Transfer From Georgia Tech

Transfer Students
1

So, I’m an incoming GT student for this upcoming fall, and I do not see myself meshing well there. I’ve gone on a number of tours, contacted and stayed with a few friends who currently attend, have sat in on a few classes, etc. Obviously, my view may change once I really get into the atmosphere, however, I would like to keep my options open and know what I could expect from a transfer. My current major is Physics, and the schools I’ve been looking at are: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, and Columbia (all very selective, I know).

Here are some of my High School Stats:
GPA: 3.93 UW/ 4.42 W
Rank: 6/654
ACT/SAT: 34 (35M, 33E, 35S, 33R) and 1510 (780M, 730E)
SAT2: None (I know, MIT thing, I address it in my questions)
APs: 13 by graduation, mostly 5s/4s with 1 3.

I have a few questions.
First of all, would it be possible to take SAT 2’s at this point, or am I done? I know MIT requires them, so would it be possible to take them and have them count? Same thing applies for SAT/ACT. Both were first sitting tests, and I know I could raise my scores if I study and retake. However, would it matter when I try to transfer?
Next, would it be advisable to transfer after my Freshman or Sophomore year? Preferably, I’d like to transfer as soon as possible, but I want the best chances possible.
What GPA would make me competitive for a transfer at those schools? GT is pretty challenging with significant rigor, so what would be a good goal to have considering this?

Thank you for your time.

2

Firstly, Princeton only takes non-trads as transfers e.g. combinations of veterans, low-income, first-gen, URM, and all enrolled in community colleges. Haven’t heard of anyone transferring from a 4-year university since they reopened transfer policy.

I think you can still have SAT 2s count, but they’re simply checkboxes for MIT and not something major. Without major research/olympiad accomplishments you’ll be hard pressed to transfer into MIT. Looking online, it seems most of their transfers are extraordinary and academically talented people that could have gotten in as freshmen.

Stanford/Columbia occasionally take traditional transfers but looking at your profile right now nothing is really driving you in. You can get a 4.0 GPA at GT and that’s still insufficient in itself.

If you’re not happy with GT once your matriculate, look for transferring within more reachable schools – the schools on your list are by far the most difficult to transfer into and nothing suggests you’re interested in them beyond brand name. That’s totally Ok, but schools can easily smell that. Their physics departments are especially strong, but so are schools like UIUC, UMichigan, UC Berkeley, UVA, Cornell etc.

Finally, I’d argue that transferring makes it more difficult to get into a good grad school. Reason being you’ll have less time to build meaningful relationships with faculty and perform good research, while also having to adjust to a new environment not being a trivial thing. This isn’t always the case, but if you have those same schools as goals for grad school, its worth considering.

You’re missing out on the college experience if you’re coming in with a huge intent to transfer. Take it easy, enjoy your first year as a freshmen and then reflect on things after the first year. If you still wish to transfer then, summer/start of sophomore year will be the best time to make plans.

3

@genedorbust I have been practicing both the SAT and SAT 2s, and I am consistently scoring between 1550-1580 SAT-wise and 800s on Math 2 and Physics (pretty lenient curve). I know the testing is exactly the same, but I’m confident I can attain those scores, or at least very close, with more practice.

As for major research and all, I really had nothing when I applied. I realize this, and I was given the opportunity to intern and research at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center over this upcoming summer. I’ve heard a lot of great things about it, and hopefully, I can take full advantage of it. I’ve also been accepted to the GT Honors Program, which I plan to fully utilize with its better access to professors and such.

As for my reasons to transfer, it’s mainly personal/family issues. I don’t want to say much about it, but in-state is not an ideal situation. Also, yes, I do have a financial plan if I am able to transfer. I am still researching programs, but those were some that stood out to me at the time for their opportunities and, of course, their brand name.

I have looked at Berkeley and UMich, but, as it stands in my financial plan right now, they are too expensive.

4

@HThorton The transfer admissions process is far different from freshman admissions. Apart from Columbia, I would say you have 0% chance at gaining admission into the schools you mentioned unless you did something truly extraordinary (which is a catch-22: if you really were to say publish in ApJ as a first author you would need to really develop strong relationships and take advantage of all existing resources available a GT and there would not be a reason to transfer), for reasons that are not your fault.

The 4 institutions you mentioned all tend to select most of their transfer students from genuinely non-traditional backgrounds; this is particularly significant because between the 4 of them there are <100 total admitted transfers annually. Quick Google searches of the backgrounds of Princeton transfer students and the CDS of each school can confirm this is the case. Based on your post I am assuming you are a typical high school student and are not a veteran (in Princeton’s case 8 of the 13 admitted students were veterans), someone from a lower quartile of the income bracket, someone who has had significant educational gaps, etc. This is further compounded by the fact that you are matriculating into GT, which in its own right is an excellent school - you are less likely to receive as significant a benefit from attending MIT as someone who from a non-traditional background and are therefore less likely to be viewed favorably for the purposes of admission (though this aspect is less true for Columbia which admits the greatest number of transfer students between the 4 with a 5-6% admissions rate).

If you really are unhappy with Georgia Tech, please take a second look at Berkeley, Cornell, UIUC, UMich, and UCSB, which all reserve spots for typical transfer students.

To directly answer your questions:

1.) Maybe give it one shot each, and this is a huge maybe, but your college performance is significantly more important so only retake if you have so much free time you are genuinely coasting through academics.

2.) Good question: it depends. For the purposes of admissions, applying early will allow you to finish more progress of your degree in the college you intend to transfer to, and in general I suspect most private universities prefer sophomore transfers. However, a huge question you will have to answer when writing your essay is whether you have fully explored the resources at your school and why it is not a good fit with your academic goals - and it is possible that if you are applying in November of your first semester at GT you might not have a compelling answer for this question. Sophomore transfers evaluated both on their high school and university performance, while junior transfers are almost entirely evaluated on their university performance, so which is more beneficial will depend on the person.

3.) Get a 4.0. It’s more than possible to get a 4.0, do research, live healthy, and be socially active; you just have to live like an adult and budget your efforts/time incredibly efficiently.

5

Have you been accepted into any other colleges for this fall? If so, why are you choosing GT?

Don’t start at GT if you can’t give 100 percent. This is a tough school, and it demands a positive attitude and motivation to make it through with a good GPA. It is known for giving lower grades.

It might end up keeping you from transferring into a great school due to low GPA.

Having you considered deferring GT for a year, or declining and trying to reapply to other schools next year?

Honestly, GT is a prize, you have won the lottery, and Honors Program too! Talk with a mental health counselor as a sounding board for your personal/family issues. Maybe resolving or at least lessening the impact of those issues is worth an effort.

6

Honors program at GT is incredible. If you’re not feeling it for now, ask to defer and take a gap year working and volunteering.
Your odds of admission at the colleges you listed is basically nil - a summer internship will not tip the scales.
If you’re instate for GT, transferring raises another issue - that of cost. Transfers get lousy aid. Will your parents support your transfer plans?

7

@HThorton

Perfect test scores never mattered much to the most selective schools for freshmen admissions, and they will matter even less as a transfer.

NASA research is a start (a very good one I might add) but it remains to be seen whether it will tip the scales. I’m still inclined to say it won’t, as there will be no shortage to the superstars with NASA internships in high school/strong publication record/genuine academic reasons for transferring.

The above posters make very strong points. If you need better finances, look for T20 schools e.g. Emory/Vanderbilt/WashU with still selective but more reasonable admission rates and if you’re a strong applicant that they want, you’ll get good financial aid regardless.

Personal/financial issues are fine and all, but the strongest reasons for transferring are academic in nature and you’ll be competing with people who have such justifications. Again, like the above posters said, going to GT will not preclude you of any advantages in STEM that going to Stanford/Princeton would incur – evident from your receiving that NASA internship already.

1 Like
8

– You will be attending a top college in your area of study.

– In general I think it is a terrible idea to start one college with the intent of transferring out. This will stand in the way of your making meaningful friendships, developing relationships with professors, and getting involved on campus. Then if your transfer doesn’t work out as planned you will be really stuck. I’d go to the college you enrolled in with the intent of staying all four years. It is fine to throw in a couple of transfer applications but don’t count on it working out.

– Tests such as the SAT/ACT/SATII are meant for HS students. You would need to see if the colleges you are targeting would even accept those tests taken after HS graduation. And even if they do, a high score for an exam taken as a college student likely won’t impress anyone all that much.

–Many of schools you are looking at take very few transfers.

–And as noted above aid for transfer students is very difficult to obtain.