Unhappy where I'm at.. Feasible places to transfer? helppp

Transfer Students
1

<p>Hey.. I'm currently a freshman at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.. not liking how any of this year is going. High school admissions process didn't run too smoothly, and I guess you can say I ended up here by default rather than anything else. On top of that, I've got a pretty serious girlfriend who's at Purdue right now.. and the distance is more than a pain. Planning on majoring in Cell+Molecular Bio for Pre-Med.</p>

<p>During app season I was
Rejected: Duke, UPenn
Waitlisted: Cornell, Northwestern, UChicago(all rejected afterwards)
Accepted: UMich, Loyola, UIllinois</p>

<p>At this point I'd be happy going anywhere closer to home.. but since NU and UChicago are right next to home.. this makes it convenient as well. I'd even consider a step down... I've also heard that its better to graduate at the top of your class from a less prestigious university than to be mediocre at a top-notch school.. and I've got no incentive right now to excel.</p>

<p>Stats are:
ACT Comp: 35
SATII's:MathII:800, US Hist:750</p>

<p>Asian + Caucasian Descent</p>

<p>3.8 Unweighted/4.0 Scale
7.2 Weighted (8 for APs, 7 for Honors, 6 for reg etc, #1 in class had about 7.4/7.5)
Graduated ranked 11/620 after beginning at about 115/620</p>

<p>7 APs, 6 Tests taken (five 5's, one 4)</p>

<p>High School ECs:
Varsity Golf -- Co-Captain, Several awards
WHO(Community Service) Club -- about 300+ hours of service in various areas
Habitat for Humanity, Miami FL (~50 hours)
Ethnic Clubs
National Honor Society
Span. Honor Society
National Merit Commended
Tutor for Math Center, Literacy/Writing Center, Foreign Lang. Center</p>

<p>Current College ECs:
Freshman Associate -- Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-Health Honor Society/Fraternity
Pre-Med Club
about to join an Ethnic Club</p>

<p>Since the initial application season I started tutoring 2x a week for my junior high off-level math teacher during 2nd sem of senior year.. and volunteered at a hospital for the majority of the summer.</p>

<p>So far I have apps open to UChicago, NU, UIllinois, and Purdue (yes, I'm considering that move too). As far as I know, its not possible for most freshman to transfer after one semester... is this true? I've been planning to apply for Fall '07 term but if there's any way around it I'd be glad to do it. Any suggestions...? Kinda lost here and in need of a bit of direction.. anything would be much appreciated.</p>

2

<p>I think you've chosen a good set of schools and Purdue can be a great place. I wouldn't usually encourage anyone to choose a school to follow a sweetheart, but it's a great school even if not on most of the prestige-mongers lists. UChicago I believe accepts quite a few transfers if you fit their style. </p>

<p>It's really school by school whether they accept spring transfers as a freshman. You can just check the websites for that.</p>

3

<p>Well, I'm at the point where I'd like to get out ASAP. I know that there's no guarantee I'll make it into NU or UChicago, but I know that I can't stand another year here, hence why I'm applying to UIllinois and Purdue (prob Loyola as well for same reason) to make sure that my sophomore year will not be spent here. Most programs are closed for Spring '07 transfers, though, so I'm not exactly sure what can be done.</p>

4

<p>You're half way through your first semester, right? Isn't UIllinois and Purdue about the same distance from home as UMichigan is?</p>

<p>Since UMichigan and your other choice feel somewhat similar, what do you think will make you happier there besides either the desire to be close to home or the gf? And, how are you doing in your current classes? It makes a difference for transfer apps.</p>

<p>Just make sure you're not holding on to NU and UChicago because that's where you wanted to go...it might not be different, especially if you plan on going home a lot. That might affect how involved you are in ECs...and affect grad school down the road. </p>

<p>In anycase, just focus on the applications to NU and UChicago. UChicago is quirky (you have to fit with their culture to get accepted).</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

5

<p>As for distance, UIllinois is about 120mi, Purdue about 130mi, whereas UMich is 260mi. It's not so much a factor about going home -- rather, its more a dislike for the community and a choice to go somewhere a bit smaller and more close-knit. I'm doing well in my classes -- I know I can't just slack off simply because I don't like being here, so the thought of leaving is driving my work.</p>

6

<p>i'm also new at umich and am not liking it much either.
i'd also prefer a smaller and more close-knit community.</p>

7

<p>after a bit of web browsing i realized something -- UIllinois, Loyola, and Purdue will all accept Spring '07 freshman transfers.. except UIllinois has almost every program closed save for engineering and a few others.</p>

<p>Would it be a bad decision to transfer to one of the aforementioned schools for the Spring Term and then to also apply to UChicago and Northwestern for sophomore year of Fall '07? I really feel like this could work out well for me. Any suggestions/comments?</p>

8

<p>I'd say just focus on finishing out the year at UMichigan and apply to NU and UChicago, as well as the others.</p>

9

<p>Honestly? How bad could it possibly look if you're trying to transfer twice... especially if you can convey how bad of a fit the first place was? I don't feel as if this will really hurt my apps to NU and UChicago if I can display academically and through EC's that I'm much better off leaving here after 1st semester...</p>

10

<p>They'll wonder about the second transfer (since UIllinois & Purdue are similar to UMichigan). And, if you've already made up your mind, then it won't matter what the advice is. Leaving after the first semester to go to another school that is simmilar is going to be a hard sell.</p>

11

<p>"Would it be a bad decision to transfer to one of the aforementioned schools for the Spring Term and then to also apply to UChicago and Northwestern for sophomore year of Fall '07? I really feel like this could work out well for me. Any suggestions/comments?"</p>

<p>yes, i would think it would severely hurt your chances of admission to both chicago and northwestern.</p>

12

<p>What don't you like about Michigan????? JW, I'm thinking of transfering there...</p>

<p>don't go to Purdue because of your gf.... you will regret it.
F girls man, seriously. 99% of them will screw you over in the end anyways. Plus college is the time to be single and get as many girls as you can.</p>

13

<p>^for serious. a girl is pretty much the second worst reason to transfer.</p>

<p>(obviously, a boy is the first.)</p>

14

<p>It's not really bc of the gf... thats just an added bonus. I've been there a bunch of times on visits bc I know a decent amount of people there and the campus is a bit smaller (though its still like your expected public univ campus), a bit quieter, and just a bit more laid back. I don't dislike any specific quality about Michigan.. but coming from a smaller hometown, the entire thing is a little too hectic for me (hence why I'm trying to move to NU and UChicago).. hard to get peace and quiet to get your work done, at least where I'm living. A lot of my decision to move is trusting my gut b/c it simply doesn't feel right.If you're all for this kind of community and don't really get tired of the whole frat party scene, then by all means I'd suggest transfering. You can PM me if you'd like to know anything else.. personally, the whole thing is just getting really redundant. Then again, the football kicks ass.</p>

15

<p>If you grew up in a small town I donno if Chicago will be a great place for you either.... talk about noisy and hectic!!! Traffic everywhere, you are smack dab in the middle of a big city, and though the campus itself is safe, it is located in one of the most dangerous parts of the city. NU would probably be a better fit.</p>

<p>And I might take you up on that offer about private messaging you about UM.</p>

16

<p>well.. let me clarify. My semi-small town was like 20 mins outside of Chicago.. so I've been there more than enough times to know what's safe and what's not. I'm used to that kind of hectic environment... UMich is a different kind of "busy".. hard to explain. UChicago is in Hyde Park which is a little shady at times.. I've heard some interesting things.. but NU is in Evanston.. which is a really nice, urban-ish small community.</p>