Transfer Chances

Colleges and Universities A-Z Colgate University
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am a junior transfer from NYU Economics and Psych. I've had a lot of issues during the two years I attended which culminated in a diagnosis of anxiety disorder, depression and ADHD. NYU medicated me (literally DRUGGED ME) and I had a terrible Fall 09 semester, and I had to take incompletes in all my classes and retake the exams the next semester. That resulted in two Cs where I should have gotten Bs and a B where I should have gotten an A. I got 3 As and one C+ Spring 10 semester. This summer, I visited my father who abandoned my mother and me years ago. He offered to pay for college, which is why I accepted NYU despite the $$.( My mom and I live in another country, and she doesn't earn very much. NYU gave me a 50% scholarship deal despite having no real EFC.) My father turned out to be very angry and abusive, unemployed and grudging me for the money he had spent. It was the most miserable two weeks of my life. I dropped out of NYU subsequently so I would be independent and could apply to universities that would give me more aid and thus freedom from him. I view this transfer as new beginning so that I can grad with less debt, be a writer, and start my GPA over again.</p>

<p>My GPA in college is 3.43, a huge dip from the 3.6 average I had because of the Cs and the rough semester I had. Besides the anxiety disorder, the finances weighed heavily down on me. I hated the cut-throat competition at NYU and the shoddy teachers. </p>

<p>I was the topper in my high school, which has a different system from the US'. I did really well and had loads of ECs and excellent recommendations. I figure I can wrangle some pretty good recs still, and I have a couple of spectacular ECs from college (student government, a special program at NYU, highly involved in NGOs and stuff in my home country).</p>

<p>My question is: I want to go to a liberal arts college, a place with more campus-y feel and where I can be more focused. I was thinking of Wellesley (waitlisted me first year), Hamilton, Grinnell (even though it's in Iowa it's big on the finaid!), Colgate, Smith, Mt. Holyoke, Wesleyan, Middlebury. I would say Colgate is my first choice. I will apply to CUNY as a safety. I may have to get fee waivers from my college adviser because I literally cannot afford the app fee. I am living with a family friend in Brooklyn until I get a Spring 2011 transfer.</p>

<p>Could anyone chance me? Give me some advice? PM for further info??</p>

2

<p>Are you really sure you want to start in the spring as a transfer? Fall would be more beneficial academically and socially at many of these schools. Can you wait to apply for Fall 2011?</p>

<p>I am sorry to hear of your personal situation.</p>

<p>Given your status, it’ll be a little difficult to start at Colgate as a transfer. There are a lot of requirements and it’s not always possible to transfer ALL of your credits. I’ve known two transfers, upon finding out when they arrived on campus, who lost their entire freshmen credits and had to take an additional year to graduate. As a transfer student, your #1 priority should be getting all credits transferred. Colgate’s departments allow only ONE course from the outside to be counted towards the major. And most departments require 8-10 courses for the major. Plus you still need to take 1-2 CORE curriculum classes and fulfill any graduation distribution requirements that you didn’t complete at NYU. So you may be looking at 2- 2 1/2 years of solid coursework in your major with very few electives. So before you fill out your application, I would speak with someone in the admissions and registrar office to review your transcript and find out how many of these courses can actually transfer over.</p>

<p>Colgate is truly a wonderful school but because of its requirements and standards, I don’t really recommend it for spring and junior transfers. I have never met one. Pretty much everyone comes in as a sophomore and in the fall.</p>

<p>I went to Smith for my first year. I think you may stand a better chance of obtaining stronger fin-aid package and greater sympathy from the admissions with your personal situation. Talk to someone in the admissions and see what they think. </p>

<p>The rest of your application really is just fine for all of these schools you’re thinking of, including Colgate. It’s just a question of making a smooth transition. Smith, without any graduation requirements (except for a writing intensive course which can very easily be filled somewhere), may be much more friendlier to your particular situation in terms of getting you to graduate on time. They also actually have a real spring class.</p>

<p>Of the two schools I’ve attended, I would encourage you to look at Smith over Colgate.</p>