Should I Transfer? Bombed a class and now...

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi,
I posted here before but never got a response.</p>

<p>I want to transfer from my current institution but I am potentially a year away from graduating if I change my major from Bioinformatics to just Biology and take summer classes. I want to apply for mD/phDs but I'm not confident in the quality of my application.</p>

<p>I have strong science grades and research experience. However, I got a C last semester in a BS class and I'm worried it will kill me for MD/PhDs. Plus I hate my school and they stopped giving me aid. </p>

<p>There are a few Unis I'm interested in.. like UPenn, JHU, Carnegie, MIT, UMich, UC San Diego, which I belive would be awesome fits for me. However, some of them only accept applicants in the fall. I am also looking for schools that offer merit scholarships or atleast meet need without loans, such as UPenn.</p>

<p>I realized these are hard to get into.</p>

<p>Anyway, my stats are
3.61 GPA. I had a 4.0 Freshman year and 3.71 in my science GPA (getting B's in labs has killed me).
I have 3-4 years of research experience
Some volunteer ECs in college</p>

<p>but thats really it. I wanna go to a college I enjoy w/ clubs that I am interested in.</p>

<p>my qs are
1) I'm considering taking a gap year so I can apply for those schools next fall, while I work and save up money. good idea or no?
2) I am looking for a school that offers biology + computer science (either easy to integrate as a double major or has a comp bio program) + film minor + sports and some prestige to "rescue" my GPA. I just need some advice regarding
a) schools that fit my profile
b) whether the idea of going somewhere more prestigious to rescue my gpa is advisable. I found my classes at my current school to be too easy and slacked as a result. I need a challenge.</p>

2

<ol>
<li>If you really need the money and will be PRODUCTIVE during your gap years then yes. </li>
</ol>

<p>It’s really difficult to answer the rest of your questions because you’re asking us to do all of your work for you (which is why no one has answered yet). You have told us little about yourself, where you are from, what you would like in a school beside clubs, etc. if you’re just trying to go for pretsige and want to transfer, just know that few schools allow you to transfer when you at already at a senior level standing. You need to do your own research. Why do you think the schools above are a good for for you?</p>

3

<p>if ur a year away from graduation if change ur major to bio, shouldn’t u just stay at your current school and graduate and then apply to those grad schools u referred to instead of transferring and possibly prolonging your graduation?</p>

4

<p>Lol my bad.</p>

<p>I did not want to give away too much of my own personal information.</p>

<p>But basically…</p>

<p>I am considering transferring, because I got a C in a gen ed, upper level course at a low tier college. Otherwise my application is pretty decent. Since I got that C, my grades have dropped as well (I only got one A my sophomore year after getting a 4.0 my freshman year). I feel that due to a variety of factors, such as the social environment, depression, finances, slacking bcuz of how easy some of these classes are, and various other frustrations at my current school, it would be a good idea to transfer. I would enjoy the challenge and feel the need for a much more rigorous environment.</p>

<p>I’m currently a comp sci/bio major but if I drop the comp sci and do bio, I can graduate must faster (within a year if I take classes over winter and spring). However, I’m concerned that I am not ready for med school yet, due to my grades and lack of ECs. So I partially do not want to graduate in order to develop my resume and myself as a person. I would also not be able to take any electives that I enjoy or otherwise enjoy the college experience. Also it would be expensive to rush through because I won’t get aid over the summer. </p>

<p>However, if I do graduate early, at the expense of enjoying college, etc., I can apply for grad/med schools ASAP. I could also work to pay off the debt. </p>

<p>so essential cliffs I would want in a new school
-rigor
-financial aid for transfer students
-lively atmosphere. not partying but as in student body is active, people actually love the school
-big on research</p>

<p>These are my stats (defined more than before)
3.61 GPA (4.0 freshman, can bring up to 3.71 if I get a 4.0 this semester)
4 years of research experience
at 50 credits
3.77 science GPA can be 3.84 after this semester
volunteer to help low income families with medical care
volunteer in local youth group
do a lot of video work for clients who need advertisements (won an award in HS for winning first place in a video competition)
Last year I worked 20+ hours a week while doing research and going to school full time in the fall, did part time in spring to save up money</p>

<p>schools of interest that i can apply to right now are umich, nw, cornell, MIT, carnegie mellon
if i wait to apply my choices are upenn, jhu, duke, wustl, uchicago, rice</p>

<p>of those i reallly wanna go to upenn… that’s my dream then jhu</p>

<p>cliff notes:
-should i transfer? potentially have a year left if i rush and drop my current major
-what are my chances?
-any tips/advice?</p>

5

<p>Most places will require that you complete the equivalent of two full academic years worth of coursework there in order to graduate. In order to do that in 12 months, you would need to greatly overload your schedule, which probably is not a good idea given your recent academic trends.</p>

<p>It may make more sense to take a gap year NOW and sort out the whole depression thing so that you can focus on your schoolwork where ever it is that you end up.</p>

6

<p>sorry if i did not make this clear… but i’m okay with spending an extra two years at the institution… i’m about to finish my sophomore year this fall… so the two year residency is NOT an issue at all</p>