Transfer to U Chicago as a Junior. omg...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Chicago ✅
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<p>Alright guys so I'm currently in a top LAC and I'm going to apply to transfer to the University of Chicago.</p>

<p>It's just that I am currently a sophomore. When I transfer, I'm going to be a junior. The bad thing is, the transfer admission rate is so freaking low. And the WORST thing is that there is no other school like U Chicago, where people love intellectualism and talk about class outside of class and OMG I'm excited about readings!!! kind of stuff. Places like Reed college/ St. Johns are not for me. Vibe is not right and I am an international student, which means I need to go to a school with some prestige.</p>

<p>So basically I am screwed over, because there is nothing special about me. Sure I have respectable GPAs in my freshman year, but this year's GPA doesn't look very good and I don't have independent study credentials, publishing creds or anything like that. I don't need financial aid - I don't even qualify, but that's about it.</p>

<p>I guess I am so frustrated because there are SO FEW SCHOOLS (IF ANY) like U Chicago. Oh heavens.</p>

<p>Any random insults/advice you guys wanna throw in my face?</p>

2

<ol>
<li><p>I think you are overrating how "special" people are here in the sense of their credentials. Meaning that there are lots of smart kids here, but most of them aren't international chess champions or have been published in peer-review journals... or if they have, they keep exceptionally mum about it.</p></li>
<li><p>I have a hard time digesting that your "top" LAC doesn't have students that aren't interested in class material. I'm sure some people probably wouldn't call another person "intellectual" unless they carry Proust in their back pocket, but any place you can find good students I imagine you can also find students who really really really like what they are learning. People who are good at things are usually happy about doing them and about talking about them.</p></li>
<li><p>Think carefully about why you might not like your current school, and consider making a lateral or diagonal transfer. For example, even though you might attend an extremely selective school like Amherst, Swarthmore, or Williams, you might be happier at a school that's less selective than those three but has different amenities, like Michigan or NYU.</p></li>
<li><p>I think you might be hyper-romanticizing Chicago. Yeah, sure, it's a nerd playground, but it also doesn't mean that everybody is going to have lots of time all the time to discuss fascinating things on an absolutely transcendent level or that everybody in the entire world here is going to be your best friend. The grass is pretty darn green here, but it's not greener than the grass in Gambier or Lewiston.</p></li>
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<p>Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to romanticize anything. But it's a fact that in U Chicago, there is a more than sizeable and noticeable majority who love to study, is that not true? Over here, the culture is more like, 'oh yeah, we finish our work, so that we can go party later.' Life revolves around partying. The vast majority of my peers fall in this category. I haven't found anyone who really likes to talk about class and other academic things they studied. Granted, I've found 1 or 2 through my own exertions, and that's a promising start. But I yearn for a school with a much bigger nerd culture, not just a nerdish one.</p>

<p>See, even if students are interested in the material, most prefer to separate the class from 'life'. People here don't understand why you would want to study on a saturday night when you can out in a dance party. You'll get less of that in U Chicago, I wager.</p>

<p>Haha, no way I'm expecting a nerd behavior only school. I still do party once a while, and nope, I'm not expecting everyone to be my friend. A few close friends would be nice, but I'm not expecting much.</p>

<p>To provide more background on my interests - I want to double major in math and philosophy. U Chicago is outstanding on both fronts, and I want to be able to seek out professors and ask them for research opportunities (of course provided I deserve them). There's little to no research stuff available in my school in philosophy. Of course, I am going to look into independent study with professors soon enough. And I don't even know what kind of undergrad research can be done with philosophy anyway.</p>

<p>I'm not saying that I'm convinced my school is bad. I still think my school is a good school. It has plenty of smart, if not downright brilliant people and professors. The 'be a nice all rounder and don't be too caught up in schoolwork way too chill' environment is just something that I feel alienated from. But, if I get rejected by U Chicago, then so be it. I'll deal with it and try to carve out another road for the love of learning.</p>

<p>Chicago is a much more exciting place than the suburban area I am in right now. I want to be able to walk out of my school and go to a coffee house down the road that opens till late, or be near concert halls, museums etc. The place where I am in right now is downright disappointing in that respect.</p>

<p>I'm not trying to justify myself. I'm just trying to clarify my POV.</p>

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<p>if you're transferring from awsp with 3.5+ GPA then you have a very decent chance.</p>

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<p>i'm curious--what school is this that you are at? if you don't want to say in public then I'd really appreciate it if you could send me a message telling me. Thanks.</p>

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<p>I see. I empathize with you on the work as pleasure part, and I think a big reason I chose Chicago was I felt alienated from the work/party point of view at my high school.</p>

<p>I just want you to realize you'll have some challenges anywhere, but if you want to transfer, I wish you luck.</p>

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<p>I would try. In general, I think the transfers to UChicago are solid, but they are hardly over the top by any means. Bear in mind a lot are coming from significantly weaker colleges and hence are logically expected to have outstanding SAT's and GPA's. </p>

<p>That said, they are always looking to add a few fresh and happy minds to the countervail the war weary crowd. By my fourth year I oscillated between swearing the school up and down and lauding its many merits in the course of mere hours, and I would also say I was in the more sanguine half of the student body.</p>