<p>Hi everyone, I'm currently a freshman at Princeton University thinking about transferring to MIT at the start of next year's Spring term. Right now I'm not sure if I fit in too well at Princeton here--although it's a beautiful place, I don't feel like I've made any lasting connections with the people here and don't feel like i belong here. I had gotten into MIT last year (it was my top choice) but I chose Princeton for financial reasons thinking that I would be doing what's best for my future. However, I feel like being unhappy does not make up for the amount of money I end up saving. I feel like when I visited MIT during their campus preview weekend, the place really clicked for me (of course, everyone says that the preview weekend is sort of hyped up and makes MIT seem better than it actually is, but I remember seeing myself going there and feeling like I really belonged to the campus). </p>
<p>I did very well in high school and currently my grades at Princeton are decent as of now (~3.8 GPA). However, they may decline soon as the courses I'm taking are getting harder and I'm starting to feel anxiety in conjunction with my current unhappiness. I've also been involved in some awesome extracurriculars here, which could help my chances of getting admitted to MIT. </p>
<p>Overall, I'm just wondering if I'm making the right choice by transferring and thinking about things the right way. I'm also wondering if I even have a chance of getting admitted (MIT's transfer program is insanely selective). I appreciate any advice you have.</p>
<p>MIT acceptance rates for RD and transfers are close, 10 vs. 9%:</p>
<p><a href=“BigFuture College Search”>BigFuture College Search;
<p>Forgetting about academics for a second, you’re going to need an outstanding essay to justify your transfer. I would write down every significant thing that compels you to leave Princeton and turn it into an essay.</p>
<p>i am not sure about your case though… Your image of MIT is only what you think you remembered from that week. How did you feel about Princeton when you visited it? Most of us have some issues connecting to people during freshman year. I think that considering financial aid, I would stay at Princeton if I were you. I took a gap year and things changed my perspective significantly. Truth is, when you transfer to MIT, you will still take some time to build friendship with people. And once you graduate from college, you will also have to find way to find happiness in your life. It seems as of now that your happiness is still not independent from the people around you (and please correct me if my impression from your post is wrong).
Trust me, having debt post-college is a horrible idea. Especially after my gap year, I realized that I would do every thing to stay away from debt. I would say, give Princeton another year. Take a gap year or go abroad and re-align your life with yourself, take it out of your peers’ point of view.</p>
<p>Have you talked to anyone at Princeton about your issues?</p>
<p>Here is my opinion. Since Princeton and MIT run full-need financial aid programs, I assume you got a scholarship or some other type of special award at Princeton. However, depending on how your credits transfer, you may end up staying at MIT for more than three years and end up paying more money in the long run. You speak of increasing course difficulty, but keep in mind the classes at MIT may be even more challenging. Academic anxiety will exist at any top 5 college.</p>
<p>But all of this thinking can wait until after you apply. You clearly want to go to MIT, so why not apply? The chances are low for everyone, but there are few applicants who are in a better position than you. Just look at the previous transfer threads here. Most of us come from lower ranked schools; we are in love with prestige, so we try going up. On the other hand, you are moving sideways. Do not worry about your chances of transfer. I assure you mine are far lower.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>There are not other types of special awards at P. While both schools meet full need, for many students, HYPS give substantially more generous FA packages that any other colleges. In addition to lots of comments here on CC to this, I also have 3 years of personal comparison with other schools, not MIT, but other highly selective colleges like Brown, Dartmouth, Amherst, Pomona, etc.</p>