Talking to Advisors about Transferring

<p>I am a freshman right now at UNC and considering transferring my junior year. Did any of you guys who are transferring find it difficult to ask your professors/advisors for recommendations? I mean, I am worried it kind of implies that I think I am "too good" for UNC, or that (since I am probably going to apply to Stanford and Columbia) I am "prestige-obsessed," when the real reason for my wanting to leave is more social than academic. Thanks for letting me know how you guys dealt with this issue.</p>

<p>You could express that it is more social than academic. Try not to say anything derogatory about UNC. There is nothing that is not awkward about asking professors for recs; just be as polite and respectful as possible...you know, ask if they're comfortable/have time to write it, then give them addressed, stamped envelopes and the forms they need, and ask if they would like you to supply any additional information. And, of course, thank you notes. (Sorry...I'm sure you know all that and don't need me to lecture about etiquette.) I got some eyebrow-raises when I asked for recs to transfer to Brown, but just say they were your dream schools and you want to give them a shot. Good luck! I'm sure everyone on this board can sympathize about awkwardness...</p>

<p>advisors are basically worthless....when I first went to them, I was pretty ignorant about the whole process, and they told me a bunch of BS....told me to take remedial math and english classes...if it were up to them I would be starting with Reading instead of Writing 1 and Algebra II instead of Calculus II. Do your own research and stop relying on counselors. The information they give out is easily available outside.</p>

<p>Yeah...I somehow have managed to have recs and grades sent without ever even telling my advisor that I'm transferring.</p>

<p>i will gladly take your spot laneb</p>

<p>vaco008-I was thinking the same thing for my daughter; she would gladly take that spot!!</p>

<p>i want to go so bad. do you know anything about how selective it is?</p>

<p>These are the numbers we were given by the transfer admissions counselor:</p>

<p>There were 2,409 transfer applications (I believe this was for 2005)-1,218 were admitted, 828 enrolled. Of those applications, approx. 1500 were for sophmore transfers; 300 were accepted. </p>

<p>We were told that it is very selective for sophmores as they look at your high school transcript and SAT scores in addition to your college transcript. UNC takes many more junior transfers than sophmore transfers.</p>

<p>ah that is good news, i am a junior transfer. I am guessing your daughter is a sophomore? good luck to yall</p>

<p>wait, i just did that math and if I understood you right, over 100% of juniors were accepted? 909 applied, 918 accepted?</p>

<p>No, I think the sophmore numbers are an estimate, whereas the total numbers are real. I believe the total transfer acceptance rate is close to 50%, but the sophmore acceptance rate is around 20%.</p>

<p>would that mean the junior rate is over 50 to balance the 20% for sophomores</p>

<p>If that's the case then sweet.</p>

<p>Yeah, I fully recognize that UNC is a great school, but I don't think its the school for me. There isn't a film department, first of all (there is at Columbia, my first choice), and the Asian Studies department is only so-so. Also the student life heavily revolves around basketball, and frankly, I don't care about basketball. My interests and disterests kind of peg me as an outsider at UNC. I think UNC could be the greatest school in the world IF you're the type of student who likes the public university feel in the South, and you're a big college sports person. I just don't happen fit any of those criteria.</p>

<p>i know what you mean, I am a southern, college sports person stuck at tufts. haha we are in the same situation</p>

<p>Most advisors are used to students transfering into and out of their school, and should not demonstrate any attitude with providing information. But I wouldn't inquire during the 1st semester of freshman year. That would be just plain tacky, unless I was having a totally miserable experience at my current school.</p>

<p>pokey? you never came back about that whole acceptance rate thing, if its over 50% for junior transfers that will make my day. and for laneb i dont think advisors really get uspet about it, no one can know for sure if they will like a college until they attend.</p>

<p>My advisor knows me pretty well and I got the impression that she wanted me to reconsider my decision to transfer... One of my professors to whom I asked to write recommendations actaully commented on my choice of schools XD</p>

<p>vaco-this is all I could find on the UNC website:
Do many students transfer to Carolina?</p>

<p>Each year a significant number of students apply for transfer admission to UNC-Chapel Hill. In recent years, we received applications from about 2,800 transfer candidates. From this applicant pool we offered about 1,200 admission spots and enrolled approximately 800 transfer students. Transfer students are welcome on the Carolina campus and usually experience a smooth transition into the new environment.</p>

<p>This information is from U.S. News premium online:</p>

<p>Transfer applications received for Fall 2004: 2,409
Transfer applicants offered admission for Fall 2004: 1,218
Transfer applicants enrolled for Fall 2004: 828
Transfer student acceptance rate: 50%</p>

<p>The numbers for the sophmore admissions I received from an admissions director. It is my understanding that transfer admissions acceptances is around 50% total. How the 20% sophmore fits in to that, I'm not really sure. I wouldn't think acceptance is higher than 50% overall.</p>