Is it a good idea to transfer as a senior?

<p>Hey CC,</p>

<p>I'm having a little dilemma about when to transfer. I am currently a sophomore at GMU and I will be transferring to another college in Fall 2011, most likely Vtech or Maryland. I really don't like it at GMU and just want to get out. </p>

<p>However, my dream school is USC or Berkeley for their school of business.Those two schools along with many other top business schools are 2 year programs. But my GPA is a bit too low to get into those schools (3.5GPA), so I figure to wait another year before trying to transfer to get my GPA higher. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Do I have a higher or lower chance to get in if I transfer as a senior, completing ~90credits elsewhere? I know most colleges only take 60credits, but I'm okay with being 1 year behind if I get into those schools. </p></li>
<li><p>Would USC & Berkeley look down at me because I will have transfered twice? 2 years at GMU and 1 year at another college. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>Thanks for your help!</p>

<p>Any people who have transferred to be seniors willing to give some advices? Thanks :)</p>

<p>With only one year left, finish at your current school. If grad school is in your future, wait until then to go to another college.</p>

<p>Thanks for the reply.</p>

<p>I’m actually a sophomore at GMU, with plans to transfer to Maryland because I don’t like it here at GMU. After a year at Maryland, it is my hope that I’ll get into USC or Berkeley Haas. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>If I do choose to transfer again as a junior to my ‘dream college’, how will they look at the fact that I already been to two colleges?</p></li>
<li><p>If I apply to USC now and get rejected (b/c low GPA), can I still apply next year?
The reason I’m debating to apply right now is because my GPA is a bit too low (3.53) so if I do well for another year, I hope it’ll rise.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Very few colleges will take senior transfers (some do, but very few). Similarly, most schools want you to have a max # of credits (~60) at your prior school(s) and they won’t let you just “ignore” the extra 30.</p>

<p>You can explore further, but I don’t think your plan will work for most schools and is probably not a good one.</p>

<p>A better plan: complete your undergrad at your current school or a transfer school where you transfer in as a junior.</p>

<p>Go for an MBA… typically you will be more successful at MBA admissions after a bit of time working post-undergrad (YMMV).</p>

<p>I see, thanks for your input.</p>

<p>I’ll check more on CC and around the college’s sites to see if they allow senior-transfer. If not, I’ll just finish my undergrad at my transfer school. </p>

<p>Wished I got into USC the first time :/</p>

<p>Your best bet would be to contact USC directly, and ask about requirements for transfer. That way you will know their specific policy. As Andale has written above, each institution sets its own policy about this. </p>

<p>It is important that you realize that even if you would be admitted after completing a total of three years elsewhere, you would almost certainly be required to complete a full two years of study at the new university. Do you really want that USC or Berkely degree so badly that you are willing to pay for an extra year of college (and lose a year of work experience and income) just to have it? Why not apply to those institutions this year, and take your chances. If you don’t get in, you can stay where you are (at your cheap in-state tutition rates!), enroll at your back-up (Maryland, assuming that you are admitted there), or take a year off to gain more work experience before reapplying to the “dream” universities.</p>