MIT, UCB, Stanford, and CalTech Transfer for Engineering

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am intending to transfer to an engineering school as I've found that Mechanical and Electrical Engineering are where my passions truly lie and I am at a school where these aren't offered. I was wondering if anyone could offer me any advice or tips/comments/chances etc. I don't really have an 'angle' so to speak other than the honest truth: I want to be at a place that isn't necessarily so dominated by sports, and where people spend their free time building, modeling, etc. You know, nerds like me.</p>

<p>Here's a short profile:</p>

<p>School: UNC Chapel Hill
GPA: 3.76
Courses Taken/Have Credit For in first 2 years (took full summer load):</p>

<p>Physics:
Calc-Based Mechanics (with Lab)
Calc-Based E&M (with Lab)
Intermediate E&M I
Intermediate E&M II
Electronics I (with Lab)
Electronics II (with Lab)</p>

<p>Mathematics:
Calculus I (AB)
Calculus II (Over Summer before Freshman year)
Calculus III - Honors Section
Differential Equations - Honors Section
Linear Algebra for Applications
Discrete Mathematics</p>

<p>Chemistry:
General Descriptive Chemistry I (with Lab)
General Descriptive Chemistry II (with Lab)</p>

<p>Biology:
General Descriptive Biology (with Lab)
Genetics</p>

<p>Computer Science:
Introduction to Programming (AP Credit)
Foundations of Programming
Data Structures
Algorithms & Analysis
Compilers
Operating Systems</p>

<p>Misc:
Elementary Japanese I
Elementary Japanese II
Intermediate Japanese I
Intermediate Japanese II</p>

<p>EC's:</p>

<p>1) I'm at the very top of contributors to the UNC iTunes project, which would imply recording video lectures, research, problem sessions, and bringing a great deal to the university/country/world. I will be particularly proud of this, as we have managed to start great things at a university that has a 5 year moratorium on software buying.
2) Building stuff, modeling, nerding: Railgun, Kelvin Water Dropper, EECS projects
3) Working in a Dynamics Lab
4) Society of Physics Students
5) Undergraduate Research: Electronics
6) Ice Hockey, Recreationally: I had two knee surgeries in high school preventing me from playing at full speed: I was at the Junior B level (not the best, but certainly demanding and competitive). I've since then worked on designing/modifying a knee brace that lets me play at a moderate level for fun (see 2).</p>

<p>High School:</p>

<p>Rank: 20/250
GPA: 4.3 Weighted
Didn't do much, in the EC dept. to be honest,
Tutoring, NHS, NYLF,
Played ice hockey mostly, designed a couple simple RPGs</p>

<p>I suppose that since I've gotten to UNC, I've been overwhelmed by all the classes I can take in the science departments, and have found my love in Physics, Math, and EECS. For the most part, I've ignored the humanities requirements at UNC because there's so much cool stuff to take... it just kinda feels like I'm not really being thrown any curveballs in Problem Sets, or being challenged to truly apply what I know/learn (i.e. how things work, how would I go about designing x). Again, any advice/comments are greatly appreciated!</p>

<p>-JD</p>

2

<p>Your GPA is way too low for Caltech, MIT, and Stanford. They just accept way to few people. I mean, anything is possible but definitely aim lower. If you are OOS Cal is unlikely as well.</p>

<p>My suggestions:
Cornell
Northwestern
UVa
UCSD
GeorgiaTech
UIUC
U of Michigan
and perhaps Purdue as an easy guarantee. </p>

<p>They have varying difficulties but are more in the range of your possibilities</p>

3

<p>I do not agree with Seiken that your GPA is too low and would love for Seiken to provide evidence of that.</p>

<p>I do agree that they are quite difficult to transfer into so, if you do not want to stay where you are, I think he has some nice suggestions on other places to consider. Although none of them are slam dunks, including Purdue when it is for certain Engineering departments.</p>

<p>My question is more one of timing - you are a sophomore looking to transfer in for next fall? What are the deadlines of the schools you are targeting - I hope you are well into the application process if I understand your timing correctly.</p>

4

<p>The numbers are just against him. Stanford was less than 2% on acceptance of transfers last year. He will be up against A LOT of 4.0s at state schools and even some from the Ivies. Its already a bit crap-shotty for frosh admissions.</p>

<p>As for Caltech and MIT; I really think they will look at his GPA and think thats he is doing a good job, but would have doubts if he could handle the courseloads. And I think that doubt would be fatal for a transfer prospect, which are in general much stronger admits than normal frosh. </p>

<p>Of course, I am not explicitly denying him the possibility of admission, but just the 4 in the title of the thread are a bit high just to have that list of 4.</p>

5

<p>Well, I have completed everything for applying this Fall. I applied to UMich, Cornell, and NU as well, but my question was mostly concerning the top 4. As for the GPA, my transcript reads a 2.94 first semester, and Straight A’s (no A-) after for 3 semesters counting the summer. I’m on track for that this semester as well, as a midsemester report gives more of the same. The first semester was all science courses aside from the Japanese, and I know that MIT students, for example, have P/F/NR first semester to get used to the fact that being an engineering major at these places is clearly tough. This is part of why I’m transferring: I’m…well… kinda bored here, and not being challenged anymore. I’ve since taken overload courseloads in hours and all sciences but for language, and not finding stuff difficult or requiring me to be applying what I know.</p>

<p>How much weight do you think the give to that first semester of adjustment and how highly to you think they view UNC CH as being (I’m OOS).</p>

6

<p>It depends how many units it was. If it was a large amount, like over 18 credits or over 22 units then perhaps. But other than that, whether true or not Im pretty sure MIT admins think that their students should be able to easily A science/math classes at any state school. Im not sure, but my point still is you are probably up against candidates similar to yourself but who aced their first semester (and others as well.) </p>

<p>Though as an indicator, how did you do on the Caltech transfer exam?</p>

<p>However, if you are confident in your abilities, there is still time to apply to Harvey Mudd College which is just as good as any of the others. The deadline is April 1 and if you can come up with a good excuse to explain your first semester you could have a good shot. I will warn you though, it will be one of the more difficult ones. I was the only male transfer this year.</p>

7

<p>“However, if you are confident in your abilities, there is still time to apply to Harvey Mudd College which is just as good as any of the others. The deadline is April 1 and if you can come up with a good excuse to explain your first semester you could have a good shot. I will warn you though, it will be one of the more difficult ones. I was the only male transfer this year.”</p>

<p>Two years to finish the engineering requirements at HMC? Good luck. You may be able to pull it off in 3 years.
Assuming you deal with your core requirements here is what you must take:</p>

<p>Intro to design
Design Representation
Baby Systems and Signals
Experimental Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Continuum Mechanics
Electrical Engineering
Digital Electronics
Big Stems #1
Big Stems #2
Materials
Clinic #1
Clinic #2
Clinic #3
Tech Elective #1
Tech Elective #2
Seminar for four semesters.</p>

8

<p>Dont forget the hum requirements he’s been slacking on…as well. But if he was looking to finish in 2 years he probably wouldnt have applied to MIT and Caltech, where his education is probably equiv to freshman year.</p>