@lucidenigma Thank you so much! I think what you said just goes to show that even the most prestigious universities aren’t perfect for everyone. There’s so much diversity in what students want to study and pursue that no college can be what everyone wants. I hope that whether you get accepted as a transfer, or stay at Penn, you’re able to get the most out of the next few years in college.
@shoumei Yes, definitely. Thank you, and I really really wish the same for you! I grew up with a parents set on sending my siblings and me to prestigious universities, and that definitely became the single end I did EVERYTHING towards. Now looking back, I have learned so much from my mistakes and see how little prestige means.
Penn is undoubtedly a nice name, but that means so little, and fit means incomparably more. I truly hope you find your place, whatever that means! From what I’ve seen you post (in other threads that I also lurk on hahaha), you are determined and kind, and that will inevitably take you far wherever you end up, sincerely.
Freshman at UCSB. 4.0 GPA A/A+, 1570/1600 SAT. Invited to take upper division courses in Earth Science and History, despite not having the prerequisites. Department-approved independent study course in Earth Science… age-dating and descriptive analysis of microbialite fossils from the Eocene Green River formation.
Paleobiology major + Finnish language study through Yale’s DILS program.
My family owns an art shop in New Haven, adjacent Yale.
Finished my freshman year at MIT in 2017 then took leave to work abroad; I really like Yale’s Education Studies Scholars program. good luck everyone 
@ramenflavors I took a year of leave after my first semester at Penn! Got a certificate in dance in LA, and I’m back now finishing my freshman year. Good luck to you too!
@lucidenigma What are you referring to as “LA” in Post#24?
@uclaparent9 I’m referring to the city of Los Angeles, more specifically Studio City!
@lucidenigma haha, and I attend Swarthmore.
@DoseofWisdom Hey neighbor! :-h
wow you guys attend such great colleges! my gpa for this quarter may suffer i think my chances are slim!><
@lucidenigma what are some other colleges that you are applying to
Don’t worry about it, everyone’s chances are slim.
@priscilla2400 I actually only applied to Yale. I figured that I would not gain enough (in terms of what I’m looking for) and might lose out disproportionately by uprooting myself and transferring to any other school. But again, this all only applies to me and what I want for my undergraduate experience. In the end, I only had enough room on my plate for one application, so it all worked out for the best.
@DoseofWisdom where did everyone apply? anyone apply to Princeton since they opened up their transfers this year?
I only applied to Yale and Harvard. I’m unwilling to leave Swarthmore for any other schools.
i doubt that harvard will take very few transfers given that the 2021 class is very full! i heard that no one was off the waitlist last year.
It is fine if Harvard accepts very few transfers this year. That doesn’t eliminate the fact that Yale and Harvard are the only options I am willing to consider, given my current institution. Also, yes, I was one of those waitlisted students last year.
@DoseofWisdom Hey, how do you like the liberal arts college experience? Is it too small or just right?
@SmartJarhead First thing that comes to mind is Swarthmore’s exceptionally challenging and rewarding education. I’m inclined to say that you will receive the best undergraduate education at liberal arts colleges like Swarthmore. That said, I look to transfer because of some very specific academic preferences that I will not go into detail here. Though I’m not massively dissatisfied with the size of the campus or student body, I’m not happy about the size either. You can start feeling claustrophobic really fast, but it’s different for everyone. The “Swarthmore Bubble” is certainly noticeable for many. Socially, I find that students at liberal arts colleges like Swat and Pomona are generally very open-minded, empathetic, intellectual, and respectful. Indeed, most students lean left on the political spectrum so it may feel awkward to speak conservatively about certain topics. I haven’t experienced verbal hostility first-hand, but I have witnessed some pretty gnarly debates.
@DoseofWisdom Thanks so much for the response! I applied to a few LAC’s near me but don’t know anyone who went to one, thanks for the insider info.