Suggestions About transferring to Cornell

Transfer Students
1

Hi, tomorrow i would be starting my second quarter in UC San Diego. I major in biochemistry.

I entered the university with an ACT 34, 3 SAT subject tests 800 (math, physics, and chemistry), and an IELTS 7.5(mandatory for international students).

My GPA so far was not outstanding(3.75). I was too assumed last quarter that I chose chem 7l and chem 40a(ochem) at the same time. For the laboratory course it was basically disaster. I did got advice, but things did not showed up.

And I feel like the many lab courses required for biochem major were unnecessarily long and extremely hard to excel in. The lab reports are really rough every time, and meanwhile I have to deal with chem 40 series and the next level of chemistry(inorganic or physical, haven’t decided yet).

I am well aware of the UCSD “Swim or Sink” system, and I am terrified by the envision that I couldn’t have a PhD in an excellent school after graduation(after all, all labs recruit PhD and postdoc). I feel like I can barely get help for my future career here(I applied for a few research posts…no reply so far). And, as I said, I am really terrified of SINKING. Everyone around me has a 4.0 GPA. I am really stressed out sometimes.

Cornell is one of the options. I would apply for the enrollment in next spring. Can you guys give me some advice…?(any advice) I don’t know how to prepare the “academic evaluations” (are they recommendation letters?) and I feel my GPA is becoming a huge drawback for any further movement.(meanwhile, I have literally no experience in leadership/community service/ research alike)

I really don’t want to end up sinking here.

Any suggestion is welcome.

2

I found myself having too much monologue…basically the question is about how to prepare for the application, and do I stand a chance?

3

I don’t see any reason to think that transferring to Cornell will solve any problem that you have mentioned in this post. Cornell is a tough school. Think of UC San Diego except more difficult, tougher grading, much colder, and a lot of snow.

And, your chances of getting into Cornell are probably not very good.

4

I see what you mean. Sadly, you are probably correct. Thx anyway.

5

If you want more nurturing, less “swim or sink”, you should look for smaller colleges, especially LACs. They are especially good at producing PhDs as well. Look at Claremont Colleges, Reed, Whitman, Lewis and Clark, etc. if you want to stay on the west coast. Much more on the east coast if you want the change of seasons.

6

I was admitted by Whiteman…but somehow I did not go there. I see what you mean, thanks.