Transferring to Penn from Cornell...

Colleges and Universities A-Z University of Pennsylvania
1

<p>Hey, I am a freshman in CAS at Cornell and I am looking to possibly transfer. I am looking to possibly transfer at the end of this year, but maybe later if I have to. I am currently taking business/economics-oriented classes, and am doing somewhat okay, and I am interested in pursuing business programs at other colleges or economics. Most of my classes are large, so it may be difficult to find great recommendations, but I can probably manage. My gpa is settling out to be around 3.6-3.7 for first semester, but will probably be around a 3.8-3.9 for next semester, for an overall of about 3.75 or somewhere around there. I am generally doing better in my business-oriented classes than the others. My classes are as follows:</p>

<p>First semester:
Intro to Micro
Marketing
First Year Writing Seminar - Greek Myth (required)
Green World/Blue Planet (Bio elective)
Calculus 1</p>

<p>Second semester:
Intermediate Macroeconomic Theory
International Trade and Finance
Introduction to Business Management
Introduction to Statistics
Possibly some other random elective class (I can generally handle workload pretty easily, so I've been taking more classes than the average person).</p>

<p>Clubs: Cornell Concert Commission, Cornell Economics Club, Cornell Accounting Association, Hall Council</p>

<p>High School Stuff
GPA: 3.4, not top 10%, probably top 20% or so
SATS: 2220 (680cr, 750m, 790w)
Good ECs, but not much relevant to business.</p>

<p>I am part-urm (Mexican)</p>

<p>I am confused because the Wharton transfer site says that applicants should show leadership skills in college, but it is nearly impossible to gain a good leadership position in the first year here. It also suggests that you transfer for sophomore year. So, I was wondering if I should even bother trying to transfer to Wharton, because I would still be satisfied if I somehow made it into Arts and Sciences at Penn.</p>

<p>Please tell me if you need any other information, but thanks very much!</p>

2

<p>If you really feel that you would be just as happy in CAS as in Wharton, I would suggest applying to CAS. It’s still very difficult to get in, but Wharton is nearly impossible as a transfer. Also, Wharton only wants applicants who truly love business. If you get into Penn CAS and choose to go, you have the option of applying to a dual degree program with Wharton at the end of your sophomore year.</p>

3

<p>^ Can you explain more about this dual degree program?</p>

<p>I am curious because I am applying to Huntsman as an entering freshman (highly unlikely that I’ll get in however…much like everyone else), and then using CAS as my alternate school.</p>

<p>However, I would be interested in a dual degree program in the future if Huntsman doesn’t work out. Would this dual degree program after soph year be between CAS and Wharton? (so i could still do somewhat of an international relations - business type of degree?)</p>

4

<p>Actually I just did some research and found this link for anyone who is interested:</p>

<p>[Dual</a> Degree](<a href=“http://www.college.upenn.edu/degree/dual.php]Dual”>http://www.college.upenn.edu/degree/dual.php)</p>

<p>But redsoxgirl, are u familar with how difficult it may be to enroll as a dual degree student after soph year?</p>

5

<p>It’s pretty difficult. You have to get very good grades. I’m actually looking into it right now. When I applied to Penn, I had no desire to be in Wharton because I was premed, but my career interests have changed somewhat. My advisor said that they usually take about 5 people who have applied at the end of their sophomore year, but very few incoming juniors apply. In the past few years, the gpa cutoff has been between 3.6 and 3.8.</p>

6

<p>Okay, thanks for the help! Anyone have a clue how many applicants they accept to Wharton? But, I would probably also be happy in CAS at Penn…</p>

7

<p>I dont think you can do a dual degree program if you transfer. Also, they take more than 5 kids, quite a few more. But yea I think this past year GPA cutoff was like 3.75 or something around there</p>

8

<p>No, you can do a dual degree program if you are a transfer. I’m an external transfer and I talked to the advisors from both the College and Wharton and they said that it is fine. Sophomores can apply at the end of their sophomore year. However, you cannot do it if you were accepted to Penn as a junior. Also, they said that normally only about 5 incoming juniors are accepted for dual degree with the College and Wharton.</p>

9

<p>CornellPerson, I was very surprised to come across your thread because I was pretty much in the same position as you last year.</p>

<p>I just transferred here to Wharton from Cornell. They took about 25 of us external transfers this year. It seems like most of us had GPAs in the 3.8-9 range, and a few 4.0s. I had a 3.81 as an architecture major first semester, 4.03 as an econ major in A&S second semester, and 3.93 cumulative (I did an internal transfer between my first and second semesters at Cornell. Second semester I was technically in the “internal transfer division” b/c A&S couldn’t admit me coming out of architecture without first doing a probationary semester. I had to explain the process and my reasons for doing this in the application). </p>

<p>One thing to keep in mind is that the admissions committee won’t see your final 2nd semester grades nor your cumulative GPA because Cornell’s spring grades won’t be released in time for transfer application decisions. They do, however, require a mid-semester grade report that has an estimated letter grade from each of your classes - this does play a factor. Mine read as a 4.0, all As. I actually didn’t know about it until a MONTH after it was due, so try to keep on top of it! But obviously submitting it late won’t immediately take you out of the running. </p>

<p>Try to bring this semester’s GPA up as high as possible; I feel the 3.6-7 range is a little low for a successful transfer. Last year, my desire to transfer and get the hell out of Ithaca dictated my work ethic. I made a ton of sacrifices (especially in sleep), but it was definitely worth it in the end. Also, I’m no expert, but I feel that with such a small admitted transfer class, hooks like URM won’t matter. </p>

<p>Interesting tidbit: there were 3 Wharton transfers from Cornell this year, and none of us were studying business before transferring.</p>

<p>Also in regards to having leadership at Cornell: It’s definitely possible, but it doesn’t come easy. Just in the Fall semester, I became the VP of my dorm’s governing body, a Residential Student Congress rep for my dorm, a committee co-chair in the RSC, and a board member of the Big Red Marching Band. On top of that, I played in 3 music ensembles. Believe me, I’m not a prodigy. You just have to be motivated enough to really prove yourself. The requirement for leadership is another factor that allows the admissions committee to pick the admitted transfer class from a pool of already extremely accomplished applicants. </p>

<p>Why do you want to transfer to Wharton? Did you think about simultaneously applying for an internal transfer within Cornell?</p>