Transferring OUT of top Ivy-ADVICE PLEASE

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hi, thanks for taking the time to read my thread.</p>

<p>I have a unique situation and need advice. There's a lot of advice for students who didn't get into their dream schools, and now have a second chance, but not so much luck for the other way around.</p>

<p>I am/was a student at an HYP (won't say which for anonymity) and am considering transferring after much thought. </p>

<p>To explain, somewhat briefly. I graduated from an elite prep school in 2006. Though my grades weren't top (I graduated with roughly a B-B+ gpa), my SAT scores were 750M, 740W, 720V with 750 on the SATII Lit, and 720 on the MathIC. Great ECs, etc...got into 7/12 schools, with Wellesley as my safety. </p>

<p>Then I went to college. </p>

<p>It was a nightmare. I have ADD (the legit, medicated kind, not just me being lazy) and battled with depression. I barely passed my first year, ended up on academic probation, and had to take transfer credit classes at home over the summer. When I got back for my sophomore fall in 2007, I ended up "voluntarily" withdrawing for the year (at my Dean's suggestion) and returning in 2008 as a sophomore. I did use my time off productively, enrolling in counseling, working and interning. When I returned in Fall I didn't do much better academically, but I did find my footing socially--getting admitted to an exclusive society, heading up a club, even running a few relevant events. However, I found myself back in my same ways by Spring term, and I voluntarily withdrew again. Still on academic probation, however, the school required that I take a 4-course load at another accredited institution to demonstrate I can handle college level work (typical for students who withdraw twice). </p>

<p>So now I am taking classes as a non-degree candidate at a local (not community) college and doing moderately well (I don't have grades to speak of yet). However, I am thinking it is probably not the best idea to go back to my former school. I say this because readmission is "plausible" but not guaranteed (and they REALLY should be sick of me by now in that dean's office). What are my options for transferring? I realize I will probably have to continue to take classes at the local school for gpa reasons (I have about a 1.7 at the ivy), but I'd like to start the transfer admissions process so I have somewhere to go for Fall 2010--hopefully as a junior. My real issue is with the "good academic standing" requirement for most schools. I realize my college career is technically in shambles (lol, sort of...) as I would still be on academic probation, but does the fact that it is a top (and by top, i mean US news and world report ranking of #1) university give me any leverage for admission into somewhere better than InsertStateName-U?</p>

<p>I'd love to hear your thoughts and once again thank you for your time.</p>

2

<p>I hate to say this, but what makes you think you’d fare better at another university? You didn’t mention anything in your post about the high caliber of the school causing your problems, so do you have actual reason to believe you would do well at a state school? Maybe some time off would be a good idea or something…I don’t know, I’m not a psychiatrist, just wanted to pose something to think about.</p>

3

<p>Thanks for the response, and your point is well taken. I have taken time off, and am at a place where I am ready to work. I am excelling to the point of boredom at my “current school” which is a state school. And it’s not so much the “high caliber” of my former school that causes me problems, just the specific structure of the school that is not a good match for me. In another environment I would (and have proven to) work harder. I am simply not motivated to continue in my current setting. For example, I am an anthropology major, and while we have good courses, the selection is not nearly as broad as that of a school which offers a distinction between cultural anthropology and medical anthropology. It is very rigid in its requirements.</p>

4

<p>hmm, I had always thought the selection of courses at HYP would be varied enough to discern between cultural and medical anthro…even my state school/cc(?) offers separate courses in both disciplines. In any case, have you considered some LACs? You mentioned Wellesley, so perhaps that is a place to consider. And what exactly about the structure of the school contributed to your poor performance? Was it a social or an academic (i would think this to be unlikely, considering your former school was HYP) element?</p>

5

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<p>I could be wrong, as I haven’t dealt with this directly, but it seems like the “good academic standing” is a yes/no sort of proposition and that it doesn’t matter what the ranking of your school is. While the quality of the school matters for admissions decisions, if you don’t overcome the initial hurdle of qualifying to transfer, it won’t do you any good.</p>

6

<p>“the specific structure of the school that is not a good match for me”</p>

<p>This is the key to your successful transfer and/or successful completion of a degree at the institution where you are currently studying. You need to identify the environment where you can perform best. Since you have had successful academic experiences at two institutions that are not the HYP where you started, you should have a clear idea of the kind of environment you will thrive in. Your transfer essay should focus on the fact that you now know where you can do your best work, and your commitment to a particular branch of anthropology. </p>

<p>If you aren’t able to transfer anywhere other than the place you are currently at, stay put. Get good grades. Track down the really good internships/research projects/field work opportunities. Figure out how to design an independent study or two that will let you concentrate on a sub-area of anthropology if the department only currently offers a general major. You can make this situation work well for yourself.</p>

7

<p>Agree that it doesn’t matter where you’re in bad academic standing and also that you should stay put if possible. It’s unlikely you would be accepted anywhere close in quality.</p>

<p>With ADD and depression issues, it’s probably not the specific school that is creating the problem. I’d wait until you feel strong and healthy and try to finish at HYP. Being admitted to an elite society and having a strong social footing indicates that if you can get your issues in check and assure the college you’re in good shape you should do fine.</p>

8

<p>Well, your situation sounds a bit like the one I was in some years back.</p>

<p>I performed poorly at a big name school (rarely went to classes, etc) and suffered from depression. I ended up withdrawing, taking some classes at a local U, returning, and flunking out. I was accepted to the flagship of one of our state university systems, hung around a few years, and dropped out (in good standing, but with a GPA a bit above 2.0).</p>

<p>So it is possible to get into another school, particularly given high school stats that show a high degree of capability. But transferring alone probably won’t fix any of your problems.</p>

<p>I wish I could tell you what changed my academic career (I’m at a CC with a 4.0 GPA and in the process of transferring for Fall 2010), but I can’t. There was no “ah, ha!” moment. It just sort of took time in the work force, living my life, to straighten things out. So my advice would be to either return immediately to your current school or take time off for a few years. Transferring down probably won’t help and may leave you with a psychological monkey on your back–that fear that maybe you just can’t really cut it at a school of that caliber.</p>