I am currently at student at Ohio State University and am looking to transfer out. I recognize that having the mentality of switching schools is only going to worsen my current experience, but my mind is practically made up. If anyone has any insights as to how to prepare myself as well as my application for admission, I would be forever thankful.
Questions:
Should I use the same common app essay as last year (I felt it was pretty good)?
What are some of the most transfer friendly top tier schools? - I would love to attend UPenn or Cornell but recognize that is likely out of the picture.
Should I consider retaking the ACT (29, 31 Superscore)?
Would it be foolish to transfer second semester? Some schools (UNC for example) don't offer it and then I'm potentially limiting myself.
I really do appreciate any help one can offer. I am not in a good place at my school and do not want to forever regret my decision of attending. Thanks!
The most selective colleges don’t take many transfers, some like Princeton do not take any. And those transfer students accepted need to have a compelling reason, not just not liking their current school. And your ACT is fine but won’t work at the schools you mention.
Why do you not like your current school, and why did you choose it?
Note: Princeton will start taking transfers, but with an emphasis on nontraditional and other unusual students, not traditional students looking for a prestige upgrade.
Why do you want to transfer? I think you need to give it a little more time- it is very early. I agree that it is very hard to transfer to the most selective colleges.
If you try and apply to colleges that rejected you last year they will likely reject you again.
Top tier schools can smell a prestige hound a mile away. You will have to convince them that you have a valid reason for transferring, that a top tier school will offer something that Ohio State cannot, other than prestige.
I have a pretty decent application in my opinion. It was good enough to get me into nyu, Michigan, Villanova, and other similar caliber schools but I chose Ohio state because of the cheap price but now I have buyers remorse. With that in mind, would it be too incredibly difficult to change over to something in the neighboorhood of UNC chapel hill or notre dame or even UT-Austin?
Additionally my reasoning behind not currently liking the schools I’m at stems from the fact that I truly did not want to go there in the first place and the fact that it’s not exactly meeting my expectations from a intellectual standpoint does not help.
UMich does accept a lot of transfer students (>1000 this year) and the transfer admission rate is around 35% this year. Many transferred students were from CC. However, it may be more difficult next year as they have an over-enrollment this year. Perhaps your essay on how much you hate OSU may help.
Are you in the honors program? So many students from our HS are in the honors program at OSU with scholarships… kids who got into Maryland etc… that I guess it’s hard for me to understand the lack of intellectual experiences at OSU.
It’s also easier to get into UNC as a transfer student than as a first year freshman.
OSU in-state cost to attend: 25K
UT Austin OOS cost to attend: 52K
Notre Dame cost to attend: 64K
UNC OOS cost to attend: 50K
State flagships are a bargain, and that was part of your choice. Are your parents cool with suddenly doubling your costs, with long distance transportation back and forth added at well?
Yes, my parents would be willing to up the ante. They were willing to pay full price for Michigan but I did not get into Ross and did not feel as though 65k was worth it to study something I was not interested. If i had the opportunity to attend any of those schools I would certainly jump on it. Do you think I have chances at any of those schools?
Additionally, I am in the honors program over at OSU and, quite frankly, I am not so sure how it is considered honors. Perhaps I came from a better high school but the students are acting as though the terms “supply and demand” are completely foreign.
I hate to drag on about negatives but I figure venting may be what I need.
Another odd thing about Ohio State is that, in my opinion, people just are not as open to making new friends as one would think. I have nearly come to the conclusion that most students come into the school with pre-established high school relationships and hold true to them while adding in a select few individuals along the way. Maybe I am just sitting down in the cafeteria at the long time but a large amount of kids can be seen sitting at the same table repping their old high school gear.
I hope that aspect of campus would become better with time and football games and whatnot.
State universities are going to have students from the same HS who know one another and sit together. This tends to lessen as time goes on… it happens at first because these kids do not know anybody else. Eventually these kids move out of their comfort zone. Some can do this right away.
Our very strong northeast HS sends a fair amount of good students to the honors program at OSU. These are not necessarily the “top” students… although 1-2 were… but they are certainly good, strong students. I truly believe that there are students at OS that have the qualities that you are seeking- but you have to find them.
I believe that at least 5 of the top 15 or so kids at my D’s very competitive high school went to OSU this year. This includes one kid who I personally know with an ACT of 36. There are many, many smart kids there. Maybe the first year has more “basic” classes but that will change. Give it time. Classes have just started. Join some clubs or an intramural team.
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I have a pretty decent application in my opinion. It was good enough to get me into nyu, Michigan, Villanova, and other similar caliber schools but I chose Ohio state because of the cheap price but now I have buyers remorse. With that in mind, would it be too incredibly difficult to change over to something in the neighboorhood of UNC chapel hill or notre dame or even UT-Austin?
Additionally my reasoning behind not currently liking the schools I’m at stems from the fact that I truly did not want to go there in the first place and the fact that it’s not exactly meeting my expectations from a intellectual standpoint does not help.
Should I consider retaking the ACT (29, 31 Superscore)?
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What classes are you currently taking at OSU? You’re a freshman now, right? School has JUST started. It sounds like you’re a business major. I don’t think first-year B classes are that hard anywhere, so not sure you’re being fair to OSU. What are you expecting AT THIS POINT?
I’m currently taking calc 2, microeconomics, classical mythology, entrepreneurship and a business course. I do not anticipate much trouble with any of the classes. I am a bit irritated with the fact that my advisor did not “believe in me” enough to allow me to enroll in 18 credit hours. I understand the class difficulty will pick up but the fact I could not follow through with my wish is quite irritating.
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I am a bit irritated with the fact that my advisor did not “believe in me” enough to allow me to enroll in 18 credit hours. I understand the class difficulty will pick up but the fact I could not follow through with my wish is quite irritating.
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That is standard advice at virtually most/all schools for incoming freshmen and for sound reasons. Often strong students with fabulous high school stats think that college transition will be a breeze and sign up for too much fall frosh semester…and then end up with a troubled GPA because living at college is often very different than living at home. There are many distractions during the Fall semester…roomies, perhaps football, staying up late, etc.
If you’re hating on OSU over this be aware that you’d find this hurdle virtually everywhere.
Make lemonade out of lemons and use the time you would have had to devote to those extra 3 credits to getting a 4.0.
You do need to give it time. There are smart people there – but maybe you are coming across as snobby and “too good for this place.” Also, the way to get more out of college is to get involved in research or clubs, not to overload on credit hours.
But, if you insist, Google college transitions dataverse then look for the set titled “selective and transfer-friendly”
I get the sense that you think OSU is “beneath” you academically. It’s not. I think if you got involved in clubs and research… as suggested… Your opinion may begin to change.
15 credit hours is a healthy dose for the 1st semester; do not blame your advisor. Wait until your mid-term and look around. You will see quite many students are shocked by their underperformance. I am not saying you will be one of them. But the issue is that your advisor does not have a crystal ball and cannot predict your future performance when you are new to OSU.
