Should I Apply for Transfer?

<p>So I applied as a transfer student to Cornell last fall and didn't get in. I worked very hard on my application and really gave it my best shot. I was a sophomore when I applied and I have 66 credits through my first 2 years at my current school.</p>

<p>I gave myself some time to reflect after getting rejected and what I have found is that I'm still not resolved to not going to Cornell. I still want it.</p>

<p>I am considering applying again for spring admission. Since Cornell only accepts 60 credits I would lose approximiately 26 credits (I will be taking 20 this fall semester). Thus, I would probably have to stay for an extra semester if I transferred.</p>

<p>Do you guys think that it would be wise to transfer? Moreover, how will Cornell view a junior attemping to transfer... is it too late? Also, how will they view a rejectee applying again?</p>

<p>Thanks for any responses.</p>

<p>I know a girl who got rejected three times. She finally got in.</p>

<p>Don't even think about applying again unless there will be something significantly better in your application. Cornell has already told you that they don't see a great fit. Besides, that's an awful lot of credit to lose. What's wrong with where you are now?</p>

<p>@greennblue</p>

<p>I applied with a 3.68 and I now have a 3.81. I also gained a new leadership position. This summer, I have a pretty good internship too.</p>

<p>There is nothing "wrong" with my current school, it's just not the best place for me, IMO. It's actually a pretty good private university. I want to go somewhere that I love, not somewhere that I go because I don't have any other viable options.</p>

<p>The biggest thing holding me back is the loss of credits. </p>

<p>@cayugared2005</p>

<p>That's a great story. Did she apply to the same major all 3 times?</p>

<p>What college/major did you apply to?</p>

<p>@dewdrop87</p>

<p>I applied to AEM in CALS, which I understand is a very competitive major. If I re-apply I am not sure if I will apply to AEM again. I have been doing some preliminary research on ILR, the Hotel School, and PAM as well. </p>

<p>So far, I am really intrigued with PAM. </p>

<p>Related to that, since PAM is in HumEc and AEM was in CALS, I will be evaluated by a completely different group of people if I apply to PAM. Will having applied before impact me at all then?</p>

<p>No...your previous application in CALS will not affect your HumEc application. PAM isn't as competitive as AEM, but the difficult part for many applicants is demonstrating in their essay that HumEc is a good fit for them. </p>

<p>I applied for freshman admission to CAS and was rejected. I applied for transfer admission to CALS and was accepted.</p>

<p>@dewdrop87</p>

<p>Do you mean that many applicants struggle to demonstrate fit in HumEc because not many students are a good fit with the college in particular or just that students struggle to demonstrate fit in general?</p>

<p>As a former transfer, do you know of anyone who transferred in their junior year?</p>

<p>
[quote]
Do you mean that many applicants struggle to demonstrate fit in HumEc because not many students are a good fit with the college in particular or just that students struggle to demonstrate fit in general?</p>

<p>As a former transfer, do you know of anyone who transferred in their junior year?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>No...it's not a struggle for those students who clearly know why they want their particular college/major. If you're applying to the college for the sole sake of getting in and don't have the passion...then it can be difficult. </p>

<p>Plenty of transfers come in as juniors.</p>

<p>@dewdrop87</p>

<p>I understand your point about real vs. fabricated interest. As I said, I am still researching the different majors, but thus far I am genuinely interested in what I'm reading.</p>

<p>Also, plenty of transfer come in during the middle of their junior year? I didn't mean rising juniors who applied, I meant juniors who applied after the first semester and ended up losing a semester, like my situation.</p>

<p>^^I only know of 1 or 2 juniors who came in the middle of the year. I don't know how that will affect your application.</p>

<p>I know in the situation of internal transfers (students already in Cornell who want to switch colleges) to CALS, the adcom generally only accepts the students who can finish within the 4 year timeline and meeting the CALS residency requirement of 2 years.</p>

<p>@dewdrop87</p>

<p>For reference, do you know what college(s) they attended? I didn't see of any rule (in terms of how long it takes to finish) on the college websites, but I may have missed it.</p>

<p>It was CALS...if you search graduation requirements you can usually find it.</p>

<p>Anyone else have any advice/insight on my situation?</p>

<p>are you currently in a degree plan at your college that is comparable to the courses you will take at cornell?</p>

<p>ILR doesnt have a limit in terms of transfer credit so you wouldt lose any, but you still need to complete 60 credits at cornell i think...in ILR u might be taking straight ILR courses until you graduate...</p>

<p>why not make the most of your undergrad degree and then apply to cornell grad school?</p>

<p>@resurgamBell</p>

<p>At my current college, I am on a degree plan that has some similar courses to ILR, but it is certainly not parallel. My school does not have an ILR-type major.</p>

<p>I didn't know that about ILR accepting all credits, thanks for that information.</p>

<p>And indeed, I am trying to make the most of my undergraduate degree, thus the reason I am working to transfer.</p>

<p>Just as a side question, I am not sure how credits work at Cornell. Are most classes 3 credits and classes with labs 4? Would it be possible/feasible to complete 60 credits in 3 semesters? I'm guessing not, but maybe...</p>

<p>Bump. Any other insight?</p>

<p>Bump, please.</p>

<p>I have never heard that about ILR allowing more than 60 credits, but it really wouldn't matter because you would still have to do 60 credits at Cornell, and almost all of them would have to be in ILR after transferring that late. You wouldn't have a chance to take many electives at all, so if you are still interested in AEM, you wouldn't have a lot of freedom to take classes in other colleges such as AEM classes in CALS or PAM classes. </p>

<p>Don't worry about losing your credits if you are going to apply regardless, because if only 60 transfer over, you will still need another 60 credits regardless of the college because of the residency requirement. Just apply to the college you wish to attend, not the one you think would be easiest to get in or would take the most of your credits. You may lose some of them anyways if Cornell does not have a similar course.</p>

<p>When ResurgamBell said to make the most of your undergraduate, they meant stay where you are and do the best to position yourself to get into a great grad school such as Cornell from there, not trying to transfer halfway through your junior year. You will not be able to graduate on time if you transfer to Cornell, regardless of the particular college, and it seems like that is important to you. You are probably best off where you are currently at unless you are miserable there.</p>

<p>@hermanns
I understand your perspective and thanks for your comments.</p>

<p>I found out that ILR only allows 60 credits for anyone who might want to know.</p>

<p>Are there any people familiar with the College of Human Ecology that could offer some perspectives on the culture and "feel" of the college? In general, how are the professors and classes? I noticed that Dean's List is a 3.7, so does that mean that courses are relatively easy?</p>