Transfer from Caltech

Transfer Students
1

<p>SAT 1580/2290
GPA 3.97, Ranked 2nd out of 600
Awesome ecs in highschool, none at caltech</p>

<p>I was accepted to Yale and Harvard and some other schools last year. Could anyone recommend schools with some sort of engineering program (I dont care if they are well regarded for engineering, I just want to be around smart kids- but not nerdy)?</p>

<p>What are my chances for transferring to Yale, Harvard, Stanford (didnt apply in highschool to here) or any other good schools (recommend them to me please)? My reasons for leaving Caltech are the poor social life, horrible teaching, oppressive workload that doesn't allow me to pursue extracurriculars in college, and Caltech is too theoretical for me as an engineer. I'm worried because I need two recommendation letters and as my classes have most of our freshman class of 200 something people in them I wont be able to get recommendations. I'm sure i can get one recommendation, but I don't know about the second one.</p>

<p>Just how hard is it to get into these schools as a transfer?
Also how screwed am I if the colleges only see my pass fail grades from the first two terms which they will?</p>

2

<p>Stanford and MIT have the best engineering programs in the country per USNWR. Cornell isnt far behind either. Though I'm not sure these would ease your workload.</p>

<p>Some less selective schools include GIT, U of I, and Purdue.</p>

<p>as for the recommendations, dont feel discouraged b/c of class size. many sophmore transfers from state colleges encounter the same problem, and Admin offices that i've spoken to are understanding on the issue. it would be great if professors knew you better(small class setting), but since that isnt the case, bring a short resume(high school ec's, sampling of college work, interests, etc.) so the prof. has a precedent to work with.</p>

<p>what were your grades for first semester?</p>

3

<p>I'm assuming that Caltech is P/F for freshman year, like MIT. If that's the case, then admissions people won't hold it against you as they know that it is school policy, not your choice. However, it seems like the lack of grades might make instructor recs and college ECs more important parts of your application. To compensate, your HS record must have been excellent given the colleges that accepted you as a freshman! It will help to apply for a transfer this year as they will look at your HS record more closely than if you waited a year.</p>

<p>It is extremely hard to get into these schools as a transfer, acceptance rates are much lower than for freshmen. They do vary by year, but last fall, Stanford accepted 20 students, 1.5% of those that applied. H & Y were somewhat higher. That you were accepted last year and that you're attending a college as demanding as Caltech are positives.</p>

<p>Can you get a TA and prof to work together on a rec? Are there any ECs that you can at least begin to participate in? If you absolutely want to transfer out of Caltech next year, you should add some matches and perhaps a safety to your list as all 3 are extreme reaches for anyone. I don't know much about engineering, so I'll leave recommendations up to other posters.</p>

4

<p>I hate to break it to you, but any decent engineering program is going to be geek central! I can say this ... I graduated from an engineering college!! Okay, okay. I know that CalTech has a reputation of being the nerdiest of the nerdy, so I'll give you a break. But did you not know what it was like? It doesn't sound like you are doing any research this time around, either. You need to think about what you really want from a school & do some research into various schools that fit your criteria. Your post is much too vague, and I am concerned that you will jump out of the frying pan, into the fire unless you do your research. The internets are quite helpful ... get googling!</p>

<p>And a tip: No good engineering program has a light workload. At my alma mater, we learned to balance our oppressive workload with outside interests. It's something engineering students just have to figure out how to do.</p>

5

<p>
[quote]
I hate to break it to you, but any decent engineering program is going to be geek central! I can say this ... I graduated from an engineering college!!

[/quote]

I'm just want a school that's not entirely full of geeks, Caltech and perhaps MIT (to a lesser extent) are the only schools in the country like this. I don't care how geeky the people in my major are though- I just want a diverse bunch of kids. Also I don't really care about going to the <em>top</em> engineering schools as I just want to study engineering as an undergrad not pursue it as a job - I'm looking for a well regarded school with tons of smart kids comparable to caltech.</p>

<p>
[quote]
Okay, okay. I know that CalTech has a reputation of being the nerdiest of the nerdy, so I'll give you a break. But did you not know what it was like? It doesn't sound like you are doing any research this time around, either.

[/quote]

I only visited Caltech for 4 days during Prefrosh Weekend, and those 4 days were not at all representative of life at Caltech. And so I made my decision based of my little time there.

[quote]
You need to think about what you really want from a school & do some research into various schools that fit your criteria. Your post is much too vague, and I am concerned that you will jump out of the frying pan, into the fire unless you do your research. The internets are quite helpful ... get googling!

[/quote]

I agree, the thing is I don't really have much time at the moment- I'm swamped in work.
Here are some attributes I'd like places I'd apply to - to have:
Very Smart Student Body
Has an engineering major (honestly it doesn't have to be the top programs)
Prestigious
Diverse Student body as in not all tech geeks</p>

<p>
[quote]
And a tip: No good engineering program has a light workload. At my alma mater, we learned to balance our oppressive workload with outside interests. It's something engineering students just have to figure out how to do.

[/quote]
Just curious where did you go? I'm not asking for a light workload- I'm asking for a reasonable workload- I honestly don't mind working 50-60 hours a week on homework. Caltech just has an absurd amount of work in very little time (trimester system), so we cover subjects in 2/3's of the time as other schools. My main beef with tech academically is the teaching and the lack of practical things in MechE. At Caltech it's extremely hard to balance your work with lots of extracurriculars unless you're a) a genius b) taking a light courseload.</p>

<p>Anyways, I've just seen way too many unhappy and bitter upperclassmen that all agree that if they had to do it all over again they'd transfer- and seeing has I don't even like it here I'm pretty sure transfering is in my best interests.</p>

6

<p>As a first year transfer the colleges will simply look more at your high school record than your college one, so P/NP grades wont hurt you that much (unless you start failing). </p>

<p>That being said, I was a first year transfer as well and was successful with Cornell, which sounds like it might be what you are looking for. Unlike Stanford/Harvard, it has reasonable transfer chances for anybody and doesnt require a fluke. You could also try Berkeley. Stay away from Mudd (where I transferred to); it would be a much more social environment but the work load is still insane. </p>

<p>Sadly transfers in general to any tippy-top schools are rediculous, especially the ones mentioned; its just more competitive. You could certainly take stabs at Stanford where you might enjoy yourself, but keep in mind it had a <2% acceptance rate this past year for transfers.</p>

7

<p>I went to General Motors Institute (now Kettering University). At the time, we took a ridiculous course load, and a good number of students would flunk a class here or there as a result. Unfortunately, the school did not allow those who flunked to retake the course anywhere else (no outside credits except for initial transfer-in credit). I never flunked anything, but those who did had to take the usual 5 classes + labs AND retake the class on top of that. So I do know what you are saying about a rough course load. To be honest, we were more willing to do it because our school was really inexpensive. Now that it's independent & costs a lot more, the policies are more in line with other schools.</p>

<p>I know that you are busy, but you really need to make sure the schools you apply to are more up your alley. A quick glance at the school review websites & even school threads here on cc can give you some good info. Check out the school websites ... if the student clubs are heavy on anime, Star Trek Club, etc. ... well, you might want to think twice!! </p>

<p>I really would suggest dropping the "prestigious" criterion. There are plenty of great schools that are not ivy or ivy wannabes.</p>

<p>You might want to check out UMich. The engineering school is great, the work load is hard but normal human beings are known to handle it, and there is a diverse student body. Plus, Ann Arbor is a cool town. UW-Madison might be worth a look, too. Yes, they are publics ... but they have very intelligent students & great programs.</p>

8

<p>I was also going to suggest UMich, perhaps Purdue. Excellent Engineering programs but big enough universities that you will encounter a diversity of students. McGill in Montreal might be another possibility. </p>

<p>For recommendations - some of those don't require them for transfer. Also, you can ask a TA to collaborate with a prof for a rec.</p>

9

<p>
[quote]
That being said, I was a first year transfer as well and was successful with Cornell, which sounds like it might be what you are looking for. Unlike Stanford/Harvard, it has reasonable transfer chances for anybody and doesnt require a fluke. You could also try Berkeley. Stay away from Mudd (where I transferred to); it would be a much more social environment but the work load is still insane.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I disagree. First off, I don't think Mudd's workload is as hard as Caltech's. Secondly, the OP said he doesn't mind spending 50-60 hours a week on homework. Do you spend 60 hours a week on homework? I sure as hell don't. The workload at Mudd would be fine if he's coming straight from Caltech. Granted, Mudd is still probably in the top 5 for hardest schools, but it (and every other school, possibly excluding MIT) is on a distinct level below Caltech.</p>

<p>It would be very convenient for you to transfer to Mudd. You'd only have to move all your stuff about 30 miles and you could still visit any friends you have at Caltech if you wanted. People here are less nerdy than those at Caltech and as long as you don't hang around certain dorms you won't have to run into the really nerdy kids. Also, the other 4 C's are great because you can get a lot of diverse friends.</p>

<p>
[quote]
McGill in Montreal might be another possibility.

[/quote]

McGill doesn't have a "really" smart student body. It has a really diverse student body, but I think the OP would find the classes too easy and the average student too dumb coming from Caltech. And yes, I've spent considerable time at McGill. And yes, I've interacted with many students there. And yes, I've sat in on classes.</p>

10

<p>Meh, it depends on the week and what else I have going on. I know at the end of last year with physics lab tech reports (mine went to hell) and hum stuff culminating/backing up I was taking 3-4 all nighters per week with very little extra time to socialize and lurk on facebook. Mind you I am also a bit of a perfectionist as I wanted a semipresentable GPA for REU applications this summer. </p>

<p>With that being said, if Mudd is what you are looking for in terms of academic load then I would certainly say it is worth looking into. Our teachers are among the best, if not the best, for science and engineering in the country. Also we have several non-nerdy dorms (even some anti-nerdy) and neighboring colleges, as mentioned, that contribute greatly to a social variety. </p>

<p>Finally, when I applied around as a frosh transfer, I got my 2nd letter of rec from a high school teacher, simply because she knew me that much more.</p>

11

<p>I should add that I don't want to go to a tech school of any kind. Harvey Mudd is a great school and all but I fear it'll be too much like Caltech.</p>

12

<p>Fair enough:</p>

<p>In that case I honestly think Cornell is your best bet to achieve what you are looking for. The teaching quality might not change, but it fits everything else you are looking for, and is possible to get in for a first year. The publics that have been mentioned are fine, but will likely not even be a challenge for you (though Cornell might be that as well). </p>

<p>Now if you don't particularly care about the engineering ranking, you could also look into Duke which is another overall smexy school.</p>

13

<p>"Granted, Mudd is still probably in the top 5 for hardest schools, but it (and every other school, possibly excluding MIT) is on a distinct level below Caltech."</p>

<p>In my opinion, MIT is not nearly as difficult as Caltech or HMC. Their core requirements are much less than both of us. That is not to say they do not work hard though.</p>

<p>As for the difficulty of Caltech vs. HMC, I could in principle make arguments that either one is more difficult than the other for various reasons. The only way to really tell is to simultaneously be an undergrad at Harvey Mudd and at Caltech. I think most of us would agree that that is a recipe for an unprecedented level of academic hell :-).</p>

14

<p>what about USC?</p>

15

<p>How about Cooper Union or Franklin Olin? Those are pretty small engineering schools but none-the-less amazing schools.</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
How about Cooper Union or Franklin Olin? Those are pretty small engineering schools but none-the-less amazing schools.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>
[quote]
I should add that I don't want to go to a tech school of any kind. Harvey Mudd is a great school and all but I fear it'll be too much like Caltech.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>ten characters</p>

17

<p>blindfaith,</p>

<p>Last year I had a really hard time time to decide between Caltech, UCB, MIT, CMU, HMC, and Olin. Ever since high school my first choice had always been Caltech. After I visited some of the schools, for reasons You mentioned and the fact that Olin is free I chose Olin. I can tell you almost everyone in my class has chosen Olin for the same reasons. I honestly think I have never seen a bunch super smart kids being super happy anywhere else.</p>

18

<p>Thanks for making me feel bad mathwiz ;( .</p>

19

<p>blindfaith,</p>

<p>I am sorry. But seriously, you should call Olin's admission and explain your situation to them. They do accept transfer students.</p>

20

<p>I think you should apply to Harvard and Yale anyway since you were accepted once chances are they will accept you again. Truely I think you will get in where ever you apply. If you're into bio and engineering I would suggest Duke. Physics and engineering Cornell or Princeton ( but I don't know if P accepts transfers). Harvard wants to better its engineering dept so I think you would easily be in there.Otherwise there is always Stanford. I think you would have a great time at Duke or Cornell. U of Mich would also be a blast.</p>