Transferring in two years

Transfer Students
1

Hey so I’m going to a 4 year state school which I’m not psyched about, but dealing with. Anyways, I start my college in the fall and I already know I’d like to transfer in a year or two to one in a city such as DC or NYC. I got a 2170 on the SAT, have a pretty good resume such as study abroad scholarships, summer internship currently, and multiple officer positions in high school, but the reason I didn’t apply to the better schools was my 3.38 unweighted high school GPA ( I had 8 AP classes though so weighted is much better).

Is there anything I can do from now to prepare for a possible transfer to somewhere like Columbia or Georgetown? I know it’s a big difference, but if there’s anything I can do from now I’d like to know.

Thanks a lot

2

You actually sound very similar to me! My HS unweighted GPA was literally a 3.34, and I was going to a state school that I soon realized I was not happy at. Thankfully from my very first day of freshman year I was getting absolutely stellar grades. After my freshman year my cumulative GPA is a 3.85 and I have been accepted to transfer to NYU for my sophomore year and I start in the Fall!

My advice to you would be to

  1. try your absolute hardest to get the best grades possible
  2. Whatever your major is, talk to your professors for that major and get to know them so that you can come to them for letters of rec eventually
  3. Really think about why you want to transfer. You’re going to have to answer that question to the schools you’re going to apply to, and they want to hear more than just “wahh I hate my school it’s dumb yours is better please let me in”

Good luck!

3

Thanks a lot for your answer. I definitely plan to get straight A’s and get involved as much as possible, because I might as well make the most of my time there, even if it’s not my ideal place. However, is there anything you wish you had known from day one of college other than study hard?

I do know why I want to transfer, and primarily that’s to be around like-minded and passionate people about changing the world and International Relations/diplomacy (I want to be a Foreign Service Officer). My university only has a college of Social Sciences, which includes everything from women’s studies to political science, and an interdisciplinary major in International studies that isn’t tied down to any one department. Due to that, I’m choosing political science instead. As well, while I am currently an intern at a non-profit in my ideal field, I’d like to be able to find internships and connections in a (potentially) new university’s city with a lot of culture.

Again, thanks

4

You sound very well prepared! I honestly think that my whole experience transferring went very well, and there’s really nothing I would change about it or go back and tell myself. You seem to be well-equipped to begin the transfer process, and there’s not really any more advice I have to offer.
I wish you all the best!

5

Thanks a lot. When you do go to NYU, you’ll realize that NYC is just as amazing as people say. Have a great time, and congrats.