Should I Transfer

Transfer Students
1

<p>I am a first year student on a three year track at what many deem to be a "Top Tier" university. I love certain aspects of the school. I am quite social and not what many would consider to be the stereotypical engineer, and I am not one to usually back down from a challenge. However, at this time I cannot help but consider a transfer back to Colorado from this TN school for a number of reasons.</p>

<p>Could somebody evaluate my rationale and tell me if my reasons for transfer are legitimate.</p>

<p>First, the two schools that I am considering transfer to are Colorado School of Mines and the University of Colorado. As a freshman, CU gave me a scholarship, admitted me to their engineering honors program (pretty good) and provided a three year track. Mines also gave me a scholarship (larger), but a four year program was necessary. On a cost basis, the two schools and Vandy(where I am now) would have similar costs considering the scholarships and graduation tracts given to me.</p>

<p>What makes me consider transferring out is an overall distance with many activities. I put off pledging to the disappointment of my friends this spring and feel distant and unlike my normal outgoing self. In addition, I understand the caliber of students at CSU/CU- took classes there in HS. The students here are insane. I managed to pull of a 3.52 first S, but I am a perfectionist and my grades are declining instead of going up. I guess my question is that I really don't see the benefit of getting a 3.4 at Vandy versus a 3.75 at CU with less work. </p>

<p>In addition, while I felt that I wanted to go into banking or petroleum and still do, our career center is weak. I won't have the GPA to go after a bulge bracket and there is not recruiting by the Petroleum firms or any firms on the coasts (I want to settle down on a coast or mountainous area- CO, Cal, Aus, S Am, etc). </p>

<p>I rambled, but I will be applying as a transfer student to the two schools. I know that I will get in and believe that I can get into the CU honors program. I was wondering, A) am I looking at this logically and would you provide me with any advice, and B) will I be able to get a scholarship from these schools similar to those that I got as a freshman?</p>

<p>Any advice would be greatly appreciated as would anybody else in a similar situation willing to disclose their thought process</p>

2

<p>I'm in a similar situation as yours. My state university offered me a scholarship and a spot in their highest honors program (an honors + research program).</p>

<p>However, I similarly chose to attend a fairly prestigious private university instead (which also offered me a scholarship and acceptance into their Honors program). My classmates in my major were really competitive and crazy, and I pulled in a 3.58 my first semester. I didn't think it was "good enough" to transfer into an Ivy or Ivy equivalent, so I decided to stick it out. I'm also a perfectionist and my grades are declining (I'm a sophomore now). I have a 3.43 right now (which I blame on the grading curves) and it's killing me. I recently had my Honors program membership rescinded because my GPA fell below the 3.5 requirement.</p>

<p>Maybe you should call CU and ask their admissions officer. That's what I plan on doing.</p>

3

<p>I think you probably should check the scholarship policies of the Colorado schools. So many do NOT give the same type of scholarships (some give none) to transfers that they give to freshmen. I think it is quite possible that you could speak to an admission officer at each school, let them know that you have had second thoughts re turning them down last year and ask whether you can "re-activate" your earlier application, have any sort of streamlined app process... and what the prospects are for merit aid.</p>

<p>I can envision you being successful either with the transfers or where you currently are. So don't let yourself get too down with your prospects at Vandy. You could be having a temporary version of "second semester blues" and it could turn around there for you. Keep your options open. And good luck.</p>