<p>I was wondering if anyone has been at three highly selective institutions? (transferred 2+ times)</p>
<p>I was at Smith College for a year. I transferred to UChicago because I wanted more academic rigor. Now I realize I loved the progressive atmosphere of Smith, I hate living in the city, and I have become increasingly interested in politics and African studies, which I could do more of through Carleton and Swarthmore. Unfortunately, I was also accepted as a transfer to Carleton and Swarthmore this past year, and I declined them b/c UChicago was closer to home. Now I wonder if anyone thinks they might accept me again out of UChicago as a junior transfer?</p>
<p>My stats:
GPA was 3.6 1st semester at Smith, but 2nd semester I had mono, so GPA for the yr was 3.35 with 38 credit hours.
I'm going to try my darndest for a GPA of 3.7 at UChicago with regular course load and 2 science classes.
SAT: 1480</p>
<p>ECs:
Illinois State Coordinator for the Student Sierra Club
Rape Awareness and Advocacy Counselor
Mentor for adolescent girls in local underserved community
Assistant Researcher at Lincoln Park Zoo
Swing Dancing</p>
<p>Could some opinionated people give me their take on all of this? Even if you have no experience, I'd appreciate opinions...</p>
<p>I'd explain why you turned them down before in your app... If they accepted you before, I don't see why they wouldn't again. A 3.7 from Chicago would be impressive anywhere.</p>
<p>Who says I don't appreciate what I have? I know Chicago is a great school. If I could be in an institution that's a better fit for me, and let somebody who would benefit more from Chicago take my place, I don't see what harm is done. It would cost the same too, as I plan to be out in 4 years no matter what.</p>
<p>Who says I don't appreciate what I have? I know Chicago is a great school. If I could be in an institution that's a better fit for me, and let somebody who would benefit more from Chicago take my place, I don't see what harm is done. It would cost the same too, as I plan to be out in 4 years no matter what. </p>
<p>Okay, okay: I hope I love Chicago and don't want to leave. But if not, I'd like to think I have options. School costs enough I feel I am a customer and can be choosy.</p>
<p>
[quote]
Okay, okay: I hope I love Chicago and don't want to leave. But if not, I'd like to think I have options. School costs enough I feel I am a customer and can be choosy.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If you plan to attend graduate/professional school, being 'choosy' is not a luxury you possess. It will raise a 'red flag', so to speak.</p>
<p>You mean if I go to 3 undergraduate colleges it will raise a red flag to grad school admissions? I had a roommate who was a grad student at UChicago, and her take on the situation was that applying to grad school I would simply need to explain why I transferred -that my academic interests evolved, etc. And I plan to take a couple years off before grad school anyway b/c grad school is such a serious decision -but you think it would hurt grad school acceptance chances to go to 3 different schools?</p>
<p>You asked for comments from opinionated people, and you got them. Do you really think that Carleton or Swarthmore's political science departments are stronger than Chicago's (no less Smith's, which is likely stronger than either), or the African Studies department? (same story -when did Swarthmore get an African Studies department?)</p>
<p>I have extensively discussed this matter with my professors, and the consensus is that 'school shopping' (as theyrefer to it), arouses disapproval from graduate school admissions officers. Unless your explanation is of medical import, attending more than two schools will be deleterious. This is corroborated by the interviews my professors had for their graduate school admissions: my philosophy professor was persistently questioned even for his single transfer during his interview.</p>
<p>You do not just go to supermarkets and take schools from the shelf. You need to research and understand what commitment you are establishing. Transferring twice demonstrates a lack of maturity in that you are either indecisive or precipitous when presented with important options.</p>
<p>In my previous post, I mentioned the qualification of 'medical import'. This begs for elucidation: I do not mean that it is okay to transfer twice if the decision was made under an illness. What I claimed was that if transferring twice is medically necessary (for instance, the city in which your new school is located has medical resources that are unavailable for you in your old one), then it is permissible.</p>
<p>Okay, well FYI -I took two political science courses while at Smith -one was upper-level and they were both EXTREMELY unchallenging. Strength of a department should be defined by the structure of the curriculum rather than simply # of faculty. And Carleton offers more classes in International Relations, Ecology, and African Studies (all my interests) than does UChicago. I agreed to go to UChicago in part because professors here told me their Ecology and Evolution dept was probably the strongest in the country -I have since learned that their undergraduate program is not quite so well developed as their grad program. You may be perfectly right. If it was not for my lower grades 2nd semester last yr, I honestly would decline Chicago as well, take off a yr, and apply again, but now that is not an option. I think I will email some grad programs, and come back to tell you what they say.</p>
<p>I know I should have researched programs more earlier -I didn't think I'd be accepted, so I didn't bother for fear of being disappointed -ironically stupid, I must admit.</p>
<p>From Stanford Bio (only 1 opinion, I realize. i'll post more as I get them):</p>
<p>"As long as you are going to confer a BA or BS, it doesn't matter how
many undergraduate institutions you have attended.
The admissions committee looks at test scores, grades, letters of
recommendation, research experience, and your personal statement when
evaluating applications."</p>
<p>
[quote]
"As long as you are going to confer a BA or BS, it doesn't matter how
many undergraduate institutions you have attended.
The admissions committee looks at test scores, grades, letters of
recommendation, research experience, and your personal statement when
evaluating applications."
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I sincerely apologize, as I should have qualified my statement. My argument was more with respect to graduate studies in philosophy and law school. I had a personal conversation with a Stanford Law School adcom, and the message conveyed to me was that not only is an explanation required, but it must be significant.</p>
<p>Well in that case, I still appreciate the informatioin. I am somewhat interested in law school as a possibility, and Stanford Law in particular. I do wonder though if taking time off after undergraduate to do something constructive consistently for a few years before applying to Law School would help negate the apparent flakiness one had as an undergraduate.</p>
<p>
[quote]
for a few years before applying to Law School would help negate the apparent flakiness one had as an undergraduate.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>I cannot be sure. Your best source for this information would be your pre-law advisor.</p>
<p>Edit: Stanford and Yale Law School are particularly difficult to into, as even students with perfect GPAs and perfect LSATs from good schools (though they still have a good chance), are rejected! For these two law schools, it is obvious that the focus is not entirely on LSAT/GPA, but that they look for other qualities. Transferring more than once would not be conducive to conveying an extraordinary quality, and you will be giving them an excuse to reject you. I do not think it is a wise risk.</p>
<p>Berkeley Law agrees that tranferring twice might hurt. I could go back to Smith for a year, and then reapply to a "final destination school." Hmph. This decision would have to be made <em>soon</em> though. Oh how I wish I had known three months ago all the things I know now (about specific programs at these colleges). Out of curiosity, what is the academic reputation of Smith in regards to schools like Carleton and UChicago. Do you imagine UChicago is a great deal more rigorous?</p>
<p>
[quote]
Out of curiosity, what is the academic reputation of Smith in regards to schools like Carleton and UChicago. Do you imagine UChicago is a great deal more rigorous?
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sorry, I do not know. Your question may be better suited for the 'College Search and Selection' forum.</p>
<p>'Berkeley Law' can simply be referred to as BOALT.</p>
<p>"Do you imagine UChicago is a great deal more rigorous?"</p>
<p>I taught at UChicago, and have a daughter at Smith. The short answer is "no". The long answer is that it depends on what you are studying, and whom you are studying it with. I know nothing about African Studies, other than that Fratkin and Mosley are heavyweights. I do know that the African-American studies program at Smith is headed by Paula Giddings, a very major figure in the field, and at Chicago by Michael Dawson (I think), newly returned from Harvard, also a heavyweight. Don't know the Carleton people. My old college classmate Eric Reeves, in the Smith English Dept., oddly enough is probably the single most important person in the country right now in bringing public attention to the Darfur crisis, and I think is currently on loan to the African Studies Dept. The 5-College International Relations Certificate is headed by Vincent Ferraro at Mt. Holyoke, as well as the 5-College Certificate in African Studies - I assume you looked into that?</p>
<p>But Smith started today, so isn't it a non-issue?</p>
<p>Though Harvard has offered her a position, Martha Nussbaum is still at UChicago and, from what I have heard, will remain there until Spring 2007, as she will be a visiting professor at Harvard Law School during that time.</p>