Need Some Advice For Where To Apply

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I need a little advice at the moment. I've been looking around myself for info about this and I just can't find what I need.</p>

<p>So I'm currently at a mid level state school studying EE and CS. I really, really don't like it here. It's a good school but it's just not for me. For a few reasons, it's a terrible fit for me and I feel like I don't fit in at all. My academic situation is awesome and I have a lot of free license to do whatever I want. My social life, on the other hand, is pretty lackluster and I feel like I'm completely missing out on my undergrad experience. This was something that was super important to me heading into college and I feel like I'm just wasting it away at the moment. Overall, I really don't enjoy it and I'm ready for something new. </p>

<p>I tried transferring last year and here's how it went: Stanford (rejected), Yale, (rejected), CMU (rejected), Dartmouth (waitlisted through most of summer, didn't get in), Cornell (rejected), Harvey Mudd (rejected), USC (accepted, FA was terrible), and Santa Clara (accepted)</p>

<p>In terms of stats, awards, accomplishments, recs, etc. , I feel like I now have a good enough app that I could theoretically get in anywhere. Now I think my chances at a lot of places are terrible but my app is good enough to at least have a small chance at most places. My apps will be a lot better than last year.</p>

<p>Right now I'm looking at applying to Stanford, Cornell, MIT, Berkeley (and maybe UCLA), and maybe Caltech (not sure I want to do that long exam haha), Harvard, and Santa Clara. Now most of these are pretty low probability schools so I need some other options. Here's some of my my criteria, it doesn't have to all fit but the more, the better. In no particularly order:</p>

<ol>
<li>Good location</li>
<li>Not large (ideally 5000-10000 undergrads)</li>
<li>Easy to integrate as a transfer</li>
<li>Strong EE and CS programs</li>
<li>Interesting people who balance school and general life (odd definition. I basically just want to be able to fit in a little more with people and actually have friends. Like I'm on friendly relations with a lot of people here but I feel like I only have a few real friends. And I'm a pretty social person)</li>
<li>Preferably, 4 year dorms. I actually liked the dorms and I miss them this year Plus, I feel like this would help me get integrated.</li>
</ol>

<p>Please suggest any schools that you think would be a good school for me to apply whether completely random, an old school I applied to, or even one I am applying to, I'm all ears.</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>

</p>

<p>You need to define “good”.</p>

<p>

Berkeley and LA have over 30,000. Also, transferring into a UC–those two especially–will be extremely difficult if you are an out-of-state student. You didn’t specify which “state school” you’re going to. That information would be useful.</p>

<p>You also should a second (or first) look at the Harvard admissions statistics before you apply.</p>

3

<p>Thanks Gunnnn for the quick response!</p>

<p>In terms of 1, I agree I should have been more specific. I was almost purposefully vague because there’s a lot of good locations in my book. Answering your other question, I go to Colorado State University. I’ve lived in Colorado my whole life and been around CSU my whole life because a lot of my family members are either alumni or past profs. I haven’t really been out of CO since I was 4 so, while CO is a really nice, I kinda want a little variety at this point. I would probably prefer a west coast or an east coast school. I wouldn’t rule out other places though.</p>

<p>In terms of 2, I’m aware. My school has 25,000 undergrads which is rather ehh. But then again, CSU is nowhere near Berkeley when it comes to EE or CS for that matter. Berkeley is consistently in the top couple schools for EE discussions. With some of my criteria, it’s hard to satisfy all of it so I’d have to settle in some areas. Stanford is pretty much my ideal school and it fits pretty much all my listed and unlisted desires but I also have a slim to none chance of getting in there so I’m probably going to have to settle in some way.</p>

<p>In terms of UCs applications, you’re right. I’m not exactly sure what my chances would be (Though I’d be interested in finding out). Again, it’s one of those things where I feel very good with my app on paper but I’m not exactly what most schools are looking for in terms of transfer admissions.</p>

<p>And agreed with Harvard, they take around 15 people on years they take people. It’s not exactly a schools that draws me too much but it has a lot of things that I’m looking for. But it’s not too high overall for me with all things considered.</p>

4

<p>Any other advice? Really, anything helps! I’d be particularly interested in finding out if there are any schools that fit my general criteria that have 4 year dorms or at the very least, good ways for transfers to meet people from all around the school. I’m not exactly sure where I could find this out. Thanks!</p>

5

<p>Bump. Anyone with ideas for “top” schools with good on campus living options for all four years? Even if it doesn’t fit the rest of my criteria, I’d love to hear it because I don’t really know many schools that follow that category and it might give me a better idea of where to look.</p>

6

<p>There are only so many ‘top’ schools with 5-10k students. You start at the top of the USN&WR and go down the list looking for schools that will work for you. I don’t think you’re going to find many, if any, schools that you haven’t already considered.</p>

<p>Seems like your best bet is to reapply and hope that your stronger record will get you into some of those schools. You can add more match schools, but the problem is the balance between possibility of acceptance and being financially feasible. </p>

<p>I’m not sure why you’re applying to Santa Clara again when you were accepted last year and turned them down. Also, I’m not sure why you’re looking at Cal and UCLA due to size, cost, and the fact that many/most students move off campus by jr year.</p>

7

<p>As an OOS Cal and UCLA would be in the same ball-park as USC and you turned them down for financial reasons. Likewise those Ivy caliber schools aren’t cheap either. No offense but your goals seem kinda unrealistic. Cheap, small student population, top rank, etc… it’s just not going to happen.</p>