Transfer Help and Advice

Hello, I am currently a student at Virginia Tech (CS Major), but, I am fully online and have been for the whole year. I have a 4.0 GPA after my first semester, however, I want to transfer. Should I transfer for Spring 2022 and apply to UMichigan, Georgia Tech, and NYU (Tandon) or should I wait to apply for Fall 2022. I think I can maintain a 4.0 for this semester as well, but, I am afraid of how I will adjust when I go onto campus next semester (Fall 2021), which is why I thought if I apply for Spring 2022, my Fall 2021 grades would not have as much weight, but, I hear Spring transfers are very constrained and can be difficult. I really do not know what to do. I don’t know if I am being too paranoid about how hard my second year and going on campus will be. Can someone help me?

Why do you want to transfer?

What is your financial situation? Are you instate in Virginia?

I do understand that studying on-line is lousy. However, this is a problem everywhere. VT is a great university for CS.

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Hi,

Thank your for the reply.

I am an international student. I want to transfer because I honestly had my aspirations for a much higher university, rankings wise, and was disappointed in my college admissions cycle. I know CS is tough but I always had my sights set higher. This was further encouraged when I was told that because of so many CS requirements, I would be unable to add a second major or even step outside my discipline much without overloading myself, something I know is not a problem in schools like NYU or Columbia.

In computer science, the ranking of the university that you attend does not matter much, if at all. What is far more important is what you can do. This leads to my next point…

Software engineering is not about coding. Coding is just how you talk to the computer. What is far more important is that computer science is about using computers to solve problems.

The issue is that you need to know how to solve problems. Algorithms, data structures, computational complexity, and math, these all matter. I have used advanced probability and statistics when writing software (I was a math major). I have used linear algebra. I have used linear programming. I have used calculus. I did not need these things to program the computer. I needed these things to know how to solve problems. Then the computer was needed to do the computations and to keep track of piles and piles of data. You might not know what problems you will be asked to solve when you are a software engineer. However, that is why there are a lot of requirements for a CS degree. The point is for you to be ready to solve a wide variety of types of problems.

I do not understand why “stepping outside of your discipline” would be easier at NYU or Columbia or Michigan.

My main issue here is that I want to try to help you figure out whether transferring is going to solve any problems.

Would NYU or Columbia or Michigan be either more or less expensive than VT? Would you need to take on any debt?

VT is quite well ranked for computer science, and is quite well regarded.

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I know it doesn’t matter. But it matters to me, it’s a personal thing. And it is easier because they have specific dual degree programs at those schools that accomodate dual degrees and their core reqs are much less. Like I said, it’s a personal thing for the want to be at a higher uni. For nyu and columbia it’s partly because I always wanted to be in NYC, umichigan was another one of my dream schools.

I would not need to take on any debt, transferring may not solve any problems but it would help me satisfy a dream of mine, something I regard as quite worth it.

My daughter is a graduate of a CS program and it’s a tough program no matter WHERE you go. She was easily employed. The name of her school didn’t matter for this degree.

Your issue is that you didn’t originally get into a “name brand” school for bragging rights.

VT is VERY well-regarded in the US. Since you’re an international student, and will be returning to your country after you graduate, maybe you need that name recognition. The universities in the US will educate you; the private sector will not guarantee any sponsorship.

The CS programs are impacted in many universities. Your original applications to these programs will be referenced. There are no guarantees that you will be admitted into a transfer program for CS if the program has limited seating.

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I know it is well regarded, I have nothing against VT. Like I said, it’s a personal thing, maybe it is the name brand thing, but, that doesn’t change anything. Besides, I never applied to these schools initially other than NYU. My question is when I should transfer not if, I would appreciate if everyone answer that, if not pls don’t reply. If I wanna transfer I will, whether it’s because of name brand or not. I wanna be in a name brand school, that’s not wrong of me to dream of

Transfer when you’ve met each school’s requirements for transfer.

Some schools require a minimum number of units completed (i.e 30 or 60 units).
Some schools only accept Fall transfers.
Some schools will want to know reasons for transfer-especially if the program is impacted.
Some schools prioritize their transfer admissions for community college students.

Each university has it’s own requirements which you will need to research.
If VT has a Transfer Advisor, you may want to contact him/her.

Only looking at each school’s websites about transfer admissions is going to answer your question. Typically many schools don’t even have Spring transfers. Another thing to think about is getting lower division courses done where you are (assuming it’s cheaper) before transferring to the name brand uni you want. Stay as long as you can where you are. Beware, though, of completing too many units, because I know Columbia Engineering won’t even look at you if you have over a certain number of units from another school.

NYU alum here.

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