Transferring to Columbia

Colleges and Universities A-Z Columbia University
1

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am currently a sophomore at Northwestern interested in pursuing medicine, dentistry or a PhD/MD. </p>

<p>Academics: (Please note that NU is on the quarter system not the semester system)</p>

<p>I currently have a 4.0 cGPA, including the grades from fall quarter of my sophomore year. In my Freshman year I completed the following courses:</p>

<p>Gen. Chemistry sequence (3 quarters with lab), College Physics (3 quarters with lab), Calc I & 2, two Freshman Writing Seminars & a biology course (concepts of biology).</p>

<p>My final essays for both seminars were nominated for awards. Didn't win on both occasions. </p>

<p>In the fall quarter of Sophomore year I completed the following courses:</p>

<p>Organic Chemistry with lab, Genetics and Evolutionary Biology (1st of a three course sequence), Persian and an environmental science course (energy & the environment)</p>

<p>I plan on completing both Orgo and Bio sequences in the winter and spring quarters. Additionally I will take two Stats course, Calc III and a course called Introduction to Energy Systems in the 21st Century. </p>

<p>I am on a full ride (need based). In my Freshman year $35,000 of this aid was replaced with a merit based scholarship (by some benefactor) due to my grades.</p>

<p>I went to high school in Pakistan (I'm a US permanent resident), and the British System is used there. We didn't have a GPA only letter grades (no + or -). If I remember correctly I had around 62 As and 8 Bs on my HS transcript. We were tested twice a year and kept the same subjects year long. 10 subjects for the first two years and 5 for the last two.</p>

<p>SAT I - 2170 (M: 740 W: 720 R: 710)
SAt II - 2300 ( Bio M: 760 Chem: 770 Math II: 770)</p>

<p>Activities: </p>

<p>-Freshman Year:</p>

<p>Work Study Job with the YMCA Project Soar. Mentored a 10 year old boy from an underprivileged family. Met him once a week for six hours.
Worked with my Physics Professor as his assistant. He is the head on undergrad physics labs at NU. I helped him design and test experiments to be part of the curriculum in the future. </p>

<p>-Sophomore Year:</p>

<p>Year long post as a paid research assistant in a Chemistry Research Lab at NU. Research focuses on alternative energy applications and other environmental issues.
Year long post as a Gen Chem facilitator with and organization known as Gateway Science Workshops. This is an initiative that provides undergrads taking science courses with the chance to have a group learning session led by undergrads who have previously performed well in those courses.
Still help out with Project Soar as a volunteer.
Did 35 hours of dental shadowing - (15 in Michigan, 20 in Pakistan)</p>

<p>High School:</p>

<p>School swimming and Basketball team (starting five), Chess Society president for 3 years, 1st or 2nd in numerous internal and external chess competitions, Editor for 2 years for school publications, VP of Quiz Society. bunch of volunteer/social work (Flood relief, tree plantation, shelter & orphanage) </p>

<p>Reasons for transferring:</p>

<p>Always planned on either doing a year study abroad or transferring after my second year. Can't do the former due to premed/major/distribution requirements. I'm pretty restless and need new challenges. Academically not challenged at NU. Quarter system isn't good for science courses. 10 weeks for a course that covers both genetics and evolution for instance. Professors often skip chapters they are supposed to cover or just skim over them. Semester system and adapting to it will pose new challenges and offer more comprehensive science courses (which I'm passionate about). It'll be interesting adapting to a new environment, and meeting new people. That's just the type of person I am. I enjoy change. One of four Pakistani FOBs in the entire university. Most other universities offer a stronger Pakistani community which is always nice to have. I wonder if anyone could tell me if this is true for Columbia. </p>

<p>Are my reasons good enough? I apologize if they seem obnoxious or stupid. However, those are the reasons I will put down since I don't believe in lying to improve my chances. Based on your advice I might omit some of the stupider ones. Of course, I will do some research into Chem/Bio/Premed at Columbia. </p>

<p>Thank you for taking out your time to read this. I look forward to hearing your advice/feedback/criticism.</p>

2

<p>Transfer applications have a much lower acceptance rate than freshman applications. They are extremely competitive.</p>

<p>Your work seems sufficient to apply to Columbia, but do not under any circumstances expect to be accepted. This may seem harsh, but it the reality.</p>

3

<p>Definitely one of the most competitive transfer apps I’ve seen on CC. Nevertheless, you should still cast a wide net. I wouldn’t dwell too much on the science instruction at NW. It’s more important to articulate why you want to transfer IN to Columbia than why you want to transfer out of NW. Also, since you’d have junior standing, how much research have you done as to which of the Core reqs will be filled. If not enough credits are accepted, you may be in for a rude awakening, both because of the fact that you’d be taking significantly more core (humanities) courses than the pre-med ones you’re doing so well in, and it may put an end to your study abroad ambitions (can’t do core courses abroad). Lastly, you’re getting a really good deal financially at NW - do you think you’d get something similar at Columbia?</p>

4

<p>Why thank you. I’ve learnt never to take things for granted so I’m going to give the process its due respect. </p>

<p>I’ll be honest with you. I haven’t done any thorough research into credits transferring, aid, or the specifics of the core etc at Columbia. At present, I’m trying to decide on the two, maybe three universities I’m going to apply to. My criteria is simple: they shouldn’t be in the mid-west or on the quarter system and they should be similar or better than NU in the eyes of med school so my admission chances aren’t affected. I just skimmed over the columbia site and the core requirements are kinda confusing me:

  • Foreign Language: I speak Urdu fluently. I took it as a subject from grade 1 through 11. NU waived my Foreign Language requirement based off that. I wonder if it’ll be enough for Columbia. Seems it should be.
  • Physical Education: I used to swim nationally so shouldn’t be a problem
  • Science: Shouldn’t be a problem (Will transfer credits cover it?)
  • Music Humanities: 1 class
  • Frontiers of Science: 1 class
  • University Writing: I took too Freshman Writing Seminars, which were part of our ‘core’. I wonder if they’ll fulfill this requirement.
  • Art Humanities - 1 class
  • Contemporary Civilization - 2 classes
  • Literature Humanities - 2 classes</p>

<p>So that brings me to a minimum of 7 classes (i think?) which shouldn’t be too bad. I think you misunderstood me. My plan was to either study abroad a year OR transfer as a junior. Since all but 4 of the classes I will have taken by the end of my sophomore year will be year long Calc, Chem, etc sequences I think their credits should transfer over. But thank you for pointing this out. I’ll definitely have to get in touch with their office before applying. As for the financial part, I guess that’s something I have to look into. I was under the impression that all Ivys apart from B are need blind to transfers so they should give me a similar aid package. </p>

<p>Finally, your first point is something that concerns me. I don’t know if my reasons are good enough. I’m transferring because I want change. I’ve always been really restless. And I never intended on spending all four years at one University. I don’t dislike NU at all apart from the quarter system science classes part. I’m only going to be this young once, and I want to experience as much as I can (Midwest vs. East Coast culture, NYC vs Chicago). This is where I think my application falls apart. I don’t think these reasons are solid enough. There’s very little that Columbia offers for premed science majors (as far as I can tell) that NU doesn’t. Most HS seniors identify different programs they are interested in. For instance NU has an intergrated science program, but since i’m an incoming junior i doubt i’ll be able to sign up for these. So while I know the significance of the ‘Why?’ I’m struggling to find reasons which would make sense to saner people than myself. For me, wanting change and a new challenge is more than enough to want to transfer. But unfortunately, most people don’t see it that way. Any advice on how I should go about this?</p>

5

<p>For Urdu exemption, you’ll want to contact the department ([MESAAS</a> | Languages | Hindi-Urdu](<a href=“http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mesaas/languages/hindiurdu/]MESAAS”>http://www.columbia.edu/cu/mesaas/languages/hindiurdu/)) and arrange a proficiency exam if you are admitted. Sounds like you’ll have no problem passing.</p>

<p>My friends who have transferred (they are sophomores) did not have to take UW or FroSci based on their transfer credits. They did have problems getting some things to transfer (particularly Global Core classes) though so you might want to speak to someone about that.</p>

<p>Anyways, that’s all I know about that. Any transfers want to weigh in?</p>

6

<p>Hmm, well that’s reassuring. Thanks!</p>

<p>If anyone else has any advice/opinions I would greatly appreciate them.</p>