<p>Hey yall, I'm at Vanderbilt and come from a hippy place in New York. Needless to say, I am hating the culture here; as well socially, i'm not in a frat so i'm excluded from most of the social events of 50% of people (and those are the more social and fun guys, hot girls). I don't know how much better this will get over the years. It's just about the opposite of a place you can "find yourself". I've been unhappy here and would like to transfer.</p>
<p>However, I have very limited options considering it's this late in the spring. Would it be worth it to transfer to a different college if it is probably much less prestigious, or should I just stick it out? I would like to do mechanical engineering, though I also have an interest in neuro and econ.</p>
<p>SAT 1570/1600
GPA 3.3 (possibly increasing), B- Calc 1 B+ Organic Chemistry first semester
Classes: Calculus I+II (B- in I, aiming for a B in II) Organic I+II (B+ in I, aiming for a B+ again) and lab, Neuro (A), Modernist Music (A). This semester also taking anthropology and an entrepreneurship class which I should get As in.
Extracurriculars: not notable
AP: 4 on english, 5 on physics C, calc AB and chemistry</p>
<p>Could i get into a school with an engineering program that is nearly as competitive as vanderbilt? I worry about the math+orgo GPA, because while these aren't low for my class they seem low on paper. I'm afraid i'll be throwing away too many post-grad benefits if I transfer to a 'lesser' school, and if i transfer for next fall i won't have too many options.</p>
<p>Have you already applied? If not then it’s late this year. I suggest that you stay here for on more year so that you can get well prepared and pull up your GPA. </p>
<p>Sent from Stevenson Center 1, Math Building</p>
<p>If you want to transfer “up” your GPA isn’t going to cut it at most places, sorry to be blunt, but you asked. I would agree with psiovana that you need to pull up your GPA to at least a 3.5, but preferably higher if possible. If you’re willing to transfer “down” that’s another story. What type of schools are you looking to transfer into? We could all start there. </p>
<p>Also you should be taking finances into account. If Vandy is giving you a lot of aid, you should stay there unless you absolutely can’t stand it there, and aren’t academically fulfilled. A lot of top schools don’t give out a lot of aid to students, look at Brown for example, they’re need aware!</p>
<p>I know i’m not going to move up, but i’m hoping not to hurt my job/grad school/future prospects. I want more of a down to earth, though still social/party experience with a good engineering school… yeah hard to find, still have yet to happen upon a candidate. I’ve basically been looking at any school i can find with a transfer date that hasn’t passed… haha. Open to recommendations on schools, been thinking about tulane (though i’m wary of their engineering program… eng science? no mech-e?), umass, udelaware, umaryland, penn state, claremont mckenna.</p>
<p>I get a LOT of financial aid, so yeah that is a factor. But then again, I can afford to pay more than I pay now (preferably not much though…).</p>
<p>If push comes to shove, and you absolutely cannot deal with Vandy next semester, transfer to your flagship state school or a community college and try to transfer from there, it won’t look bad, and it’ll give you a hell of a story to write about. If you read the “ivy accepted students thread” one of the kids here transfered from West Point to Rockland community college and ended up getting accepted to a bunch of ivies and he eventually chose Yale. If I were you, I would stick it out and man it up, and stay at Vandy for another semester, and get a big head start for transfer admissions. </p>
<p>This is what I did for NYU, the school that I am transferring out from. I applied to Brown, Columbia, Dmouth, Penn, Swarthmore, Rice, Amherst, and SUNY Albany. I think my essays kick ass, but largely in part because I had everyone I have ever known in my life read them. I absolutely hate NYU, and love NYC. No one except me seems to understand that difference, and that’s part of the problem. People here are more enamored about coming to NYU and less happy about becoming a student. If you can drum up some really good reasons (your major) about why you’re leaving for a community college, you’ll transfer up or to a school that fits your personality. </p>
<p>Also, it’s too bad the deadline passed, but I know NYU would have taken you. NYU is one school, among many, that is easier to get into as a transfer than a freshmen.</p>