im currently a freshman in college, and i want to transfer to barnard college to study neuroscience & behavior. my stats from high school were not strong, and due to moving schools so much, my resume is not stellar as well. however, as a college student, i’m currently more focused and motivated than i’ve ever been before which is truly helping me focus on what i want from myself and education.
is there anything i can do to be a successful transfer student and is there anything i can do to compensate my high school stats? any advice will truly help. thanks (:
In general I think it is a terrible idea to start one college with the intent of transferring out. This will stand in the way of your making meaningful friendships, developing relationships with professors, and getting involved on campus. Then if your transfer doesn’t work out as planned you will be really stuck. I’d go to the college you enrolled in with the intent of staying all four years. It is fine to throw in some transfer applications but don’t count on it working out.
In terms of Barnard please take the time to look at the FAQ for transfers https://admissions.barnard.edu/admissions/faqtransferandvisiting – it is stated that: “The most successful transfer students have both high school and college transcripts with strong outcomes in a rigorous curriculum.” We can’t guess how your HS academic stats were and how they compare to Barnard standards. Also note that housing is not guaranteed for transfer students (and housing in NYC is expensive),
Certainly apply to Barnard as a transfer student if you like but be prepared to either stay at your current school or find some match/safety schools to apply to as well. Also be aware that it is very difficult for transfer students to get merit aid.