Searching for a Place to Transfer

College Search & Selection
1

<p>[cross-posted] </p>

<p>I'm in a bit of a dilemma. I love my current school but I'm an out-of-state student. I have no idea what I want to major in. My interests range in everything from Afrikaans & Dutch history all the way to the mating patterns of zebras. Perhaps that is a bit of an exaggeration but I am truly intellectually curious. At my current university, I get frustrated by not being to enroll in the courses I want, having the pressures of getting out of the school ASAP and secure a degree while contemplating professional and graduate school options afterwards. As appealing as a career/lifestyle of a scholar/academic is - financially or the long, arduous process with an extended period of uncertainty compared to its professional school counterparts - remains dismal.</p>

<p>Here are my stats:
Top 25 University / Public
3.44 Cumulative GPA; Second-Year Student
My first two quarters, I received 3C's and 1 Withdrawn class. The rest of my grades onwards are straight A's with my last term being 4 classes and perfect A's. So, it's something like this:</p>

<p>A-, A-, C
C, C, A-
W, A-, A-
A-, A-, A-
A, A, A, A</p>

<p>The C's were in biology, chemistry, and psychology. The w in an upper-division history course. The rest of the A's are in classes ranging from calculus to Russian literature to linguistics. I'm fairly well-rounded; I just had a miserable winter quarter and terrible time adjusting freshman year. Otherwise, I have a fantastic upward trend and good relationships with professors and TAs. I've shined last quarter and will have fantastic rec's from professors (albeit they knew me for just a quarter).</p>

<p>What schools should I aim for? I don't want to downgrade to a lower-ranked university. LACs sound ideal except for those in isolated cities or all-women's colleges. I'm fond of medium-sized research universities with its combination of the LAC environment but with the research or resource opportunities of a major university. I would love to go to a LAC on the East Coast. Financial aid is not too much of an issue as long as its not 15K-20K in loans annually.</p>

<p>I need some time to collect what I want to do and the idea of a core curriculum to offset it would be lovely. I like the University of Chicago a whole lot but I don't know how realistic it is to get in with it's 20-25% something admit rate. The other top private schools have even worse stats. I know of Reed but I'm not sure I would want to go.</p>

<p>The worst case scenario would be my staying at my current school, gunning through it and hoping the best... not entirely the "worst" but not the most comfortable right now. I hope I don't become too jaded. </p>

<p>Thanks for any possible help!</p>

2

<p>what about georgetown, historically easier to transfer into than other top privates (i think), or NYU?</p>

<p>neither will probably seem very LAC-y. maybe brandeis? it is jewish affiliated, in case that isn't something you want. or somewhere like william and mary?</p>

3

<p>How about University of Rochester, Wake Forest and Ct. College.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the recommendations guys. It's becoming more obvious what schools I'm applying to. I'll consider the others - I'm pretty firm about transferring.</p>

5

<p>How about a school like Holy Cross or Clark?</p>

6

<p>NYU might be a reach with your stats...your GPA is on the low side and those C's and the withdrawal will hurt...a lot of the more selective schools will see red flags, you may have a better chance if you did well in High School and have decent SAT/ACT scores...how are those numbers??</p>

7

<p>Hmm. I'm not considering NYU. My W came with the second part of a two-quarter course. I'm taking the first part of it now and my professor is fond of me and recalls my decisions for withdrawing. I'm speeding through the course quickly and will cover both quarters worth of work within this quarter. I regularly see her and we have stimulating conversations. There will be more than enough to cover up what happened last Spring. She's well-respected and I'm doing extremely well. </p>

<p>My majors have changed drastically. My sociology professor this year has connections at Chicago. I'm doing research under her right now and I'm shining in her classes. We regularly talk about the origins of the Chicago School of Sociology among other things. Again, I'm doing extremely well despite a series of extenuating circumstances and a less than favorable background. </p>

<p>High School GPA: 3.85; SAT: 2000 </p>

<p>What do you think about:
Chicago*
Georgetown*
Rice*
Swarthmore*
Wesleyan*<br>
Wellesley*<br>
Mt. Holyoke!*
Hamilton*<br>
Barnard*
Bryn Mawr **<br>
Smith!
American! </p>

<p><em>Reach
*</em>Medium Reach
! Safety </p>

<p>as transfers?</p>

<p>I'll look at William & Mary, certainly. </p>

<p>And I'm interested primarily in the social sciences although my interests span the gamut.</p>

<p>Thanks for all of your help!</p>

8

<p>"LACs sound ideal except for those in isolated cities or all-women's colleges. "</p>

<p>With 5 on your list, did you have a change of heart about all-women's colleges? About the only one missing is Scripps, and it seems like it might be the best choice for someone not completely sure they want to attend a same sex college as the rest of the consortium is in such close proximity. Just a thought, good luck!</p>

9

<p>Changing my priorities and have gradually realized the strengths of all schools. Yes, over a short course, my focuses have become even more strictly academic or research-oriented. I'll manage!!!</p>

<p>My list will start changing over the next few weeks or so; at least I have the common application as denominator.</p>

10

<p>Emory?</p>

<p>ten char</p>

11

<p>Chicago is less fixated on statistics than many of the top schools. I think that you would fit in well. Your essays and recommendations will shine, so you have a decent chance. Barnard also sounds like an amazing fit for you.</p>

12

<p>According to Facebook: </p>

<p>what</a> college best suits your personality?"
Your result is: small liberal arts school
You may be what's known as a "Barnes and Noble intellectual", or you may be the next Ralph Waldo Emerson. You're an independent thinker in a country that unfortunately doesn't value them all that highly these days.</p>

<p>You'll do well at places like Amherst, Haverford, Wellesley, and Colgate. </p>

<p>:rolleyes: :)</p>

13

<p>I disagree....our country DOES value independent thinkers...in the right place and at the right time....</p>

<p>but different colleges have different cultures.....so its important to find the right fit.</p>

<p>also how one presents independent thought is important as well.</p>