asking people who have already transferred and loved their home school but left for a “better” school:
HELP WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED HERE
I’ve been at my current school, a school in the top 60, and was accepted to a school in the top 15 for my junior year. both schools are really good in my majors, but the top 15 school is like #3 in the world or something for what i want to do. both schools are a literal 25 minute walk from each other (both are in the same city).
the reason im hesitating over transferring is two reasons: (1) i love my current school and (2) the second school is a good bit more expensive. let me ellaborate:
(1) i love my community here at my current school, and i have built good relationships with professors, places ive had jobs in, and ive had leadership positions in several places. i feel like i have roots everywhere here. and i love it. BUT i know that if i transferred i would still see all of my friends because some people who live off campus live further away than my transfer school would be. so i would still see all my old friends every week. so its not an issue of not seeing people. it would be that i drop my sorority formally (but my big said she would still crush me for everything) and i lose that formal sense of community and home. this is a stupid concern to some people, but i value community and know these four years at college are all ya get, and the discontinuity makes me worry that i might end up ruining my college experience.
(2) the “better” school is a good bit more expensive. however, all my friends from outside the city say no doubt i should transfer because of how incredibly well regarded this university is. in addition, i am trying to avoid grad school. i am going into consulting post grad hopefully, and i hear that if youre good at it they pay for your mba. so here’s the thing-- yes, the school is more expensive, but im trying to go into a high-paying career field post grad and they will most likely pay for my mba. however the prospect of (1) making my dad pay a lot more for school (although he has been paying a good bit less than his efc at my current institution due to merit scholarships, so he has been saving money) and (2) taking out more loans makes me really sick and frankly guilty and selfish. and frankly, i dont think the better rep school necessarily has better job prospects in my field than my current school.
so to all the transfers or potential transfers who have gone through the same sorta thing–what advice would you give me?should i transfer or not? ive been agonizing over this decision since i got accepted about a month ago.
ok so im considering transferring from the university honors program elliott school of international affairs with a double major in economics and international affairs to a single major, international economics, at georgetown’s school of foreign service. if youre wondering why a foreign service school grad would go into consulting, its actually really common lol
also, this is a very small element, but i originally committed to notre dame in high school, which is the georgetown of the midwest some people say. i dropped it because i couldnt afford it and it wasn’t that great in my major
tbh im not entirely sure why i completed the transfer apps. my dad suggested it after i spent a year and a half with that door closed in my mind and then i started thinking about it. georgetown was always a dream kind of school, so i thought why not go after a dream and see what happens and if everything works out–transfer credits, financial aid, etc, then i can get to the whole “is it the RIGHT decision”
as far as job prospects go, in the dc area i hear the schools are equal, but outside of dc georgetown carries much more weight. im looking to stay in dc post grad but i also want to keep my options open
The grass is always greener… Right? My strange advice is to talk to some of the professors that you have a relationship with. I think it might be interesting what they have to say. Also can you /your father cleanly afford Georgetown. Cleanly?
What if you go to Georgetown and don’t like it? Hard to find another community so quickly. Having said this my daughter transferred as a junior but to a school she loves and her first school for her was OK. She built /found her people but it took effort.
It sounds like you built a great community and your excelling and having success where your at. That says something about you and your current school. Question is… Are you willing to give that up? There’s a saying “you make the school, the school doesn’t make you”
I would stick with ND. Doubtful if Gtown is a better school for what you’re looking at. And I seriously doubt if Gtown carries more weight outside of DC.
Talking to your current professors is a great idea. GW recruits well (although not as well as Georgetown) for consulting. Have friends with kids that recently graduated (past 5 yrs) from GW who are working in consulting with solid firms in DC.
Maybe more than the school, you should consider what type of consulting grabs your interest. Lots of major firms have federal practices in the DC area. Quite different than their commercial practices (income, work / life balance, travel, types of projects, length of projects, exit ops, etc.) And…some firms will only recruit for federal practice from GW. Doesn’t mean you can’t get to commercial from there but different OCR. Your professors and career services folks should be able to help you.
GW + 3-5 yrs of great work at a great firm should make you quite competitive at top B Schools. People get to HBS with UG degrees from state schools. It’s about the work you do, your grades, your scores, LORs, etc.
I wouldn’t transfer just because of recruiting potential as the “right rocks” find a way of getting that job regardless.
GWU Honors with a double major in economics & international affairs versus Georgetown majoring in international economics. Goal is a career in management consulting.
GWU is the more affordable option.
What is the difference in COA between your options ?
Is the three year difference in COA enough to pay for a one year masters degree program ?
It sounds like your parents will have to borrow $15k/year for you to transfer and you’re hoping that a degree from Georgetown will mean you don’t have to pay for grad school. I don’t think that’s a gamble worth $30k (+ interest).
One other thing to consider – As a Jesuit school Gtown has an extensive core curriculum. https://college.georgetown.edu/academics/core-requirements. Be sure you can finish the core plus the courses in your major in your remaining two years of college.
I’d tell my kid to decide based on where she personally can thrive, rise to among the top students with the best opportunities, the stronger relationships with profs. Not based on future prospects. Both are good. Both are in DC.
Sure, the Gtown name has a little more weight. But you’ve done two years of work to get where you are, at GW.
It sometimes helps to play it both ways and see your reaction. Decide it’s Gtown, what are your gut reactions? Excitement or various regrets and uncertainties? Now decide it’s GW. Feel relieved or defeated?
The title of the post is pretty clear. You love your current school! Right now, nothing’s broke. So why would you try to fix it?
There will be loads of opportunities in the future to gamble on the unknown. Stay where you already have a community, can afford the costs, and can finish your degree without unnecessary disruptions.