<p>I'm a current freshman at a top-rated LAC, but I'm starting to think about transfering. To make a long story short, I didn't originally get into where I wanted, so I don't really feel like I meant to end up here, and I'm not sure its the best match socially. Also, I originally thought I wanted to go to a small school, stay away from city life, and was looking for strong humanities, esp. English, but now I'm veering more towards a Math major (but I still want to keep English in mind.) First semester hasn't ended yet but I've taken the normal load and done pretty well (definitely As and Bs, don't know the distribution). My old SAT was a 1500 and I had 5 APs with 4s or 5s. Right now I think Columbia would be amazing, or maybe even Yale, but I realize these are impossibly high hopes. Do you have any better suggestions along those lines? Thanks.</p>
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right now I think Columbia would be amazing, or maybe even Yale, but I realize these are impossibly high hopes.
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<p>With your stats, Columbia is a genuine possibility.</p>
<p>What top-rated LAC are you at?</p>
<p>nspeds, you've made my day. Wesleyan.</p>
<p>Oh cool I am looking to transfer also, I'm at Amherst.</p>
<p>Transferring to Columbia or Yale is definitely worth a shot for you.</p>
<p>Well, since Yale accepts so few, no applicant really has a decent shot; however, truegibberish, you have as good a shot as anyone.</p>
<p>Heh, JRP, applied there for freshman year too. Best of luck. Where are you looking?</p>
<p>Thank you both for your help. Any suggestions for other schools to look into?</p>
<p>I am actually looking to transfer to a school on Long Island (where I live) for second semester (maybe Hofstra or Stony Brook?) and then try to transfer to Washington and Lee. I am so depressed here. =(</p>
<p>I'm from Long Island too, actually. You definitely have my vote for Stony Brook over Hofstra, if that's the debate. I know a few kids there that have really found a good niche, even if you're only there for a semester. Hofstra too, but Stony Brook's more intellectual, from what I hear, without the drama of somewhere like Amherst... If you're looking to end up somewhere with a smart-but-relaxed atmosphere, maybe you'd like Wes? It's not that I dislike it, I just am not its best fit. If only I hadn't gone and fallen for Columbia now...</p>
<p>Where are you from on LI?</p>
<p>north shore of nassau. </p>
<p>hm... what about stanford? impossible?</p>
<p>I think you would be a really competitive applicant for Yale and Columbia- did you apply to these schools before? Especially the better you do academically this year, the better</p>
<p>Have you ever lived in a city? If you are looking to transfer for something like change of major as a sophomore, make sure where you're transferring to is a good match for all your interests, in case you change again. Do you mind saying what you think of Wesleyan academically?</p>
<p>Also, JRP123, what don't you like about Amherst (another school I'm considering)</p>
<p>Stanford says they look for minimum of 3.7 GPA for transfer candidates. Columbia says 3.5. I don't know about Yale, but I'm guessing it's closer to Stanford's.</p>
<p>ecape things I don't like about Amherst: more liberal than I thought, not as friendly as I thought but or I guess I think its friendly but kind of in a superficial way, New England, people are very focused on themselves and their futures</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice. I actually didn't apply to any of these schools before.. I'm only starting to realize what I thought I wanted (small, New England LAC) was not necessarily the right thing. I grew up a short train ride away from the city and I think I'd really love to live there. I know New Haven and NYC pretty well. Could anyone tell me what the Stanford environment is like? I definitely want to be really careful about picking the right school, because I don't want to keep switching. But at the same time I feel like I know more about what exactly I'm looking for in a school now than ever before.</p>
<p>I've only had one semester at Wes so I don't know how much I can say. I was surprised to feel that it is limited, even in its best depts like Gov't. Its largest majors like English suffer from disunity, and then the smaller ones just don't have enough to hold them together. Most of the people I have found here are disinclined to throw themselves into their work, and I feel like that's part of the college experience. I want to fall in love with a subject and I want to enjoy my homework, and a lot of my friends would rather not go to class, which I guess I can't really relate to.</p>
<p>What is a 3.7 GPA in terms of As and B's? If I get one B, will that ruin it? Not that there's much more I can do, but I guess I'd like to know how difficult this will be in advance.</p>
<p>Also, who do you think I should talk to here about transferring? My advisor is pretty mcuh useless...but I guess I feel disloyal bringing it up to the dean. Is it as awkward as I think it will be? Thanks again.</p>
<p>I talked to my dean and advisor and it really wasn't awkward at all. They are there to help you in any way possible, including leaving the school.</p>
<p>Since you're looking at Math as a new major, Stanford of course would be a strong option for you. It'll soon probably be the finest university in America and with all the google money it's getting, it'll also soon be among the top 3 most wealthy. Because of its large campus, new construction is on-going and state-of-the-art; they're building a new quad. The campus is thriving, active and athletic -- everyone is involved in something -- and even though they're "laid back" California style, the students are also often overachievers. </p>
<p>In short, if you haven't seen the campus, fly out there by all means (Jet Blue has some great discounts right now; JFK to San Jose) -- You'll love it.</p>
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<p>I don't know about Yale, but I'm guessing it's closer to Stanford's.</p>
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<p>It is, and bear in mind that 3.7 is a minimum, not a goal.</p>