Transferring to Yale...is it worth it?

Transfer Students
1

<p>I don't hate my school (Amherst College in MA) - quite on the contrary, I love so many things about it. Only that recently I've decided to go back to Europe (I'm an international student), and am really concerned that Amherst's name won't say much there.
This is pretty much it, I could live with everything else. Amherst is a small school, and this has both advantages and disadvantages -- Yale is much bigger and I would certainly enjoy the more people there, but I would also be in danger of being very lonely at Yale, and I don't know if I'll be able to build the same kind of friendships I have here. Also, I would probably find more classes for my major (history) and people who are better specialized in my areas of interest (the creation of nationhood and of national identity). On the other hand, if I go to Yale, I probably won't have the same kind of rapports with my professors - Amherst being a small school, professors really have time for you.
I have not applied to Yale before, mainly because I thought I was doing it just for the name. Only from talking with people there did I realize it offered a lot more things, and was pretty much just like Amherst in its feel, only with a few advantages (and disadvantages as well). This is a maddeningly tough decision, and I need to make it while I still have time.</p>

<p>If you're wondering about my stats:
Currently sophomore at Amherst College, majoring in History, American Studies (declaring next week), and possibly Economics</p>

<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted) - for the past two semesters I've been taking 5 classes instead of the requisite four. I also have 3 A+s on my transcript, one of them in a research seminar. All my classes have been reading and writing intensive, even though I am not a native English speaker.</p>

<ul>
<li><p>not a whole lot of extra-curricular involvement: I've done some volunteering (spring break in New Orleans, tutoring), and I've also held officer positions for two organizations, but I did not have time for much else otherwise, since I was also busy with research - during the past year, I've been a research assistant for three professors, while also holding 3 other less-important student jobs. </p></li>
<li><p>I've also gotten a 4.0 in the Middlebury German Summer School. Middlebury College has probably the most prestigious foreign language programs in the US. I also speak Spanish, some Italian and some Portuguese as foreign languages - my native language is Romanian.</p></li>
</ul>

<p>As for my highschool credentials:
-- highschool in Romania, GPA: 9.68/10 (the rough equivalent of 3.85/3.9)
-- Old SAT: 800 V, 780 M SATII: 800 Math IIC, 760Physics, 740Writing
-- various national and international debate titles.</p>

<p>My heart is literally torn right now. I do believe I have a decent chance, and that's what makes things so complicated. It's also the last time when I can transfer, and I feel completely confused. I would really appreciate hearing from someone who transfered to Yale from a small LAC like Amherst and how their experience has been like, and whether it's worth it or not. </p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

2

<p>just on the note of chances: coming from amherst with a 4.0 and all your other goods, you've got a good shot at Yale, 3% or not. </p>

<p>I would suggest looking into Yale more so you can have a few more specific reasons as to why Yale is a better school to continue at than Amherst. </p>

<p>Regardless of your certainty, you should go ahead and apply to Yale now, before it's too late. If you are accepted, then you'll have a really tough decision - if not, then you don't have to worry about it. ;)</p>

3

<p>
[quote]
've also gotten a 4.0 in the Middlebury German Summer School. Middlebury College has probably the most prestigious foreign language programs in the US.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I know who you are:D</p>

<p>Does your last name begin with an 'S'?</p>

4

<p>^ scary...</p>

5

<p>-- Really scary! On the same note, does your last name begin with a W? (I'm too lazy to find the Middlebury Viewbook)</p>

6

<p>
[quote]
-- Really scary! On the same note, does your last name begin with a W? (I'm too lazy to find the Middlebury Viewbook)

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Nope. C'mon man: we had dinner (or lunch) at the same table once. You said you were fond of debate.</p>

7

<p>Also: I am not going to state whether or not you should apply to Yale; however, I can assure to you that you have an extremely good chance of getting in.</p>

8

<p>Okay, my situation seems to have another possible exit. For the name-factor, I am considering studying abroad at the London School of Economics for one year. I tend to think that having LSE on my transcript would probably convey a better image in Europe than just Amherst College (you mean "Amherst Community College?" :P ). Of course, Yale is a global brand, but I am speaking strictly on the margin here. I am really in an embarrassment-of-riches situation, which I somehow need to solve fast.</p>

9

<p>Have you considered grad school?</p>

10

<p>
[quote]
Have you considered grad school?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>That is another issue: most high-paying jobs anywhere in the world require Ph.D or some other advanced degree (J.D., M.D., MBA, and so forth).</p>

11

<p>nspeds..impressive...
I think you should definatley apply, and you have an amazing shot at Yale seeing as they love 4.0's and you seem to have a very compelling application.
on a side note, nspends, what are you involved it at georgetown?</p>

12

<p>
[quote]
nspends, what are you involved it at georgetown?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Ummm... philosophical society and chess club.</p>

13

<p>Critical theory society? you should give philodemic a try
on an unrelated note do you think a 3.7 is too low to try and transfer to brown.?</p>

14

<p>re: amherst to yale</p>

<p>my best friend did it last year from trinity college (another lac) to yale, and seems a little lonely, as he was a junior transfer. then again, he had more of a reason coming from trinity than you do coming from amherst. </p>

<p>i suggest you look at it this way:</p>

<p>you're worried about name-brand power. everything else seems to suggest that you're happy w/ amherst in all other ways. the class sizes, the people, the relationships with professors, how well you're doing. and we both know it's one of the best schools in the US, university or otherwise. </p>

<p>with that in mind, if you decide to apply for a job in europe, any reasonably well-known company will have of course heard of amherst. their job is to recruit the best. if they haven't, all they'll do is google it, and they'll immediately see how good it is. </p>

<p>but that's even beside the point. grad school is a prereq, as nspeds said, for being "successful" in most jobs involving the big four: banking, law, medicine, and academia. you seem like a highly motivated person; you're going to grad school.. with that in mind, grad schools absolutely love lac's because they recognize the value of small classes etc. you're in a position to get wonderful recommendations from one of the best schools in the world, with a great gpa and good ec's. </p>

<p>you leaving makes absolutely no sense. there, i said it. study abroad at lse would definitely enhance your "capital", so to speak, but so would getting a masters from there after you graduate. leaving amherst would not do anything to help you with grad school placement, and would probably hurt you. it will make no difference for you in terms of employment.</p>

15

<p>If you do end up at Yale, say hi to aleksay vayner</p>

16

<p>
[quote]
Critical theory society? you should give philodemic a try
on an unrelated note do you think a 3.7 is too low to try and transfer to brown.?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>The founder of the CTS is actually a good friend of mine.</p>

<p>Re the Brown Transfer: a 3.7 is good enough, though I wouldn't know; I had around a 3.7 from Gtown and I was still rejected from Brown.</p>

17

<p>my moms friend thought that amherst was a community college too...thats another reason why i said no to them lol</p>

18

<p>
[quote]
my moms friend thought that amherst was a community college too...thats another reason why i said no to them lol

[/quote]
</p>

<p>This ranks as one of the stupidest posts I have ever read on CC.</p>

19

<p>How so? that was ONE of the reasons, i had several.</p>

20

<p>
[quote]
How so? that was ONE of the reasons, i had several.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>I've read every reason you've posted here on CC. All of them make me wonder why Amherst admitted you in the first place, and most of them make me wonder whether they actually admitted you. No one here has had the cajones to say it, but I will: either you are an idiot for turning down Amherst, or you were never admitted. There is no other way of looking at it.</p>