Should I even bother?

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hello, and congrats to all of the recent transfer admits.</p>

<p>Here is my situation. I didn't attend a competitive university out of HS because of financial limitations (well-enough earning parents who had no interest in parting with 140,000). I've completed two years of a B.S. Chemistry degree at a middle-ranked public university (75-100 on US News). I'm pursuing pre-medicine and will take the MCAT in August. If these practice tests are any indication, I hope to score 38+ on the real thing (99th percentile). I don't feel that I'm being challenged intellectually (or otherwise) at my current school and would very much like to transfer. However, I have a ton of concerns which I'll get to in a minute.</p>

<p>That said, here are my academic stats:
4.0 Chem major with 74 hours completed (diff eq, linear algebra, o. chems, analytical chem, etc)
24 AP credits (took 10-12 AP courses, can't really remember)
Honors junior certificate completed
National Merit finalist
1500 SATs (taken several years ago)
750+ SAT subject tests (took english, math, and chemistry)
Several recognitions for academic achievement
Attending current school on several scholarships, which cover tuition + fees + housing + extra</p>

<p>My extracurriculars in HS and in college are decidedly average:<br>
I have a few hundred volunteer hours, split between: a school for disabled/special children, in an ED of a local hospital, and at 2 free clinics for uninsured and low-income patients. I've been a part of a program which has allowed me to shadow doctors in various fields at the same hospital for ~150 hours (surgery, EM, IM). I participated in varsity swimming and basketball in HS, and have participated in DII water polo and a Masters swim team since arriving at college.</p>

<p>So now my concerns.<br>
1. I've completed a LOT of hours. Many schools that I've investigated (Harvard, Duke, etc.) seem unwilling to admit students who have completed more than 2 years worth of credit and will not allow you to relinquish credit hours in order to enroll as a junior.
2. If I wanted to apply as a junior, I would have to apply in the next cycle which would mean taking a year off and finding a meaningful research or volunteer position that could occupy my time for an entire year (any ideas?). A paid position would be far preferable, though at this point in the summer I don't even know where to begin.
3. I'd burn a lot of bridges at my current school. Can anyone share experiences regarding this aspect of transfering? I'm not sure if I can keep my scholarship while taking an entire year off AND applying for transfer.
4. I'd want to transfer only to a school which is significantly more esteemed than my current one. HPY, Stanford, MIT, Duke, Rice, and the rest of the usual suspects would all do it for me, but I would have a hard time justifying the effort for schools like UMich, Wake Forest, etc. (even though they are fantastic schools and would have been fine choices for me out of HS). Do I have a shot at these schools? Do they provide ANY financial aid for transfers?
5. Since I'd only have 2 years left and have participated in no research as of yet, I'd need to get involved in a project right away. Would professors be willing to take me on? I also have concerns about fitting in at a new place right away and making the most out of the limited time I would have there.
6. Other issues which are too numerous to list really. This would be a difficult sell to my parents and I'd only have a shot if I presented to them a sound plan and had complete confidence in my ability to make it work.</p>

<p>Given the issues above, is my desire to transfer ridiculous? I would be doing so primarily to receive a more thorough, diverse, and challenging educational experience. I'd also really like to get out of the South, and receiving a degree from a recognizable university would go a long way toward my self-validation. Of course, improving my chance for admissions to an elite graduate chemistry or MD program is a part of my motive. The top ten U.S. med schools are super aware of undergrad. prestige (for better or worse), and it seems that non-URMs have slim chances coming from State U.</p>

<p>Sorry for the length, and thanks in advance for any advice/criticism/whatever that you can add.</p>

2

<p>If you only had 2 years worth of credit, I would say you should transfer. But, as it stands, it doesnt seem like it is worth it for you. </p>

<p>Every school that Ive ever looked at requires you to go there for 2 years. By the time you take a year off for applications, then go to the new school for two years, you'll graduate 2 years later than you normally would have (assuming you just finished your junior year). </p>

<p>Plus, you will lose that financial support youre getting at your current school and there is no guarantee it would be available at your new school. </p>

<p>I think med schools would look more favorably on someone who took advantage of research opportunities and excelled at a single (not-so-recognizable) school than someone who switched schools and prolonged completion of their undergrad degree for 2 years in order to graduate from a more prestigious school. </p>

<p>Im not trying to be mean, this is just my opinion. It seems like you would be better off staying where you are, excelling, and then trying to go to a really great grad school and get your self validation from that.</p>

3

<p>You're probably right. Though I just finished my second year there, not third. I took a very heavy course load all 4 semesters, in addition to one summer semester. So I would only be delaying graduation by 1 year, and I figured I could offset that with some kind of impressive internship, research, or volunteer activity.</p>

<p>I have made arrangements to become involved in a chemistry research lab when I go back next fall. I also plan to gain more diverse EC experiences in my last two years, but am still lost as to whether or not I want to transfer badly enough to go through all of the trouble.</p>

<p>No offense taken at all, by the way, and I appreciate your input.</p>

4

<p>At the very least, you could email admissions officers at your schools of interest asking some of these questions. I'm sure they'd be happy to try to advise you, especially in the summer season . . .</p>