transfer FROM USC vs. Wesleyan vs. Vanderbilt vs. BC

<p>Hey guys,</p>

<p>basically, i got really good stats, but because my high school had a ghastly ranking system, i didn't get into the schools that i would otherwise have gotten into. (Ivies, Williams, etc)</p>

<p>I am now looking at the transfer option: out of USC, Wesleyan, Vanderbilt, and BC, which one offers the best chances for transfer?</p>

<p>my another option would be to be at a small (1200~ people) Anglican affiliated constituent college of a larger, reputable Canadian university (Univ Western Ontario. I got the option for McGill and Queen's too, but they are rather big), where I am almost guaranteed to appear exceptional especially given the small first-year class sizes and the lax prep-school demographics of the school. </p>

<p>all help appreciated.</p>

<p>Honestly, I think it's a terrible idea to go into your freshmen year looking to transfer/chose a school based on that. It's a waste of what could be a fabulous year and a lot of money...and you STILL might not get in, as transfering is really competitive. You got into some great schools that plenty of people would kill to go to...you should try to figure out which one you could be happiest at, and go to that one, looking to have a GOOD time. You'll get a great education at any of colleges you were accepted to. If, after going you really are unhappy, sure, try to transfer, but I bet you won't want to after you get there.</p>

<p>However, if you ONLY want to go to an Ivy/Williams, then I'd suggest you go the community college route and save the money.</p>

<p>I disagree. If you want to transfer into an IVY, community colleges are not the way to go. If going to BC, USC, etc. for a year would be a waste, then I cant imagine how much of a waste going to a comm. college for a year would be.</p>

<p>The simple truth is that ivy league transferring is getting more competitive each year, so you cant afford to try out a community college, IMO.</p>

<p>I'd say Wesleyan because its a lot like the schools you wanted to attend, just don't go in with the transfer attitude, give Wes a chance!!!!!</p>

<p>Wow, I'm honestly a bit surprised how many people want to/are transferring out of USC this year...</p>

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then I cant imagine how much of a waste going to a comm. college for a year would be.

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<p>It saves money, it's probably easier to get good grades, the OP could do some interships as well, etc. I mean, it would depend on the OPs finacial situation, but that's just my opinion.</p>

<p>I think its a horrible idea to be looking into this. You were accepted to amazing universities, if you don't like it there.. then you should be looking to transfer, but why miss out on some awesome times just because you are going in with a bad idea from the start.</p>

<p>Wesleyan would probably be the smallest leap in terms of transferring to an Ivy/Williams, since it seems to have some overlap with schools like Brown/Dartmouth/Cornell/Amherst/Williams in terms of college choices.</p>

<p>But if you do come to Wesleyan, or any of those schools, give it a chance first. If you are still unhappy by the spring of your freshman year, by all means transfer. But college is what you make of it. You may find that places like Wesleyan were just a better fit for you in the end. You are generally going to get a first-class education if you do come here, provided that you are willing to work hard and are truly passionate about learning. I suggest that you try going to office hours and just talking to some of your courses' professors. You'll find out very quickly how passionate they are about their subject, how willing they are to just sit down with a student and chat about anything, how ridiculously friendly and caring they are in general- that is not going to be found in many schools.</p>

<p>i think the problem comes down to the big-fish in small-pond vs. small-fish in bigger-pond dichotomy.</p>

<p>basically, i am gonna go to small liberal arts colleges anyways. it's a question of whether going to easier ones where i wont have to work for the 4.0 and could be the prez of everything vs. something like Wesleyan which might prove unpredictable.</p>

<p>nothing again wesleyan really. a wonderful school that turns out wonderful people who make society a better place. but if you were me (2400 SAT's, varsity athlete, straight A's in junior and senior years) you would feel the same urge to somehow repeal the rejections somehow, too.</p>

<p>I'm gonna agree and say Wesleyan is the best school on your list (with Vandy debatable or not far behind). Hopefully my bias doesn't get in the way, but I really do think Wes has the best rep of those schools and you'll have the best chances for transferring up if you start from Wes.</p>

<p>While community college is cheap, you will begin at a disadvantage if you want to transfer to the top AND you will need to explain to schools why you went to a CC when you were a basically excellent student. They will wonder.</p>

<p>I just want to reiterate what others have said about not going into the year with a attitude of being unsatisfied/knowing you will transfer. Try to be as absolutely open-minded as possible about the school, and get as involved as possible. If you go into it with a negative attitude, you will probably end up with a negative experience. So even if you do end up wanting to transfer, you still want to have an enjoyable and worthwhile first year. Basically, in my opinion, you shouldn't be making the decision to transfer now, especially since you got into some wonderful schools. I suggest picking the best school, the one you like the most, that you go into, and see what happens. You might end up wanting to transfer still, and that's fine, but as long as you're working hard and being involved, you will still have plenty of time to work on transfer applications and such further into your actual school year.</p>

<p>I like Wesleyan. but before i go there i gotta make sure i leave my options open. i.e., being able to comfortably maintain a 4.0 GPA freshman year. how hard is it, actually? are there seminars and stuff where you can get an A with moderate effort? actually, i can handle difficult humanities courses as long as there are no serious paper-writing involved. (AP US History)</p>

<p>i am just trying to cover my bases here. no point in going somewhere to just sink myself in UChicago-style grade-deflation quicksand.</p>

<p>'cause my friend at Yale maintained something like 3.7 just by taking every class with the football team. he now works at McKinsey.</p>

<p>Well all the humanities courses are going to have serious paper-writing involved (6-8 page papers, most freshman seminars will include one long 15 page final paper as well). And you probably will need more than a "moderate" effort to pull out a clean 4.0. But it is quite doable, if you focus- professors here generally grade pretty fairly and consistently, so if you want straight As, you will have to buckle down. I got a 4.0 this fall semester, even while playing football and doing other extracurriculars, you definitely have more than enough time. </p>

<p>I would also recommend shying away from some of the science courses; the intro level ones are notorious for being impossible, since they are trying to weed out the kids who aren't dedicated to their majors.</p>

<p>I don't understand why you'd be willing to work hard at Williams but not at Wesleyan. If your attitude about doing the least amount of work for the best possible grade reflects anything about your high school experience, your class rank may not have been the only thing that kept you from getting into your top choice schools. </p>

<p>In order to transfer, you're going to need to find professors to write you recommendation letters that say that you're an engaged, hard-working student. If you project arrogance or a superior attitude at any of the schools you're considering, you're not going to get the kind of support you need from your professors. Transfer admissions are not that different than freshman admissions when it comes to assessing a student's work ethic, energy and intellectual curiosity.</p>

<p>I understand your disappointment in not getting into the schools you wanted. But don't let a chip on your shoulder ruin your first years of college. I agree with others who've said that you should chose the school that you like the best and then make the most of it. You might end up having a wonderful experience. As my grandmother used to say, "Don't cut off your nose to spite your face!"</p>

<p>sf606508: Sure, it's possible to get a 4.0 with moderate effort at Wes--if you chose your profs VERY carefully, because there are some that do grade pretty easily. But, if you don't select for easy profs, you're definitly going to have to at least work for that 4.0, and possibly not get it. We aren't UChicago, but most people here don't maintain 4.0s--OTOH, many people here are also willing to risk their GPA to take an interesting class with a harder prof.</p>

<p>Also, there aren't going to be many humanties classes that aren't writing heavy, since that's what humanties classes are all about in college (you might be able to find some test-focused history classes, but the only ones I know like that are NOT easy As). </p>

<p>Anyway, I agree with Skie. Whatever school you go to, don't aim to just skate by as easily as possible to get a 4.0, because that won't be enough. In fact, it will probably be better to be engaged and have a slightly lower GPA than to appear like you were spending the entire year waiting to transfer.</p>