<p>i'm halfway through my first semester at upenn and i'm toying with the idea of transferring. i dislike the types of students here, and all of my teachers thus far have been indifferent and uncaring. given my interests (more in the humanities) i'm considering something more liberal artsy. does anybody have any suggestions for where i'd be better suited? i don't mind giving up the prestige of an ivy; at this point i'd rather be happy.</p>
<p>first semester penn GPA: 3.6</p>
<p>high school stats:
GPA 3.8
critical reading: 770
math: 640
writing: 790
SAT II:
literature: 670
math 1: 620
italian: 680</p>
<p>What kind of people are at Penn? I hear it's like a continuation of high school and very frat based. </p>
<p>We really need to know more about what you're looking for. I can name quite a few liberal arts colleges where you may be happy, if that's what you want. Your GPA isn't great - but you're coming from Penn. You've got a decent shot at most places.</p>
<p>yes, very frat based. although i've made a few close friends, most of the people in my classes tend to be more concerned with grades, wealth and image than about learning and being authentically themselves. (maybe that's too much to ask of any school?)
as for more specifics, i like living in the city. i'd rather avoid very small colleges because i'd be afraid of outgrowing them. other than that, i'm pretty open minded. i'm thinking of going into the fine arts, but i'm also intersted in comparative literature, history and languages. i'd like to study abroad.</p>
<p>Being consumed by "grades, wealth, and image" sound really fun, actually. Why is it that you hate that? You go to school with some of the most elite people in the world and I don't see how you would want to give that or "the prestige of an ivy" up.</p>
<p>thank you dearsir. believe it or not, some people aren't particularly attracted by a frat-dominated school and the 'prestige of any ivy school' doesn't necessarily equate to your happiness.</p>
<p>As said, your GPA is a bit low, but you are at UPenn (an IV-E) so, if you're looking for good city schools that aren't that small and have what you want as far as academic focus:</p>
<p>Columbia University in the City of New York
Harvard University
University of Chicago
Brown University</p>
<p>Other than that, I really can't think of a school that fits your criteria without you having to "downgrade."</p>
<p>Also, you'll need to actually research these schools quite heavily to make sure there are multiple unique things about them that interest you, because if you can't give great reasons in your essay, with a 3.6, your app will be tossed.</p>
<p>thanks, brand.
would columbia, harvard, uchicago and brown have student bodies different from penn's? i don't know enough about them.
i don't mind "downgrading." it seems to me like the more prestigious universities will be full of the same types of students i'm trying to avoid. am i right in making that assumption?</p>
<p>Each of the schools I've suggested has a very different feel to the school and student body - and from what I know, these schools are quite a bit different from Penn, at least in avoiding the aspects that it seems you do not like.</p>
<p>Columbia has a very urban feel and is probably more liberal than UPenn. While there are frats, they do not define the campus. In fact, I think their presence is very weak compared to most universities. Columbia is also very focused on the Core and humanities. I'm sure the pre-professionalism at Penn is intense - Columbia should be a breathe of fresh air in that sense.</p>
<p>Harvard - I don't know a ton about Harvard because I never really researched it. I would imagine it too is less pre-professional and and a bit more liberal than Penn. I'm not sure about the presence of fraternities. From what I hear, Penn and Dartmouth are the frat-ivies, so basically any of the other ivies should be less dominated than those two.</p>
<p>UChi is different. The student body is, as some have put it, nerdy. The kids still manage to have fun but are extremely focused on learning for the sake of knowledge. UChi is also strong in the humanities. If anything, I would guess UChi is the polar opposite of Penn.</p>
<p>Brown is liberal as hell. It has frats, but a different atmosphere than what you'll find at Dartmouth and Upenn. It is basically strong at everything and amazing at placing its students into excellent graduate schools. Open curriculum. Great opportunities to study abroad. Not much transfer money.</p>
<p>Which brings me to the next point - do you need $$$? Because if you do, Brown and Columbia are going to be stingy from what I hear.</p>
<p>Keep in mind: I haven't visited any of these schools except Columbia. And Columbia was very...barren. It seems like, even during the week, everything takes place in the city. Although it may seem like there's a community because everything is closed in, I really don't buy the argument that Columbia is much more of a community than NYU. Not that it couldn't be, but the city really distracts everybody from doing much on campus for fun.</p>
<p>To add to brand's list, consider Rice. The Rice campus is in the heart of Houston, nearby the medical center, the parks and museum district. Also Houston is an amazingly diverse and active city. The Rice student body is energetic and intellectually active. </p>
<p>Consider UChicago in the same light based on my research of the school (except that they're a little bit out of the nicer parts of town).</p>
<p>Yea, I've lived in Manhattan and would not really want to go to Columbia.. The city is a great place to live after college but most certainly not a good place to get a real college experience.</p>
<p>Before the harsh reality of a 1350 (M+V) registered, I had been determined to attend Brown. The university is extremely liberal; I really cannot underscore that enough, free-thinking, diverse, laid back, and academically challenging. Brown does not maintain a policy of course requisites (per say), it offers pass/fail classes for those who want to dabble in relatively foreign subjects and are worried about grades, and there are a plethora of study abroad opportunities. Although the school is extremely competitive, students don't compete with themselves they compete with each other. A party scene exists, but it is not all encompassing and the "city"-everyone remarks that it is smaller than they initially thought- of Providence offers a lot and if you like Italian food than you are set. Brown is very reputable and it would by no means be a downgrade. Again, I cannot stress how liberal the atmosphere is; even the institution itself is rather liberal allowing students to design their own courses and only requiring thirty classes to graduate. For what you are searching for, I think Brown would be an almost perfect university (financial matters and lack of school spirit detract, but I digress).</p>
<p>I think a 3.6 from Penn will get you in just about anywhere, except maybe Harvard, just because its the top Ivy, but you've got more of a chance than a 4.0 at some small, unranked school...however, i think you'd have a great shot at top LACs/Brown/Chicago/Columbia, and i'd also suggest trying for Yale if you want to stay Ivy...also, G'town, UC-B, UCLA, and Duke are all top-notch schools that would probably have a different atmosphere from Penn...UCLA you're still in a big city though, and both UCs are across the country...g'Town is still in a city, but Georgetown itself feels relatively small and intimate, but not small enough to be focused soley on parties...Duke is a great school, but Durham is a little rough around the edges, and Duke's motto is "study hard, play hard" from thursday-sunday i've heard (have a friend there, tenting currently, which she says is insane)</p>
<p>Durham is definitely not a big city and in terms of schools, I think applying down from Penn to Berk or LA is not a good deal when he could ideally go to Columbia, Chicago or Rice, higher ranked schools which fit his needs.</p>
<p>
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and i'd also suggest trying for Yale if you want to stay Ivy
[/quote]
</p>
<p>If it is unlikely that the OP will get into Harvard, his chances at Yale are virtually non-existant. It's a 3% transfer rate, last time I checked.</p>
<p>I too thought of suggesting Georgetown, but if you don't like the frat-dominated scene at UPenn, you may not like G-Town either. While I haven't heard that frats are the majority there, most have informed me that the student body is quite preppy and image/wealth focused.</p>
<p>Duke too will have that rich preppy frat feel, in my opinion. Plus, it's a 4% transfer rate. </p>
<p>And I wouldn't suggest the Cali schools because you'll be paying OOS tuition (almost as much as a top private) for an education that is not necessarily any better, and probably not as personal or good.</p>
<p>Edit: Lol...I typed fart-dominated instead of frat-dominated at first. Good thing I read it before I submitted it. </p>
<p>I am dumbfounded as to why some people on this board would consider a 3.6 at Penn bad. I applied to UVA last year with a 3.15 from W&M and was accepted...3.6 should get you into most schools.</p>