To Transfer or Not to Transfer

Transfer Students
1

<p>I'm usually a lurker here on the forums, but I actually have something on my mind that has been bothering me. I'm a second year student at Georgetown University who has had the idea of transferring in the back of my mind ever since my first semester. However, I am wondering whether my feelings toward my school are "typical" for any student at any school (and thus perhaps I should "tough it out" with a hope that perhaps things will get better) or if they are sincere reasons to transfer to another university.</p>

<p>My top reasons are social: I have not found my niche at this school and, as it has been a year and a half, I worry that things will not get better. The dorm set up at Georgetown has made my last two housing situations a virtually non-social environment. I also have not found a group of friends that I am comfortable with and have the same interests as me. I constantly feel like I'm the odd man out at the dinner table conversations. I'm a quiet person, and Georgetown is definitely a very extraverted environment.</p>

<p>My other reason is rather recent -- I am in need of a supporting environment for someone who has recently "come out" of the closet (yes, that closet) even if it has only been to two or three people. Although Georgetown has a small GLBT population and DC has resources, the city is an overwhelming and our college resources are not that big since Georgetown is a Catholic school. I think I would like a big, centralized college support system that would make support (and dating) easier. </p>

<p>I have a 3.9 at Georgetown and had a 4.67 W/3.9 UW in high school. I am open for suggestions...or just plain old "stick it out, it'll get better" stories.</p>

2

<p>Those are certainly good reasons to transfer, but if/when you do choose to transfer and write about your essays, make sure that you refrain from demonizing the school and infer its attitude towards gays and lesbians as being harsh. Rather, articulate why the reasons why you feel uncomfortable in such a small, tight-knit school, and how you think being at another institution can better your situation. </p>

<p>Your stats are great, and comming from Georgetown with a 3.9 and stellar hs stats, you pretty much have a shot at all the top universities. Considering what you said however, you may want to consider some of the more liberal ones. I don't know which ones are considered to be "liberal," but I would suspect that Columbia tops the list since it is located in an urban setting at the heart of NYC.</p>

3

<p>Well obviously you should pick a school with an equal or better department for your major. i see nothing wrong with transferring for social reasons, but do not let those social reasons affect your academic career. With your stats I'd say give Columbia a shot which is in NYC and definitely very open and accepting to gays.</p>

4

<p>somethingnew,</p>

<p>I know exactly how you feel. As an introvert, I can tell you that it is very difficult to get accustomed to the environment, which is very social and tends to be rewarding for only a few types of personality.</p>

<p>I can say this: after studying at Georgetown for about one and a half years, and having faced the choice of transferring to Rice or Chicago, Georgetown is an excellent school. If you join the right clubs (or create your own), and go to the right places, you will naturally make friends. There are people at Georgetown who are also quiet and introverted, and they are worthwhile to know. I thought by transferring, I would be surrounded by more people of "my type," but I really began to realize that unless I take the proper attitude, I won't have a successful social life anywhere I go.</p>

<p>After having a miserable first year, socially, I can definitely say that my social life this year has been outstanding. I cannot guarantee the same will happen for you; everyone is different.</p>

<p>What I would recommend doing is applying as a transfer anyways, since there is no harm in applying and you can postpone deciding whether to leave until May/June, which gives you more time to develop a social life and, if you find that you still haven't developed a satisfactory one, you can place at a deposit at another school.</p>

<p>The reason I say you can "place a deposit" is that with a 3.9 from Georgetown, you pretty much have a good shot at any school except for Princeton, MIT, and Caltech. Georgetown manages to place many students at Harvard, and one or two students per year at Yale (which, relatively speaking, is a lot).</p>

<p>In my opinion, Harvard and Yale are the only schools worth considering if you are thinking of transferring from Georgetown. The advantages of other schools simply do not outweigh their disadvantages, and the academic and personal investment you will be making. If I were you, I would either stick it out for the remainder of my undergraduate career at Georgetown, or try for Harvard and Yale.</p>

<p>Good luck. I would be more than happy to help if you have any other questions:)</p>

5

<p>Some places you should definitely apply to
Texas A & M
BYU
Notre Dame
Auburn
Baylor</p>

6

<p>I think that nspeds is right that it's always worth it to "stick it out" for a bit, but I think that other programs outside of Harvard and Yale might be worth considering. Your excellent academic record could land you at many schools, and you might consider some top LACs and top research universities. Columbia is a bit more "social" than you might like, but it's got great GLBT resources. Cornell might be nice, too.</p>

7

<p>On second thought, I think Brown has excellent GLBT resources.</p>

8

<p>wesleyan, vassar?</p>

9

<p>Thanks for all the advice given in this thread. I think the idea of applying now and just waiting out the term to see if the social atmosphere picks up is an excellent idea -- and one that I think I will try out. It will probably help me pick up the pace socially as the idea of leaving always makes me pick things up at a faster pace. My only apprehensions are asking professors, at the peak of their workload into the semester, to write me a recommendation. </p>

<p>Thank you, nspeds, for your words of wisdom. I will try my very best this semester to "put myself out there" and find interests similar to others. Georgetown is a very extraverted environment but you are correct in your assessment that a change of attitude (and perhaps not a change of environment) could help as well. I never looked at it that way and hopefully that perspective will bring me closer to enjoying my time here.</p>

<p>For now I am faced with the daunting tasks of reapplying elsewhere. I am looking at a few LACS, Stanford (which has a ton of the resources I am looking for) and perhaps Yale or Brown. For some reason, the idea of applying to or even considering Harvard really scares me, so I'll have to evaluate that idea a little more :)</p>

10

<p>
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My only apprehensions are asking professors, at the peak of their workload into the semester, to write me a recommendation.

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</p>

<p>Don't worry about it. If you earned good grades in their classes, then they will be more than happy to write one for you. Just be sure to give them a lot of time... at least a month before the deadline. Beware that Harvard's application is due in mid-February.</p>

<p>
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I will try my very best this semester to "put myself out there" and find interests similar to others.

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</p>

<p>I would be more than happy to help! I run a chess club on Friday, and we attract all kinds of weird people, which is great. I mean, it would take a social outcast at Georgetown to want to attend a chess club on a Friday night:D</p>

<p>Georgetown does well with placing students at excellent schools. I have a friend who applied for transfer to Stanford and got in (her GPA wasn't all that good, either). She chose to stay here, but that's besides the point.</p>

<p>
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For some reason, the idea of applying to or even considering Harvard really scares me, so I'll have to evaluate that idea a little more

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</p>

<p>No way, man. I had the same attitude last year, and that definitely screwed me over. In reality, you should give Harvard a shot, and it's worth giving a shot. If you are going to be applying to Yale, you might as well give Harvard a chance; Harvard has a higher acceptance rate by far. </p>

<p>Good luck. What applying for transfer did to me was that it gave me a short-term goal and something to look forward to, since my law school applications were still a year and a half away at that point. I suppose the thrill and rush of applying fed my thirst for excitement in the spring, but the prospect of moving and starting over again, and that too only for two years, seemed daunting, both academically and socially.</p>

11

<p>I like the recommendations that have been made. Definitely consider:</p>

<p>Columbia, Yale, Harvard, Wesleyan, Swarthmore, Brown.</p>

<p>All of which are comparable or better than Georgetown and are likely to fit your personality.</p>

12

<p>If you are concerned about the closet issue, I think that Boston University has a male population that is somewhere around 40% homosexual. (you might want to check on that figure, it is just what I have heard).</p>

13

<p>Yes, but it would be a considerable drop in terms of the quality of the school. I really think Yale is 'your school' if you are impressed with everything else it offers, and though they accept very few transfers, you have a solid shot. </p>

<p>I believe Brown and Columbia are also very gay-friendly, as is Wesleyan.</p>