA. I suppose it'd be best to try and apply before sophmore year, wouldn't you say? The stat and finance classes they require candidates to take after that point probably have somewhat tougher curves...</p>

4

<p>One last thing, if I haven't already bored everyone with my long-windedness...</p>

<p>Do you mind me asking what your source for those GPA figures is?</p>

5

<p>The source of all the informtion is the person in Wharton advising responsible for transfers. I am not sure about the trend though. But from what I have gathered it might end up being a tough year this year.</p>

6

<p>I hope it doens't get too rough... If this semester goes well, I could be at a 3.625 cumulative before summer.</p>

<p>If I don't get in now, could I apply again later?</p>

7

<p>Yes. You can, and it is usually a lower gpa in the sophomore year. But there are more requirements as well.</p>