Recently Toyed with the idea of Transferring- HELP!

Transfer Students
1

<p>I've recently toyed with the idea of transferring, but I know almost nothing about transferring in terms of what is given considerable weight-- high school grades? sat scores? college transcript?</p>

<p>A little about myself:
-I'm a rising sophomore at NYU (CAS) with a 3.8 GPA, concentrating in History (cemented plan) and cinema studies/film (an area of exploration). </p>

<p>My reasons for transferring:
- Too expensive (lack of financial assistance)
- Hard time making friends as a lot of the kids are either too socially pretentious (I don't mean pretentious as in quoting Nietzsche but as in "im better than you because i listen to obsure music, i'm hip, and contaminate my lungs with nicotine everyday because i'm livin' the good life, yo" or too ditzy. I am, obviously, just stereotyping as there are people at NYU that I find original, nice, down to earth, and interesting but it seems I'm having a hard time finding my niche and people more like me. </p>

<p>So my questions are
1) Are these good enough reasons? Do admins scoff at people who want to transfer for financial reasons? I mean it seems like a good reason to me but I always assume it has to be a reason that is associate with academics or advancing your studies, or something along those lines.
2) What do colleges look for?
3) Last semester of senior year, I had severe senioritis so my grades werent too great. I also have an average SAT/ACT score. So A) How does this play out if I'm doing well in college now B) Should I retake the SATs/ACT?
4) I also have this notion that people who transfer have a hard time adjusting to their new colleges because they weren't part of the community in the beginning, or later when applying to grad school they'll appear as being a fickle candidate. Maybe less so if you're applying for a sophomore standing but I'll be applying this coming year for a junior standing. These are just some of my concerns, so if anyone has anything to comment about it to alleviate them...(?)</p>

<p>And finally, I wish to apply to Columbia (and possibly Yale), as these are the only school(s) I would consider because I actually do like it here. </p>

<p>These are my reasons for the two schools
1) Both schools give good need-base financial packages
2) I applied ED to Columbia senior year, and attended a pre-college summer program there 2 years ago and have a lot of friends at the school (some are faculty members), it's in NYC and will not be a drastic change from NYU because I love the city.
3) For Yale, I'm majoring in History and they have a great program and are great with financial assistance. </p>

<p>And lastly (sorry), what are the effects of transferring to post-undergrad plans? I dont know, it might seem like a silly question, but again, I am speaking with little knowledge of the process. </p>

<p>Thanks for everyone who can help</p>

2

<p>Hey, I say go for it! You're only considering two schools; you have a good GPA from a VERY respectable school, and you have a happy alternative: staying where you are. If you can find some specific programs at Yale or at Columbia that you can include in your "why" essay, you have as good a shot as anyone, I'd say.</p>

<p>Good luck!</p>

<p>(Those two are a crap shoot for anyone, of course. Both have admit rates for transfers around 5%. But you're as qualified as anyone.)</p>

3

<p>bumb please</p>

4

<p>*bump.....</p>

5

<p>would you consider leaving NYC? Penn, Brown, and Georgetown are easier to transfer into and still have an urban setting. Except they are fenced off from their cities.</p>

6

<p>Brown is harder to transfer into than Columbia and Yale.
Figures from collegeboard:
Brown: 1085 applicants, 33 accepted
Columbia: 1223, 78
Yale: 779, 30
Penn and Georgetown are probably more reasonable.</p>

7

<p>those are figures for last year. I think brown took a lot more this year, granted probably not as high as 2005 (~25%), but still a larger number.</p>

8

<p>is there a link to the transfer rates?</p>

9

<p>college board has them, but I'm not sure they are up to date. Soon all the colleges will post their common data set on their site for this year's admissions.</p>

10

<p>You can sometimes find them on College Common Data sets. You have to look at each individual college's</p>

11

<p>I know my post hasn't been too reader-friendly, but could anyone answer some of the questions I have regarding transferring as numbered above.
It would really help</p>

12

<p>you should really have a specific (preferably academic reason) to transfer to schools like Yale. You said you like their history program, but what about your current school's program is lacking and why would you be a better fit at Yale and what can you do for Yale. Just a need for financial aid or lacking social scene isn't going to do it.</p>

<p>And it depends on how low your SAT was. It would def. help if the score was above 2200. Do you think you could do better if you retook it?</p>

13

<p>
[quote]

So my questions are
1) Are these good enough reasons? Do admins scoff at people who want to transfer for financial reasons? I mean it seems like a good reason to me but I always assume it has to be a reason that is associate with academics or advancing your studies, or something along those lines.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>It's a perfectly legit reason, and while I personally think it's a good reason to transfer, you might want to also add why THEIR college should take you. Anyone can go to a CC to get a cheaper education (and not always by quality, cause there are some really damn good CC's)</p>

<p>
[quote]
2) What do colleges look for?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Basically... everything they looked for when you applied out of high school. This time, I personally think that stats are less important and more of a weeder, and reasons are much bigger. Essays and such. EC's unless for the top top schools, shouldn't weigh as much</p>

<p>
[quote]
3) Last semester of senior year, I had severe senioritis so my grades werent too great. I also have an average SAT/ACT score. So A) How does this play out if I'm doing well in college now B) Should I retake the SATs/ACT?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>How many semesters of college would you have when you transferred? If you have more than 3-4~, it shouldn't matter too much, 2, depending on how hard your GPA dropped... it might have some effect.</p>

<p>You can retake the SAT/ACT but keep this in mind... not all schools take them after high school. You can still take them, but like brand has mentioned before, it doesn't hurt, and they will still see them. If you get a high school, it can do no harm, but it might not do much good. </p>

<p>
[quote]
4) I also have this notion that people who transfer have a hard time adjusting to their new colleges because they weren't part of the community in the beginning, or later when applying to grad school they'll appear as being a fickle candidate. Maybe less so if you're applying for a sophomore standing but I'll be applying this coming year for a junior standing. These are just some of my concerns, so if anyone has anything to comment about it to alleviate them...(?)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>If you're applying for a junior standing, then yeah, it could possibly be harder to fit in. Schools tend to have transfer residence on the back of their minds compared to freshmen (it was for U-M at least), and as much as that sucks... you can get involved in a community / clubs pretty easily. College is what you make of it, and while it will be harder, you can still make friends. </p>

<p>
[quote]
And finally, I wish to apply to Columbia (and possibly Yale), as these are the only school(s) I would consider because I actually do like it here.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>both are incredibly hard as transfers and quite honestly, if you really can't afford NYU, try and get out of it to a possible state school if necessary? Or something that's not as hard to get in. Both have single digit transfer rates.</p>