<p>Hi, </p>
<p>I am a high school senior who will be attending Bucknell University this fall. Bucknell was not my first choice school and after I made the choice to go, I was disappointed to learn that it is known for its party atmosphere.</p>
<p>After visiting Brown while on vacation in Rhode Island, I truly loved the school and I am seriously considering transferring. Of course, I am going to put a conscious effort into trying to enjoy my time at Bucknell, but in my last few visits to Bucknell, I have only thought of my visit to Brown.</p>
<p>If I were to apply to Brown, would it benefit me to apply Fall 2014, Spring 2015, or Fall 2015? I want to have less of a focus on my high school transcript (GPA: 3.4 unweighted, ACT: 32, SAT: 2090, Math 2: 650) and more on my transcript in Bucknell. My first semester I am going to be taking Calc I, Organic Chem, and Biology (Introduction to Molecules and Cells), and a course called “How It Works” or something like that – it’s basically a writing seminar based on a particular interest of science. Any recommendations on how to be more competitive as a transfer student/challenge myself?</p>
<p>My senior year I really fell in love with Calc and did great, but it was not AP; I did well in my other classes, too. I have great ECs, but my transcript was not Brown material, so I never applied. Should I request to be put into Calc II; what are other ways to bolster a transfer application or simply challenge myself more. By the way, I’m in the Bucknell Biochem/Cell Bio program. </p>
<p>Thanks for taking the time to read this and respond.</p>
<p>Don’t skip college level calc I for calc II. That can only backfire, you really need the foundational work at the college level. Also I think it isn’t a good idea to take Orgo so early, esp not first year, as it is a notorious butt kicker. Might be bad for your transcripts. Since your HS stats are on the low side for Brown, you’d prob be best trying to transfer as a Jr. Don’t go into your first year without giving Bucknell a chance. While all colleges have a party side, it seems that is built into the culture more at some. But there will always be people you will find who are on the same page as you.</p>
<p>Aside from getting great grades, you might think of getting involved in some organization that contributes to the school in some way. You might also identify what it is you want to study and if that is a strong area at Brown it makes Brown seem more of a good fit. Otherwise, you might consider that another transfer school makes more sense, or no transfer at all.</p>
<p>Thanks, Brownparent for the response. Organic is actually the recommended course for first year students in the program, which I was also hesitant about because I do not take general chem. Also, I was hoping of creating a future doctors club at bucknell, which I think would be a great club and might contribute to the school, too.</p>
<p>Not to totally burst your bubble, but I have to agree with what Brown Parent is indirectly hinting at. Your course of study at Bucknell is not likely to mesh well with transferring to Brown in a similar vein, and Brown will be likely to ask you to repeat organic chem, if your major (called a concentration at Brown) requires it. It is often going to be your hardest course at any school, but Brown’s is notoriously hard. (On the other hand if you do have to take it freshman year and are able to keep straight A’s that would set you up to look good to other schools you might think about transferring to if you really don’t end up fitting well at Bucknell. Your high school performance would indicate that you will have a tough time convincing Brown that you have moved up to their expectations of academic skill. (Do you have some other factor such as ESL barrier that is likely to improve as you progress in college?)
What was it you liked so much about Brown? Because Brown is lately taking such a small number of transfer students, you should explore some other schools to think about if you still want to transfer after a semester or 2. There are many “more likely” schools that might give you the same characteristics you liked about Brown.
While pre-meds at Brown have many of the same pre-professional bent as at other schools, there is a bit more trying to be a “whole” person, and I doubt that a “future doctors” club would actually be a positive on your resume. Now maybe a service club that has something to do with “doctoring”? Found a local free clinic? Start a patient advocacy group? Something like that might help Brown take notice.</p>
<p>It sounds like your mind is already made up but I’ll post what I usually post on the pre med forum which is that I am pretty anti transfer in general and especially for pre meds. Unless you get to bucknell and find it so awful that you think it is affecting your grades or your general well being just stay there and do the best you can.</p>
<p>Thanks for the advice, iwannabebrown and brownalumparent. Transferring to Brown may not be my best choice because I would have to take 26 courses for the concentration. Therefore, transferring as a junior would mean taking an insane number of classes to fulfill my requirements in the last two years, and transferring as a sophomore is not likely to happen because of my high school data; despite doing a lot of volunteering in high school, my scores are not where they need to be.</p>
<p>Also, as a pre-med, if you transfer as a junior, you have only one year to be at Brown before applying to med school (assuming you weren’t planning on taking a gap year). With the importance of longitudinal experiences, letters of rec, and demonstration of commitment to medicine in the pre-med process, a transfer can be absolutely brutal (hence my recommendation that it only be done if the current environment is toxic).</p>
<p>Also what concentration is 26 courses?</p>
<p>Let me just quickly fix a mistake I made - my GPA is 3.7 unweighted, not 3.4.</p>
<p>I realize that if I do not transfer as a sophomore, I will not transfer at all.
The concentration that is 26 courses is the biochem and molecular bio concentration; unless I misunderstood, students take 20 classes in bio, chem, etc. and 6 elective courses. Here’s where I found that info: <a href=“http://biology.brown.edu/bug/biochemistry-molecular-biology[/url]”>http://biology.brown.edu/bug/biochemistry-molecular-biology</a></p>
<p>Since the first part that says 20 adds up to only 14, I believe the 20 is inclusive of the 6 electives. This would also mean it’s the same number of courses as the ScB in Biology which would make more sense (which I did and was 20 courses: <a href=“http://biology.brown.edu/bug/biology_scb.html[/url]”>http://biology.brown.edu/bug/biology_scb.html</a>).</p>
<p>Hi. I just transferred to Brown this past January (2013) so I could give you some insight on how to get in.
- 2 people in my small transfer class of around 100 transferred from Bucknell so you are in good company.
- Apply as a freshman, you want to get to Brown ASAP, but see #3. The deadline is March 1st or something like that.
- If you need finacial aid don’t get your hopes up. I have not met a single transfer that needed any finacial-aid. If you need it, apply for it. But, know that they will not meet your aid partially, they will just deny you. Only international first-year students and transfer students are need aware admissions.
- Your first semester college grades are really important especially since they are very easy to control. You don’t need to kill it, but do well.
- Consider taking the SAT or ACT again to improve your scores. The older you are the better you do.
6)Don’t get caught up in transferring until you get your acceptances. Go to Bucknell with an open mind, look to make good friends, join a group or two on campus, and try out the party scene since you never know how it will go. #yolo
Good luck</p>
<p>Browntransferer, thanks for the insight. I will probably apply for financial aid. How much do you think this hurts my chances and are there any ways to make up for this “negative aspect” in my application? Also, I will probably take the ACT again.</p>