<p>Currently: Freshman, Georgetown SFS
College GPA: 3.86
APs: AP Spanish Lang 5
AP Eng Lit 5
AP USH 5
AP Art History 5
AP Calc AB 5
AP Mod Euro 5</p>
<p>SATs: 740 CR 730 M 770 W (2240/ 2400; 1470/1600)
SAT IIs: Math II 790, USH 780, (if I need it: Spanish 700)
HS Accomplishments: Extensive, but there are certainly those with more. Don't want to reveal all of them here.
College Activities: A couple leadership positions in the Jewish Student Alliance, and a fellowship. Again, don't want to get too specific in a public forum. </p>
<p>In the transfer process, because all of the papers must be mailed, does it look bad to potential recommendation-writers and the current school if you apply to a number of schools?</p>
<p>Reasons for wanting to transfer: Complicated, and still trying to work through it all in my own head. Academically: a bit trapped, socially: disatisfied, intellectually: unfulfilled.</p>
<p>Ivies are hard to transfer to, because they have so few openings for transfers.
You’d better think hard about your reasons for wanting to transfer, because from your post I see no reason that you’d be happier at one of your target universities.</p>
<p>Thanks for the responses. I recognize that Ivies can be difficult to transfer to, but know a number of people who have done so. Given my rather high–in my opinion–GPA at a prestigious institution, the fact that Brown and Columbia both have ~10% transfer acceptance rates (which is on par with if not higher than their freshman acceptance rates) and I’m a legacy at Penn, it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility.
I recognize the incredible opportunity I have here, which is why I’m so conflicted; bioblade, yes, you touched on the matter exactly…er, almost. In the academic realm of transferring I think I have a rather strong case, because although I remain very interested in something related to International Relations, I’m not certain it’s the only path I want to follow. In the SFS your course options are very narrow (understandably), you can’t double major and you can’t cross-school minor. That’s why I’m only looking at schools that have similarly competitive IR programs AND more flexibility. Also, though SFS is renowned as an IR school, in many of the concrete areas related to the field [economics, political science, etc…] departments are somewhat lacking. I realize that a first suggestion may be to switch to the College, but the heart of IR at Georgetown is SFS.
As for the arguably “less substantive” reasons for wanting to transfer, I think I make a pretty good case as well. Socially, it’s just never clicked… the preprofessional atmosphere juxtaposed with the predominant culture makes for an environment that just isn’t as intellectual as I’d hoped it would be. Obviously, I would refine this part in my essays. I hadn’t given enough thought to what exactly it meant to attend a Catholic institution, and the social and religious implications. I could probably go on for a lot longer, but PM me I guess if you need more detail.</p>
<p>Most people who transfer to Ivy League schools are lateral transfers. Transferring from a similarly prestigious school will not hurt you - in fact, it will probably help. You have stated some strong reasons for transferring. Just make sure to elaborate on these in your essay.</p>
<p>Your chances of transferring into an Ivy League school are very good. It could be that some of the people on this forum are trying to dissuade you from pursuing your goals simply because they do not want such a strong competitor.</p>
<p>Thanks, cherrio :); you’re the first piece of encouragement I’ve gotten on this matter recently, haha. </p>
<p>Since it seems I’m fortunate enough to have caught the attention of a few people, I was wondering if I could get some advice on the logistics of the matter.</p>
<p>Given the fact that all of the school forms have to be done on paper, all of my recommenders will not only see the schools I’m applying to, but also fill out five separate forms. On a related note, I’m a bit conflicted on potential recommenders: I have one professor picked out, but as far as the other recommendation goes I have a bit of a dilemma. Firstly, I don’t view beginning this process as a final decision, and I’m very concerned with offending professors/ hurting my standing at GU. I want to apply out because a very large part of me feels my interests would be better suited/served at a different institution, but I don’t for sure know what I want to do. I’m trying to give Georgetown another chance for the rest of the semester, and then make a decision at the end of the semester once decisions come back. SO, the other professor with which I developed a relatively close relationship happens to be in a powerful position; though I think the world of this person and feel that (s)he might understand my position, (s)he is difficult to read and I don’t want to fall out of his/her good graces. OTHER than him/her, my best option is a PhD student TA for a Political Philosophy class. What makes sense to do in this situation?</p>
<p>Back to the logistics: should I cut down my list, or is it reasonable to apply to this number of schools? Does anyone whose gone through with the application process have any advice on this front?</p>
<p>I would agree with cherrios NOW.
In your original post, all you see is someone at one of the best schools in the world for IA with a high GPA and their reasons for transferring were
“Academically: a bit trapped, socially: disatisfied, intellectually: unfulfilled.”
All, in short, vacant answers that merely say “I want a more prestigious school”, which is not a good answer. </p>
<p>Some schools on your list require two professor recs. I know Columbia lets you send in a supplemental TA rec, but you need two professors who have taught you.</p>
<p>There’s quite a bit of advice on this forum about asking professors. They’re stickied - just look at them.</p>
<p>I got both of my figures directly from the Columbia and Brown websites, in their transfer applicants sections… BUT given the apparent upsurge in applications to Columbia this year, obviously I would not be surprised if both their freshman and transfer admit stats decrease.</p>
<p>afaik, columbia doesn’t release their numbers for transfers on their website. They just say less than 10%, which admissions confirmed to be around 5-8% depending on the year at the transfer admit session.</p>
<p>btw what did you guys say in your main common app essay (reasons for transferring and objectives)?</p>
<p>I attend a SUNY school and due to budget cuts they are hardly offering any classes in Economics (my major/passion) and I wasn’t able to register for any this semester – does this seem like a compelling enough reason to transfer?</p>
<p>I mean…as someone with about as much experience in the process as you, I can’t really claim to have any insight on what counts as a “valid” or “compelling” reason to transfer. I think academic reasons seem to rank among the most practical and successful incentives to transfer, but if all you’re saying is “I’m in a state school now, and because we don’t have Econ I’d like to go to Harvard” I think it might be a bit of a weak argument. In conjunction with the pursuit of greater academic rigor, extracurricular opportunities, etc… etc… it makes a good case. If you applied to a handful of schools beyond the elite amongst the elite, it seems like a pretty good chance of getting in. Obviously all of this is contingent upon your GPA, SAT scores, recommendations and essays.</p>
<p>hey this is random but im also transferring from georgetown and im a freshman. i got into middlebury which as of now is my top choice, but im hoping that brown is a yes as well (havent heard yet…!). </p>
<p>I can’t really help much, but being that i live in new york city and lot of my best friends go to columbia, i hang out there ALL the time. a lot of my best friends are people that i’ve met through my friends who go there actually. so the students are great, really extroverted and interesting. the core is a little intense i’ve heard, but the interdisciplinary aspect is really thrilling if you’re into it.</p>
<p>If you go to Brown, you should either stay at Georgetown for fall or you should go abroad. You could work something out with Brown’s study abroad and utilize one of their programs so that all of your courses transfer back.</p>