I’m a first-year here at Harvard/Yale (not specifying to not dox myself, lol). I’ve been very unhappy here for the most part. While I’ve been enjoying my classes, I feel as though I’ve been unable to adjust to the culture here, and simply haven’t clicked with the university. I considered applying for transfer admissions this last round, but decided against it to “wait it out” and see if I adjusted the second semester. That hasn’t happened.
My GPA is very good (3.94-4.00); I have leadership positions in extracurriculars; outwardly, I seem like a student who is excelling. Internally, I really, really want to leave this college.
Princeton was my dream school and has a particular program extremely well-suited to my interests (again, can’t be too specific), but I applied early on a whim to H/Y for some ephemeral reason, and decided to not apply to Princeton in the RD round because I figured I would like it here. I regret that decision. Princeton has certain extracurricular/curricular programs that are well-fitted to my needs and interests, and I already know many people there–possibly more people than I know here at H/Y.
However, I foresee some problems with my chances in transfer admissions; while I can prove I will be able to handle academics at Princeton, I am worried that admissions will question my need to transfer as compared to other students coming from under-resourced schools, etc (and understandably, you might too!). Will being from H/Y help me? Will it actually hurt me? Princeton transfer admissions are extremely difficult–do I have a chance at all as someone coming from a more privileged college?
I know some of you will doubt me, but I really do believe that H/Y is not right for me, and see serious opportunity for my personal/academic advancement at Princeton. I’d appreciate any advice on my chance for transfer, or any related help. Thanks.
I didn’t mention this in the original post, but I also do not gel with the social scene here at Harvard at all. I feel like an outcast, and it makes me really sad. With the people I know at Princeton (and the few times I’ve visited), I feel I fit in really well and have enjoyed myself each visit. Not sure how relevant this is, just a justification for my wanting to transfer, I guess.
i might be wrong but princeton admits very few transfer applicants, and the majority of accepted transfers are from community college or the military or something
Regardless of whether Harvard or Yale (you singly mentioned both in your above posts)…what makes you think Princeton will make you any happier.
The demographics at these schools are very similar.
Harvard and Yale both have good counseling services. Perhaps you can talk to someone there about your unhappiness with the school…and they can help you figure out some ways to navigate the school you are at.
You might find this hard to believe, but we see your letter on CC several times a year. The names change, but the underlying pieces are similar: student hasn’t ‘clicked’ somehow and is sure that the answer is to go home. That is rarely the answer.
If you were top dog in HS (which to some degree you must have been), nestled in a happy cocoon of good friends and happy family (which apparently you were), to go to a new place, where you are the newbie, where you are starting from scratch can be a great adventure- but it can also be very hard.
You say you haven’t clicked with the university, but you also say that you enjoy your classes and that you have leadership positions - after 1 term!- in your ECs. So I think it’s more that you haven’t found your people yet.
And if that’s the case, then of course Princeton looks better: you know that you have people there! and your family is close enough to go home for some TLC! of course it looks better. If the other pieces were that important you would have applied to Princeton in the first place.
Buyer’s remorse is a real thing, even when you have ‘bought’ something that most people think is wonderful. But it is not helpful, and in this case will just make it harder for you to keep going to find your people (and 100% there are people there for you).As pretty much every poster has said, your chances of transferring-especially since your real reason is essentially being homesick- are virtually nil.
It’s easy enough for me to sit here and tell you all those things- and so much harder for you, sad and lonely at college and imaging that it could be better. It can be better, and you can do it.
Paging @Lindagaf, for her wonderful, encouraging post on this topic.
I will admit that I have not attended any of Harvard, Yale, or Princeton (I did attend two other schools at a similar academic level). I did not think that the social scene was all that different at the three schools, except for the fact that Harvard is in the middle of Harvard Square (which seems like a cool location to me).
This seems like a valid concern.
I understand the desire to keep this confidential. To me this is the valid reason to transfer that I have seen in your post. Whether this will be enough to get you accepted is difficult to predict, but it seems like you could just apply and see what happens.
I have two concerns. One is that you might not get accepted to transfer (Princeton is very difficult to transfer into). The other is that transferring might not actually solve the problem.
I think that this is very good advice. You need to get to the bottom of exactly what you do not like about your current university, and understand whether an adjustment at your current school will help and whether transferring will solve the issue.
Princeton won’t happen. Their transfers are not general. They take from community college etc for some very special categories of people (people who served in the marines etc)
While Princeton is increasing the number of transfers they take, as others have said the vast majority of students tend to be from community college, 2 year specialty schools like Deep Springs, the military, or non-traditional type students.
I expect there’s been transfers from other Ivies here and there, but it’s likely most have been athletes. That’s not to say you can’t still put in app focused on Princeton’s academic program you feel is suited to you. Just know admission is unlikely.
Collegemom3717 gave you some sage advice on the non-academic side of things. Good luck.
Wherever you go, there you are. I didn’t make that up.
Having pre-existing friendships at Princeton is great! But if you’ve found it hard to meet like-minded people at your current college, you may end up in the same place if you transfer. Your Princeton friends may have already found new activities, social connections which include or exclude the old friends. People move on. Very few people plan to surround themselves with old friends once they get to college- you didn’t, they didn’t, you just think they would be a stress-free social group if you move to NJ. Well- maybe not, then what? you’re back where you are right now- trying to figure things out socially, but this time, you aren’t a freshman anymore…
You can do this. You are obviously well organized, so make yourself a spreadsheet (a mental spreadsheet). You need to force yourself to sit down with strangers at lunch. Give yourself a gold star for a week where you ate with someone you don’t know five days in a row. Get out of your comfort zone where you study- if you’ve been writing papers in your dorm, set a goal to explore 5 different libraries over the next two weeks. Change your patterns- if you haven’t explored the fantastic places on or near campus, start doing that- Glass Flowers at Harvard? Beineke or Museum of British Art if you’re at Yale?
The only way to find like-minded people is to BE where those people are… so put on your mental spreadsheet the kind of activities and places and things you like-- and start hanging there.
The problem here is that one is a fantasy and the other is reality. Reality can’t compete with a fantasy. Dream schools are just that…a fantasy. The only way to be happy is to accept and make the best out of your current reality. Go to a social function and meet people.
Try it, but find things you like about your current school as it is where you are likely to finish. And it will be fine. More than fine. You are at a great school. Do study abroad. Do an internship. Try something totally new for you like working on the newspaper or student government or basketball.