<p>Currently I'm at a "mini ivy" as they're known (comparable to Tufts), and I really don't like it. As a result, I've been thinking about transferring constantly. My grades are also nothing great, about a 3.2 or so, maybe 3.4, and this is definitely a consequence of my lack of enthusiasm among other things such as it being a difficult school. </p>
<p>My question is, would it be a big mistake to transfer to a school such as University of Colorado at Boulder where I would not only have a much more enjoyable experience but I'm pretty positive I would be able to stand out academically and get close to 4.0?</p>
<p>I wouldn’t be so sure about getting a 4.0 at a large state university. There are still very bright kids there and if you aren’t inspired, you won’t do what it takes.</p>
<p>I’m definitely not pre-med. I’m thinking economics or something like that. And while it’s true that I’m not guaranteed to be motivated, and there are a lot of distractions, I trust myself to do well, and assuming I do, would it be a good choice?</p>
<p>You can’t just slide at a public and get a 4.0. Both my kids work very hard to maintain their 4.0s (one is a math major and one is a Chemical Engineering major/pre-med). And, both had high stats as high school students. </p>
<p>If you’ll be happier at your state school and it will be less cut-throat (and you’re willing to put in the work), then you could end up with a better GPA.</p>
<p>It might sound cliche, but you really shouldn’t transfer just to raise your GPA. If you truly aren’t happy at your current school, that’s a good reason to transfer, regardless of your GPA. Likewise, you should transfer to a school you think you’d be happy at, regardless of what your GPA would be.</p>
<p>it’s definitely not a mistake; if you’re really unhappy for any reason, you should probably transfer just to have a better experience. the possibility of boosting your gpa is another plus :)</p>
<p>Ok I guess my original post wasn’t clear. I’m planning on transferring because I’m unhappy. I’m not saying that I am guaranteed a 4.0 or anything like that, but I think I’ll be happier at this particular school and it will be easier and I’ll have better self-motivation. </p>
<p>I think I’d be happy at CU, which is why I’m considering it. It seems like a perfect fit for me, except that the academics aren’t as good as my current school. My views align best with smwhtslghtlydzed. I’m wondering what grad schools will think and which they’d prefer, as I’ll probably go for an MBA. </p>
<p>And I agree that CU is a good school, especially in specific departments, but it’s not known as being a school focused solely on academics for the most part, like my current school</p>
<p>Those schools are hard. And business schools realize that as well. You should also realize that business schools accept people with 3.1 GPA’s. Even good ones. Just do well on your GMAT and have good work experience. Prestigious undergraduate programs give good networking for good jobs. Good jobs lead to good business schools. While Business schools do look at your undergrad, they also weigh heavily on your work experience. The more years you have worked, the less they look at your undergrad.</p>
<p>If you aren’t happy with the school, transfer. If your sole reason is your GPA, that’s kind of silly and work harder—the business world is going to demand just as much. But if it’s your GPA that’s making you not enjoy your school (presumably because you have done well in high school) talk to a college counselor. Realize that at good schools, you aren’t going to necessarily be on top. And it’s not high school…at all.</p>
<p>Public universities frequently suffer from grade deflation while private schools, even uber prestigious ones such as Harvard, typically benefit from massive grade inflation. The difference between average GPAs of a public and private school of comparative prestige is not uncommonly .4 GPA points.</p>
<p>I’m just warning you that you have to climb down several extra notches in the quality ladder to get a higher GPA at a public university than at a private university. You’re mistaken if you think that “small private university” is the worse side of the coin.</p>
<p>First of all most people at private schools might have more accomplished students than those at large publics. I have observed that kids with even a 3.3 at elite privates get higher MCAT/LSAT/GRE scores and GRE subject scores than a 3.99 at a state university. Personally, I believe private schools are more difficult when i keep seeing like someone ranked first in their class in a public school getting the same GRE subject score as someone ranked in the lower 50% at an ivy.</p>
<p>In another thread you said that financial aid was a concern. Be aware that if you’re an out-of-state student at a public university, you can’t anticipate great generosity in aid. CU tuition, room and board for OOS students is close to $40,000 per year.</p>
<p>I think it’s to distinguish itself from the UC (California) schools. California claimed it first. Much like Kansas is ALWAYS called KU even though it’s the University of Kansas, so you’d think it’d be UK. Kentucky beat Kansas to the punch and claimed “UK” first, so there needs to be a way to distinguish the two.</p>
<p>Yes financial aid is a concern and will be the final determinant factor in deciding my school. I don’t want to transfer because of my gpa, I have a long list of reasons why I don’t like my school, and I’m planning on transferring. Going from there, I’m just trying to gauge how business schools will look upon someone who did well at a private school compared to someone who stood out at a public school, assuming I can do that. </p>
<p>Also, in applying for jobs out of college, how heavily are companies concerned with where a student went, because it seems like a job out of college will be more important that my undergraduate education.</p>
Do you have any data whatsoever indicating that this is a statistically-significant disparity across the board, or are you just extrapolating from a small number of nonrandom anecdotal observations?</p>
<p>For a lot of those elite schools people mistake correlation and causality. Ivys generally admit a higher caliber of student meaning that even the middle 50% do outstanding on standardized tests</p>