Prevent Curiosity from Killing me: Help with transfer ideas?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Alright, so I am a freshman at UCSD, and have completed my first quarter with a 3.5 GPA. (Poli 10 = A, Phys 9 = A, Calc 20B = B, Writing1=B). I am currently undeclared; however, after my first quarter, I am beginning to lean towards the social sciences, namely Political Science and Economics. (Perhaps pursuing law school is in my future)</p>

<p>The school is beautiful, the professors are great.</p>

<p>So why am I in the transfer forum?</p>

<p>I can't take the community anymore. The divided, spread out colleges, the lack of spirit or unity - really, the lack of being a 'college.' I really didn't expect the issue to be this bad. The students lack a sense of individuality as well.</p>

<p>Also, I wouldn't mind attending a college better known for the topics I'm interested in. It's a little dull being in a science-driven school with social science interests.</p>

<p>Now I'm here asking "where do I start?" I do know a 3.5 doesn't cut the standards needed for transferring; however, depending on whether I try Freshman or Sophomore year, I have time to improve. </p>

<p>I'd like to go east. I miss being cold (or at least Northern California cold, but I now know I'm far more willing to put up with being colder than warmer). Also, a smaller, yet decently populated campus would be preferable. Spirit is a must. Easy access (10-30 min by public transportation) or within a metropolitan city (Boston, New York, Philadelphia preferably) would also be nice. Any recommendations for schools to look into? I had fallen for Boston College when I initially visited before undergrad (was wait-listed). Would this be a strong, possible choice?</p>

<p>I have yet to understand how exactly semester schools view students from 'quarter'-based schools. I know many transfer programs have deadlines in February and March; If I apply Freshman year, what grades will be considered? Only Fall quarter? Fall and a portion of Winter quarter? Will some sort of follow up mail in of grades be required in the middle of Spring Quarter? (I'm asking for most colleges in general. I'm sure some vary in the specific rules).</p>

<p>I had a 2140 SAT (1410 M+V), but I don't remember my GPA offhand (good enough to be accepted to UCSD?). SATIIs with a 790 in US History and 730 in MathIIc. Currently my course load for my first year looks like:</p>

<p>Fall Quarter 06:
MATH 20B: Calculus for Engineering Majors 2
WCWP 10A: Warren Writing 10A (1 of 2 required courses)
PHYS 9: The Solar System
POLI 10: Intro to American Govt</p>

<p>Winter Quarter 07:
ECON 1: Basic Microeconomics
BILD 10: Microbiology
MATH 20C: Calculus for Engineering Majors 3
HILD 11: WW2-era Asian History</p>

<p>Spring Quarter 07
WCWP 10B: Warren Writing 10B (2 of 2 required courses)
POLI 11: Comparative Government
ECON 2: Basic Macroeconomics
some undecided science class</p>

<p>Is this a heavy enough course load? Will it be taken seriously?</p>

<p>Assuming I can pull off a 3.9+ GPA next quarter, raising overall GPA to a 3.7+, should I consider transfer upon completion of Freshman year? I'd prefer moving on sooner than later.</p>

<p>Do my High School extracurriculars still have weight on the transfer applications? I did a great deal of performing arts during my time in High School, and it'd be a shame for them to go to waste. What sorts of extracurriculars in college do they expect of Transfers?</p>

<p>Basically, my questions are:</p>

<ul>
<li>What feasible yet respectable school choices fitting my preferences are out there for me?</li>
<li>How are Quarter grades considered by Semester schools?</li>
<li>Is transferring upon completion of Freshman year feasible for me?</li>
<li>What covers extracurricular expectations?</li>
</ul>

<p>I'm early on in my search, and any help would be much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>This is somewhat off topic, but I would like to alert you to reconsider your reasons for transferring. Remember, you are at school to LEARN and not for school SPIRIT. In the end, all that matters is what you learn, do not get distracted. Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side, you might face the same "non-spirit" situation elsewhere.</p>

3

<p>I have a few friends at UCSD and from what I've heard, the social life is terrible there. A lot of students are quiet/unfriendly. They are way too concerned with their academics, so much so that it affects their social life.</p>

<p>Schools you should look into (wait until after your sophomore year, you'll have a much better chance)
USC
UCLA
UCB
University of San Francisco
Santa Clara University
University of Washington
NYU
Ithaca College
Boston University
Boston College (which you mentioned)</p>

<p>Besides UCLA and USC, you'll get cooler weather at these colleges (though I can’t imagine that being a big reason for leaving San Diego since it has some of the best weather in the world).</p>

4

<p>PSU might be an option, it's not super close to a major metro area.</p>

<p>really, you should check on Princeton Review, it can really help narrow down a search.</p>

5

<p>Villanova, but it would be a step down in prestige and quality from UCSD (its basically like the safety school for BC). Im really not sure if you could transfer into BC, I know they say applicants with a 3.5 are competitive though, and UCSD is a good school so you have a chance i think. Theres only about a 10% acceptance rate though. Other schools you could try are georgetown, GW, NYU and BU..NYU and BU have pretty high transfer rates, you should get in..GTown's is fairly high but its more competitive, maybe a little harder than BC, and i dont think GW would be that hard, but GW and BU would be a decrease in school quality, while NYU and BC would be about the same as UCSD but more in terms of "prestige" especially in the northeast (NYU more nationally though).</p>

6

<p>i agree with ckmets13, i would apply to g'town, bu, and nyu, and maybe american and GW (DC)...all are close to big cities, and frankly, you cant get any better in location of american/g'town/gw as far as politics go...i would apply this year, as a 3.5 is a respectable college GPA for first semester...however, if you're HS GPA is anything below a 3.4, it might be a little more tricky...if you got waitlisted at BU however (which means your HS GPA must have been pretty good), i think you have a great shot with a 3.5 college GPA</p>

7

<p>Much thanks for the help so far.</p>

<p>Some more details on what grades from college are needed for applications would be appreciated though. For instance, Georgetown's transfer application due date appears to be March 1st. They ask for grades up to either Fall Semester or Winter Quarter; however, UCSD's winter quarter does not end until late March. Does anyone know the technicalities involved with this? Would I need to delay sending transcripts in until the quarter ends, and note that on my application?</p>

<p>Again, thanks in advance, and any more assistance with my previous questions would be much appreciated.</p>

8

<p>They will consider Fall grades...(and if you have them, the Spring ones as well).</p>

<p>Send Fall term grades, then have the Spring ones sent...have your Dean note that in his form...</p>

9

<p>I don't think a 3.5 is high enough for Georgetown.</p>

10

<p>Have you ever considered Vanderbilt University?</p>

11

<p>


</p>

<p>Exactly what I'm thinking. That is why I am curious as to just up to what point of my college academics is sent. USC by February 1st and Georgetown by March 1st are earlier than the end of our 2nd of 3 quarters of the year, Winter Quarter. With one more quarter, I could possibly bump that GPA up to a 3.7+.</p>

<p>Also, our year and final grades for the 3rd of 3 quarters, Spring Quarter, end after acceptance letters are sent out. Will they ask for some mid-quarter progress report which would generally be the end of the semester for colleges ending in May?</p>

<p>Anyone else in a quarter-system UC looking to transfer into a semester-system college/university?</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
Will they ask for some mid-quarter progress report which would generally be the end of the semester for colleges ending in May?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No, but there is nothing stopping you from making one and sending it.</p>

13

<p>You say that you're leaning towards majoring in PolSci or Econ, but then, why have you taken Calculus for Engineers?</p>

<p>I don't think it will cause you any problems or anything in transferring, but I'm just curious to know why??</p>

14

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</p>

<p>UCSD is very much a science-driven school, and I at the beginning of the year was still curious whether an engineering track might work for me. I've since decided I'm pretty sure I will not follow that track; my interests lie in the social sciences. I will probably be changing 20C for this coming quarter to 10C, standard Calculus III, to compete with an easier set of students for an A.</p>

15

<p>"easier set of students"...haha, you said it!</p>

<p>I'm in Calc for engineers as well (but that would be because I'm an engineering major). Let's just say, it's kinda interesting being in a math class with people who are all good at math. :D</p>

16

<p>Had a friend who transferred to Georgetown with a 3.5 G.P.A...guess anything is possible.</p>

17

<p>
[quote]
Had a friend who transferred to Georgetown with a 3.5 G.P.A...guess anything is possible.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Did the poor fellow die or are you just not friends anymore? [rolleyes]</p>

18

<p>If you could wait another year, Berkeley has some of the best social science programs in the country. With your stats, I think you have a shot at making it in.</p>