Transfer to Duke BME

Colleges and Universities A-Z Duke University
1

I’m a freshman at Johns Hopkins and am looking to transfer to Duke. Highschool stats were mediocre, as I had a 3.7 GPA and a 2130 SAT (610 CR!). I am studying computer science with a minor in computer integrated surgery. I am also on the pre-med track hoping to go into orthopedics and sports medicine. The reasons I want to transfer are:

  1. I can't study bme here as I did not get accepted into bme as a freshman.
  2. Duke's collaborative and happy environment
  3. Duke Athletics and research lines up with what I want to do

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

2

You’ve only been there for a little over a month and you want to transfer already? Although I’m a big fan of Duke, I’m wondering why you couldn’t simply transfer majors at Hopkins? Don’t they allow transfers?

Your transfer application will be judged on its merits, but also why you want to transfer. They will wonder why a student from a school that has a BME major, will want to transfer to Duke. Only a handful of students transfer to Pratt each year, so your reasons have to be sound.

3

@sgopal2 You can transfer into any major except BME, so I wouldnt be able to do it here. If I was, then thered probably be no good reason for me to leave. On a lighter note, thanks for the thoughts I appreciate the help (trying not to sound sarcastic but its not working so oh well)

4

I see from your previous posts that you started thinking about transferring back in June. Honestly you might have been better off taking a gap year and then re-applying as an incoming freshman instead of transfer. But either way I wish you the best of luck.

5

Wow, Hopkins takes its BME very seriously by not allowing you to switch to that major. I recall when I visited Hopkins a long time ago and I expressed interest in BME, they told me they try to identify “closet BMEs” as many people would apply to “easier” majors and then transfer after they enroll. I guess that got to be too common and they closed that option…Interesting.

I would say with “mediocre” high school stats (your words), your chances aren’t very good to transfer to Duke honestly. The transfer application process is very competitive. Note that at Duke (unlike Hopkins apparently…), you do NOT apply for a major – you would simply apply to transfer to Pratt, which may also be challenging considering you’re currently a comp sci major (which is within Trinity). But comp sci to engineering is not that unheard of a switch.

I probably would say give Hopkins more of a shot and see if you like it – you can cater your curriculum to be more bio-focused and then try to get more BME-centric with research in later years. Don’t go into the year assuming you’ll dislike it. Transferring shouldn’t be taken lightly. I think Duke is outstanding don’t get me wrong, but I would personally only transfer from Hopkins if you’re unhappy there. Being pre-med at Hopkins is pretty darn good…And med schools don’t really care if you’re BME or not, not going to make a big difference.

Good luck!