Questions/Chances/Suggestions

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey there. Sorry, this is going to be a long post, but I want some accurate answers, so I want to be thorough.</p>

<p>Usually I don't subject myself to other people's opinion when it comes to things like this, but I'm currently a freshman at UCSD, and because I really don't like the school, I've chosen to try my luck in transferring after one year. [Meaning that I'm trying to transfer to another school as an incoming sophomore].</p>

<p>First, I'm gonna talk about my college performance:</p>

<p>I'm a Bioengineering:Pre-Medical major[it's an actual track of bioengineering here at UCSD, not me trying to say 'hey! look at me! i'm going to be a doctor like every other freshman in college'] and I have a minor in music. </p>

<p>My first quarter, I attempted 20 units while working part time and trying out for the male rowing team. I did ultimately withdraw from my math class due to the intense workload, and I cut myself from the crew team due to time commitments in the next quarter [which would be the one I'm currently enrolled in], bringing me to a total of 16 units. Pending a student petition that I've filed, I'm expecting a GPA of a 3.42.</p>

<p>In my second quarter, I'm attempting 21 units, except I'm not planning on dropping any classes, nor am I going to, and I'm expecting to do quite well.</p>

<p>Right now, I'm enrolled in my college's honors program, and have secured a recommendation from the provost of my college, who knows me on a first name basis through my college's honors program. [UCSD is split into six different undergraduate schools, and much like the chancellor would be the head of UCSD as a whole, the provost is the head of the individual colleges]</p>

<p>Also, I believe I can secure a recommendation from my orchestra conductor who is impressed with my performance in his orchestra. [This comes in later, in terms of significance].</p>

<p>Second, I'm gonna say why I'd like to transfer :
The school lacks school spirit, and the majority of the student body exudes laziness and a lack of motivation. There are several instances where I question how quite a few of these students even got into this school itself. The amount of extracurricular options are few and far between because of a fledgling sports program and a very limited-scope of clubs [outside of the standard occupation or ethnic based clubs]. The research options are minimal, and are quite unwelcoming for freshman and sophomores. I don't feel comfortable on campus here, and I feel like I don't belong. Plus, the music department here is terrible, and pursuing a minor in music, I can say that that affects me just because the lack of support of the arts from the administration [and student body] is pretty depressing. I could rattle off a few reasons, but those are the main points I'd like to make.</p>

<p>Third, my high school performace was alright. I got a 3.5 UW GPA and a 4.0 W GPA. My SAT score was a 2100, though I'm retaking this january for a higher score. I have yet to take the ACT, but I will do so in February. I received a 740 on my SAT II Eng. Literature, and a 780 on my SAT II Math IIc. I'm a full IB diploma recipient, a National Merit Finalist, and an AP Scholar with Distinction, having taken and passed about 8 AP tests. </p>

<p>Fourth, extracurriculars. I've played piano for 14 years, and I've passed the highest of piano certification [I've received the Advanced Certificate of Merit, passed Panels, and received Branch Honors]. I also have played drums for 4 years. I deal with music extensively, and I'm trying to get involved in community related arts projects, yet I've found those involved with these to be extremely unwelcoming and hard to get a hold of [relating back to my reasons as to why I want to leave]. In high school, I volunteered by playing in performances for the elderly, have accompanied the school choir on occasion, and was secretary of the school cahmber music club for two years. On campus right now, I'm in the school orchestra, and I played both percussion and harpsichord/celeste over the past two quarters. </p>

<p>Here are the colleges I'm trying to apply to transfer to starting with the unbelievable [and completely fantastical] and moving downwards to the feasible:
Harvard
Yale
Stanford
Dartmouth
Brown
Northwestern
Cornell
University of Michigan Ann Arbor</p>

<p>Is my reason to transfer powerful, are my college choices even feasible in the slightest? Any recommendations on your part? Could you help me with my reasoning, or ways I could possibly express myself to make my case sound extraordinary and most urgent?</p>

<p>Let me say one thing, however: I don't need to go to Harvard or Yale, but I would like to. It isn't the alpha and omega of my efforts, and right now I just really want to get away from UCSD. I really would like to go to Dartmouth for the obvious reasons [strong education, decent education, eclectic student body, but these are reasons why the highly selective schools are always so desireable]. Plus, Dartmouth has an outstanding medical study reputation.</p>

<p>Thanks for your help. =). </p>

<p>If you want me to clarify anything, I will gladly do so.</p>

2

<p>We all seem to have different philosophies on transfer admissions. I personally think it goes something like this: </p>

<p>To transfer to a place like those on your list you need a GPA of at least 3.6. Then it comes down to reason for transfer. The most compelling reason is academics, namely courses/majors not being offered at your present university. The next best reason is extra-curricular, such as having a specific organization that you'd love to participate in. Then in last place comes social reasons - or the "anywhere but where I am now" - which doesn't seem like it flies with adcoms too well.</p>

<p>After the grades and essays come the recommendation letters. Hope they are good, and if you can get professors from the major you are applying to write your letters, that's a plus.</p>

<p>As far as high school grades and SAT scores go, they don't matter. *for junior standing, at least</p>

3

<p>well, i am applying for sophomore standing because I am still just a freshman over here at UCSD [making high school performance necessary, right?], and your philosophy regarding transfer admissions sounds familiar [because that seems to be quite common in terms of major/courses offered and that stuff]. </p>

<p>i'm not going to use social reasons to transfer, but it's just that i'm generally unhappy with the school. it seems like a majority of students i've encountered aren't really concerned with how they do in college academically. it just makes me feel slightly different, which is why i'd want to go somewhere where i could feel more comfortable, i guess. also, this college lacks extracurriculars just because not many people like getting involved. there isn't a greek life on campus because of a lack of a greek row, and most of the on campus clubs seem of the 'i want to seem like a leader for grad school' type. there are tons of ethnocentric clubs that are the typical run of the mill clubs that don't really promote their culture, and the random occupational based clubs. our athletics aren't really impressive, and we don't have any school spirit for we lack a football team [which is, apparently, essential for school spirit], and is essentially unsupported by the administration. the six college idea that is central to UCSD has me isolated from 5/6ths of the student body and hasn't really promoted closeness between those i'm involved with in my own college. </p>

<p>i don't like it here, but granted, i won't settle for just anything. </p>

<p>i feel like i just repeated what i said initially again in these last few paragraphs, so i should really stop wasting your time, but would a transfer happening be impossible? [i know that anything could happen, but that kind of logic doesn't really amount to much besides falsely-lifted hopes]. could you give me a likelihood of my chances, or whether my reasoning to transfer isn't feasible enough?</p>

4

<p>actually, can someone just confirm whether my logic is right?</p>

<p>i might be underestimating these colleges, but i think harvard and yale would be extreme reaches, dartmouth, northwestern, brown, cornell would be slight reaches, and UMich would be a match.</p>

<p>does that sound alright? i'm probably wrong. =&lt;/p>

5

<p>First off, appling for sophomore standing means your HS record is definitely still considered, but not as much as your college record.</p>

<p>Second, I don't think you'll get into the top 6 schools on your list because of their selectivity. You either have to own school or be extremely talented in some extracurricular or academic area to gain admission at those places. Keep Michigan and add Emory, Weslayan etc.</p>

6

<p>argh. how bleak. </p>

<p>so essentially, regardless of high school performance/improved SAT scores through retesting/well-written essays/stellar recommendations, i don't stand a chance?</p>

<p>the only reason why i'm apprehensive about UMich is just that from California, my parents are going to be shelling out double the money for a college that is slightly better than UCSD in comparison to my other options. my girlfriend goes there, so the school gets some bonus points, partially because she's really enjoying herself there even though the temperatures there are a quarter of the temperatures here. </p>

<p>i still really want to go to dartmouth, brown, northwestern or cornell. harvard and yale : i'm not expecting to get into those and haven't expected to, even before i began college. i guess i want to hear a smattering of opinion before i give up, or at least one person say that i have a small chance. muahaha. stubborn. =.</p>

<p>or as most people might say, denial. blegh.</p>

7

<p>I am a sophomore at UCSD and applying transfer too.</p>

<p>Lol, I hate this school too, but I've already gotten over the point when I would ***** to people about it, it seems like you havent.</p>

<p>Honestly, those schools you listed are all way out of your reach. Even Michigan is a slight reach considering that you are out of state. </p>

<p>Your HS record is average, and college record is average. Your musical EC is good, but unless you are talented enough to apply to conservatories, and apply to them, I dont think it will matter that much. </p>

<p>With your current resume, it's unlikely to get into a school much better than UCSD. I suggest you stick around and improve your resume, then apply for Junior transfer. </p>

<p>Also, try not to bash your current school. That always comes off as distasteful no matter how true it might be. I don't like UCSD, but I never brought up that topic in the essays, the Adcoms KNOW you don't like it there, otherwise why go through this hassle?</p>

8

<p>i'm not complaining to people about my school for the sake of complaining. i'm doing so on this forum because my dislike of the school [not necessarily the school itself, but the foundations on which it's built] is my reason to transfer. i don't complain to people about the school whenever i'm feeling extra annoying, but only if i share mutual feelings with a friend or something because typically we share the same opinion of the school. so, yes, i presented my reasoning in an aggressively-negative argument against UCSD. it isn't going to be my submitted personal statement, but on an informal forum, in which you should at least hint at a feasible reason to transfer, i'm pretty sure that i was warranted in bashing my school. i mean, it is obvious that i don't like it there, right?</p>

<p>okay. sorry, i felt like defending myself. and no, i don't ***** to people about it, but only when it's necessary or the sentiments are agreed upon. </p>

<p>i posted on this forum to see my chances, so i guess that it's pretty much not going to happen, and by 'it', i mean a transfer. granted, i'm still going to try [for a few: mich, dartmouth, northwestern and cornell] just on the pretense that if i do make it in, i don't have to spend another year here, but my hopes aren't up.</p>

<p>if anyone else wants to give their opinion of my situation, feel free. i fully realize that i'm not top-caliber, or really worthy, to be honest, but i''m willing to try. and i guess i'm willing to admit that i probably posted that first paragraph due to a bruised ego, but it's bound to happen despite the full realization that i'm not really that great. classic case of life sucks and then you die, i guess.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
if anyone else wants to give their opinion of my situation, feel free. i fully realize that i'm not top-caliber, or really worthy, to be honest, but i''m willing to try. and i guess i'm willing to admit that i probably posted that first paragraph due to a bruised ego, but it's bound to happen despite the full realization that i'm not really that great. classic case of life sucks and then you die, i guess.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>that in itself is just a bad attitute to have when transferring or actually just a bad attitute in general. </p>

<p>
[quote]
Harvard
Yale
Stanford
Dartmouth
Brown
Northwestern
Cornell
University of Michigan Ann Arbor

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I think the first few on your list are a very large reaches. Mostly because while you're an amazing instrumentalist (I've done violin for close to 10 years so I know what it's like) you don't have any big hooks. Your raw stats is a bit low for the schools you're aiming for which makes them a reach.</p>

<p>University of Michigan AA can also be thought of as a slight reach. </p>

<p>
[quote]

Third, my high school performace was alright. I got a 3.5 UW GPA and a 4.0 W GPA. My SAT score was a 2100, though I'm retaking this january for a higher score. I have yet to take the ACT, but I will do so in February. I received a 740 on my SAT II Eng. Literature, and a 780 on my SAT II Math IIc. I'm a full IB diploma recipient, a National Merit Finalist, and an AP Scholar with Distinction, having taken and passed about 8 AP tests.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Your scores are pretty decent for Michigan AA, and SAT IIs are high, but your UW GPA (assuming that's close to your Michigan Weighted GPA) is a bit on the low side for Michigan. It doesn't help that your GPA has also decreased in college, while there are still many chances for improvement.</p>

<p>Another big thing is, you're in California. Michigan is a great school, but honestly, if school spirit is your big reason for transfer, (even if you won't list it), that is not a good way to spend the money basically equal to a private school. Just my opinion.</p>

10

<p>it's not really a bad attitude that i've had over the course of transferring. i guess it's a newfound one that came with the realization that i'm still as average as i was in high school, and that quite a few of these schools i had underestimated in terms of ease to transfer. understandably, it's a good reason to develop a defeatist attitude, because until yesterday, i was pretty gung-ho about applying.</p>

<p>and yes. UMich is freaking expensive. i'd have to leave it up to my parents, because it is a good school, but might not be worth the money. </p>

<p>granted, i'm still going to try applying [because i spent hours filling out applications yesterday morning], but not to all of the colleges i initially mentioned, since most of them are out of the question. if all else fails, maybe next year, i guess, since that would probably be the only other option.</p>