<p>Hey everyone,</p>
<p>Although I'm not really seriously considering transferring, I'm curious to know what it would take for me to transfer to Vanderbilt. Currently, I'm a Business major at Wake Forest University. Although it's a great school, part of me has always wanted to attend Vandy, and maybe major in Political Science. Wake is known to possess pretty prevalent grade deflation, so I was wondering, would that be taken into account if I were to apply as a transfer to Vandy? Moreover, would coming from Wake's business school (a very difficult one) be taken into account? If not, what is a GPA that would be ideal in order to be competitive? Part of me would have a difficult time giving up a Wake undergraduate business degree, but I really believe a Vandy degree in anything is easily comparable (plus, I hope to eventually get an MBA, so not getting an undergrad business degree isn't the end of the world). </p>
<p>Sorry for the barrage of questions; any and all responses are really appreciated. </p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Wake’s grade deflation is a known trend and I think would be fairly considered. Wake’s business undergrad school is awfully good, and I am not sure a poli sci degree would actually be smarter since you then pretty much have to do grad school. If you really like business and are tired of the grade deflation at Wake, I don’t really think you will find grading any softer at Vandy. </p>
<p>Grad school these days for an MBA requires that you work first…and good work experience is hard to come by. Although I am not trying to discourage you from a move to Vandy at all, I would ask you to look at the one year post BA/BS program Vandy has now in accounting (I know Wake’s undergrad accounting is exceptional). That program is accessed a lot by students looking to go straight from undergrad for more professional skills. It might be something you would like as well. </p>
<p>Lots of colleges tried adding in more “pay for” grad programs that added skill sets to undergrads who were finding a cold cruel world out there with their bachelor’s degrees. </p>
<p>I would encourage you to stay the course at Wake if they are good at job placement with undergrad business majors. Wake is a respected degree and you will have many choices for grad school–but getting employment can be harder to solve as a challenge. MBAs are very expensive degrees if you go private, so you want to be certain you have some job experience post undergrad before you apply to a graduate business program. Keep in mind that grad schools seldom are bargains with scholarships. Think big fat loan packages. We sort of failed to factor in the cost of grad schools and the deflated picture re jobs and salaries to pay back grad school loans. Keep your eye on the long term strategy. and best of luck regardless</p>
<p>I really appreciate the response. I’m definitely focusing on obtaining every ounce of work experience possible. I’m actually interning for a good-sized, multinational company in Detroit, and plan on interning again next summer w/ the same company, so I really am trying to get as much work experience as possible, even before I graduate. I definitely appreciate the advice, and if I end up staying at Wake, which I most likely will, I guess I can always try and apply to grad school at Vandy and hopefully get in.</p>
<p>Faline2, would you mind providing me with your opinion/some insight regarding an economics major at Vanderbilt? I don’t particularly like econ, but how would an econ degree stack up against a Wake business degree? Part of what I struggle with is that Wake doesn’t have as well-known of a name as Vanderbilt does, which can be frustrating. I know it’s a somewhat superficial concern to possess, but it’s a real one, regardless.</p>
<p>NinDeac, I have a son with an econ degree from Duke who ended up in the worst yr to graduate…09. Econ at Duke is hard core difficult and the top students do find berths and jobs and son after a two year non related job is working in a related field.<br>
although Vandy does not place as many grads in the same berths that Duke had leads into in the last six years or so, I think the Game Change is huge. Vandy students are on par with Duke students across the board now in many respects and opportunities only improve for Vandy students.
That said (Duke son really liked Wake and was admitted and we know lots of Wake grads)…I think Wake has a very strong image for producing business minded graduates and I do not think the prestige factor for undergrad should drive you. Instead, keep on with those internships. JOBs are the golden ticket and prestige is also important for grad school. Grad schools tend to look hard at job experience. My son is finding his fellow workers to be very talented in his job and where they hail from academically has great variety in it…from state honors colleges, to engineering colleges to small or large privates. Your work ethic and initiative creates a buzz about you in the work force that will overcome any perceived differences re prestige.<br>
Don’t pine for Vandy if you don’t even like Econ. I do not have good insight into Vandy econ so can’t speak about it at all. Any degree that pushes you quantitatively is something you will not regret in my opinion after seeing Duke son struggling to get on his feet in an ailing economy.
Wake is known as “Work Forest”…it has always pushed its students. Vandy does have a vastly talented student body now but many roads to Nirvanna.</p>