Should I leave or not, weigh in, and then chances for UPenn, brown, Columbia, etc

College Search & Selection
1

<p>I have been a member of these boards for a few years now, and I really appreciate all of the advice and knowledge relayed on these boards. I now find myself in a complex position, and am looking for some help. I am at Cornell University, and from the start, wasn't that thrilled. After a semester, I have given it much thought and feel like I owe it to myself to put in some transfer applications. I was admitted out of high school to U of Chicago, Northwestern, Rice, Emory, and Cornell. My parents however are not thrilled with the idea of me transfering out of Cornell b/c they don't think I will be any happier at another peer school (UPenn, Brown, and Columbia) and may not even do as well. I am actually somewhat disappointed in how I did my first semester at Cornell (3.6 GPA, taking 4 courses, technically 5 if you count lab and lecture for biology as 2 courses. I actually receive 2 grades for biology, one for lab and lecture). The 2 biology courses are responsibile for why I don't have a 3.8-3.9. The average grade given out in bio 101 at cornell is a C+/B- because it is on a strict curve and I got B+ in both courses). I hope that 3.6 is enough, and I know cornell is known for serious grade deflation, it is very true btw.</p>

<p>My high school statistics...</p>

<pre><code>unweighted 96 GPA, no weighted grades in my school
</code></pre>

<p>no ranking, but in the top 2-3 percent based on unweighted average
10 APs by graduation
all available honors
involved in high school (captain of tennist team, president of a community service organization, i played the violin for the orchestra, was a ranked tennis player early on in high school, and was apart of other clubs as an active member)</p>

<p>My SAT I, on ONE sitting - 1450
SAT II- 740/730/740/700, Writing/Math IC/BIo/Us Hist</p>

<p>At Cornell, I am a presidential research scholar, one of 40 out of 3000 students, selected in the spring before I entered. It is apart of the Cornell Commitment Scholarship Programs for exceptionally motivated students.</p>

<p>I would appreciate if you think I should stay at Cornell and if you can evaluate me as a transfer candidate for:</p>

<p>Columbia
UPenn
Brown
Duke
Northwestern
U of Chicago
Rice</p>

<p>Thanks :)</p>

2

<p>Come to Penn, you'll have a much better time!</p>

3

<p>You did not say why you are not happy. Bad food? No social life, cold??</p>

4

<p>why would you apply AGAIN to a school you already got accepted At??? why wouldn't you have gone there in the first place?</p>

<p>apply to Harvard, Yale, Princeton or something like that if you want to go somewhere better.</p>

5

<p>um...its a bunch of reasons, its location is a MINUS, but there is a community feel b/c it really is in the middle of no where. Some ppl like it, some don't. I want to be closer to a city. In addition, IT GETS COLD. I am not even kidding, if weather is important, don't go to Cornell. Academics are great, but extremely demanding and rigorous especially in the sciences. I am now into econ and poli sci and i wouldn't mind a stronger econ and poli sci school such as Columbia.</p>

<p>Why I am applying to those 3 schools again (U of Chicago, NU, and Rice), b/c I want options to leave, and am almost 80-90 percent sure I will be readmitted. My parents aren't happy with this either, trust me, b/c they think it is really stupid.</p>

6

<p>anyone else</p>

7

<p>i dont see how you'd be any happier at another school. All of the schools in the northeast are very cold in the winter. It happens. Another thing, have you done anything at Cornell socially? Clubs, jobs, activities? 700 student clubs are what makes this school spectacular. I just can't see a viable reason as to why you'd want to transfer. So far, i've seen weather, location, and "lower" average student SAT scores. I'd hate to break your heart and say chicago isn't cold and windy (its nickname!) in the winter, but it is. I know what it's like to be unhappy at a school - at my previous college, the academics were a joke and the student body was always drunk and apathetic. I transfered, and the situation changed dramatically. I'd have to agree with your parents on this one, i dont think you'd be any happier at another peer school.</p>

8

<p>Duke and UPenn are better schools.</p>

9

<p>that should fix all of bball's concerns, thank you for such an intelligent and insighful post, BusinessBoi</p>

<p>bball, ask yourself if you'd be any happier at any other school. Life can be tough for a transfer, everybody for the most part has already created their little groups of friends. It's not the same as a freshmen entering. Trust me, i've been through it. Do the apps and all, see if you get in, but also get involved at Cornell. Then decide.</p>

10

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

11

<p>I agree with Gome that you should ask yourself the question: Will you be happier at _____? Not to mention that transfers do have it a little bit rougher and you could probably fix your problems by taking less classes/easier classes and getting more involved in things you enjoy (clubs, social events etc.)</p>

<p>With that said, I've been here long enough to know that Cornell is a tough cookie.</p>

<p>If I were you, I would apply to the following:
Rice
Duke
UPenn
Brown
Columbia
(possibly Dartmouth...warning though, it is the same environment, but the people are a lot nicer I think)
And some safeties maybe (ever consider a SUNY? they are all great places)</p>

<p>From what I've heard (check for yourself though) transfers have a much higher success rate at transferring and you have pretty good stats from high school and a college GPA of 3.6 is pretty impressive (probably enough to get you into one of the aforementioned schools as a transfer)</p>

<p>Simply put, apply to those places, tour them (go to <a href="http://www.theu.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.theu.com&lt;/a> and consider ordering a video or something) have a talk with your parents, and most importantly, take a walk around campus and see what you can do to make your experience better.</p>

<p>Best of luck.</p>

12

<p>Well, I hope I would get into Rice b/c I got in last year, but who really knows.</p>