<p>Does anyone know if it's frowned upon to transfer out of the Ivy League? I'm a sophomore at Penn right now and I just don't like it that much. I'm from North Carolina, and I'm thinking about transferring to UNC. I'm wondering if this will somehow affect my future, like, will it look like I wimped out? Not that I think Carolina is a bad school, because it obviously isn't, but you know.</p>
<p>Also, do colleges usually take into account the difficulty of your present university when you try to transfer? My GPA is like a 3.5, which isn't as good as most of the ones I've seen here for people trying to transfer to UNC. Would I still have a chance?</p>
<p>On a more personal level, what do you guys think, should I try to transfer or should I just stick it out here? I feel like I'm wasting my college years, because Penn has turned out not to be the kind of college experience I thought I would have. People are really intense about everything, which I definitely am not, and I often feel trapped in the city. I also don't like the private-school thing. Besides, it's really expensive and I feel like it isn't worth the money when I could be paying about one-tenth the price to go to Carolina.</p>
<p>On the other hand, I've made a lot of good friends here and I'd miss them. I honestly still haven't worked out how I feel about Penn; there are days when I love it here. If I transfer this year, I won't be able to go abroad in the fall, which I've always wanted to do. I also don't know if I want to go through all the trouble of starting over at a new school, although I do know a lot of people at UNC from high school.</p>
<p>This turned epic because I'm currently procrastinating studying for a midterm, but I really cannot decide, so any advice would be much appreciated!</p>
<p>with all due respect to UNC, I think that a degree from Penn will get you farther than a degree from UNC. You have to keep that in mind. </p>
<p>But if you don't like it THAT much, transfer. I'm currently at UNC and I've come across people in your situation like 2 NC guys who transferred into UNC from Stern. So it is definitely possible, and people do understand why you did it.</p>
<p>Also with a 3.5 from Penn and the credentials you needed to get in the first time, you will easily get into UNC. Especially as an in-state.</p>
<p>I say go where you will be happy. I am in the process of transferring out of Princeton. so yeah, same boat, same dilemma. seriously, personal fulfillment is more importnt than the name on a degree.</p>
<p>Maybe you should occupy phzzz's spot at Penn ^^
Are you transferring for sophomore or junior status?</p>
<p>To phzzz: Ultimately, deciding to transfer out is your choice. Why not just think it through as your completing your application? Surely you can make a decision by then (I hope).</p>
<p>A 3.5 from Penn is equivalent to like a 4.0 at any state school(besides umich and ucb), you are doing amazing, do you just not like the environment? I think you should think about it again, but if you really are that unhappy then transfer to UNC, you will get in as soon as they see a 3.5 from Penn you're accepted.</p>
<p>"A 3.5 from Penn is equivalent to like a 4.0 at any state school(besides umich and ucb)"</p>
<p>MYTH</p>
<p>This is not true. You can't judge an ENTIRE school like this. UMD has a better, more challenging math program then Penn. You have to judge on a department by department basis. Don't under rate state schools to up the ivy league.</p>
<p>Also, I have no sympathy for people who don't appreciate the opportunities they have at Penn. I'd transfer in a heartbeat.</p>
<p>why would anyone transfer from an ivy league to a state school? Penn is an ivy, the best of the best, so jst stop wasting time wondering about such menial things. there is no need for you to degrade your intellectual capability by moving to an inferior college.</p>
<p>Lol, agreed with Illusion. I'd kill for a transfer to Penn =\ Still, to each his own - it's all a matter of fit, and some people aren't good with Penn, just like some people aren't good with UNC</p>
<p>LOL at the people talking about degrading your intellectual capacity and being crazy to transfer. Some people spend too much time cuddling with the US News/World Report. </p>
<p>OP - You should be smart enough to realize you'll do best where you want to be and are happy. If you're not happy at Penn, and feel like your wasting your money there - transferring might be a good idea. UNC is a very good state school, it's instate, you'll almost definitely get in. Penn is expensive and if you don't like it, spending all that money on it isn't a good idea. Especially if you're planning on grad school - if you do well at UNC, you can go to an Ivy for grad school or whatever.</p>
<p>To whoever said I'd be "degrading my intellectual capacity" by transferring to Carolina, I hope you were kidding. To everyone else, thanks a lot!</p>
<p>God, I really hope you are joking Supindy because I would hate to think that someone is THAT silly about prestige. </p>
<p>If you don't like it at Penn then I think you have a very valid reason to transfer, especially since you will be paying far less at UNC. Yes, the prestige and education might be better at Penn but is it seriously worth 100k or more in debt? </p>
<p>The idea that you will "degrade your intellectual capacity" at UNC or whatever is pretty silly as well. There are more than a few intelligent people here, and I know, personally, more than a handful of kids who chose UNC over Ivies and comparable elite schools.</p>
<p>UNC is a fine school and I would be very surprised if you didn't get in as a transfer, if you do decide. Good luck, I think you will fit in nicely here.</p>
<p>supindy has demonstrated once again just how much he's been bought in by the mentality that Ivy League degree = lifelong orgasm or some equivalent. These are your college years, you have the rest of your life to be miserable over mortgages, kids, etc. If you aren't happy in college, transfer to a school where you think you will be happy.</p>
<p>Then again, I guess you guys can argue that I've been bought by the college = fun fun fun mentality.</p>
<p>again, go where you think you'll be happiest</p>
<p>however</p>
<p>if you are unsure on whether to transfer or not, i would ALWAYS caution on the side of remaining at your current school...transferring can be a very difficult process and you will be thrown into a very awkward situation where you will be an outsider and forced to start a new social life...it sounds like you are doing alright where you are, i would really be weary about transferring...perhaps take a step back and re-evaluate your situation</p>
<p>You're right, I was lying to make myself feel better about my school. If you had done even the most basic homework, you'd realize you were completely wrong. Stop drowning yourself in rankings and get real.</p>
<p>As corny as it sounds, follow your heart.
Real happiness does not come from recognition, but within yourself.
It sounds to me the only thing that is stopping you from transferring out is
others' evaluation of this move had you transferred out of this college.
Dude, (i'm from CA) here me out.
you can be miserable trying to please others and be stuck at an environment where you
don't belong or move to where you wann be.
BUT, make sure you do a thorough research before you decide to transfer out cuz
UNC might not be your school as UPenn turned out to be a school that didn't really fit you.Just a thought.</p>