I am currently a student at Indiana University. However, I have been looking at different options for next year. I have narrowed my options down to a couple schools, but I am curious on how others feel about the situation I would be put into at the University of Arizona. During high school I took “Dual Credit” classes through IU. These grades were not great and I came into the school my freshman year with a 3.4 GPA. However, in my first semester I achieved a 3.8 GPA, raising my cumulative GPA to 3.601. This semester, I am looking to stay on track to attain a 3.9 GPA, which would raise my GPA to a 3.75. I am very unhappy in the time that I have spent at IU for numerous reasons, and am wanting to transfer to a different school. Also, I am pre-med so the decision is very critical. My questions are, is transferring from Indiana University to the University of Arizona going to affect my chances of getting admitted into a medical school if I obtain the same grades I would here (preferably getting my GPA up to at least a 3.8). I know that Arizona has many opportunities, as does IU. I just need input on if this would be a good idea. Any thoughts, even if it does not have to do with my current situation are greatly appreciated!
Also, to follow up on my post, I am concerned that transferring colleges will have a negative effect when applying to a medical school in general. Any factors that you see I should be weighing, feel free to reply with!
It’s not broke, don’t fix it. I don’t see a rational reason to transfer. If it’s depression, trust me, it’ll only follow you, and it’ll be twice as bad after you transfer. I would suggest making an appointment with the health center and have a few counseling sessions. Yes, transferring could potentially affect your chances for medical school because you would lose credits. The higher the classes, the less likely they are to transfer over, which means you could lose a lot of those A’s you worked so hard for. Also medical schools want to see stability in an applicant. A sudden transfer to a school 1800 miles away, when you’re already in-state, won’t look good when they review your transcript. They’re going to ask about that during a med school interview. That’s a liability you don’t want if you’re trying to be competitive for med school. I would highly suggest sticking like glue to your last 2 years and keep doing what you’re doing. Right now you’re doing great!
Well I am only a freshman this year, so that is the reason that I am considering transferring. The factors weighing on me is the fact that IU makes it very difficult for students to get involved in research. Although some people are able to obtain research, it is a very extensive process and they do not have a program set up to help with students trying to become involved. Rather, I would have to ask to hop on research with a professor who has already started an experiment. While I am disappointed that the school does not grant an open opportunity to get involved, putting yourself out there to professors, even if you do not know them, is a very good skill to build. So, it is not all bad for that situation, but I would rather prefer a set process for getting permission to a research project. Also, before coming to college, I desired to go out of state to get away from my home town (an effort to gain responsibilities and life skills on my own). However, IU is only 30 minutes from where I grew up so I feel as though I have never really got away. I know these are small inconveniences to some people, but I feel like getting out of my comfort zone is something that would be very valuable and help me mature a little bit. Lastly, the credits that I have gotten most of my As in should transfer from what I have researched, since the majority are chemistry, biology, sociology, calculus. However, I also have english composition and finite grades from high school that were through IU and they were B and B- respectively, so that would not be good to transfer, although, I believe they would.
Also, would stability be shown from me staying at a university for three years since I have only been here for one? I realize that it does not look good to jump from college to college, but would just one transfer after your freshman year be shown as not stable? I have no clue, I am just trying to get input from others.
transferring doesn’t matter for med school admissions - i transferred twice and was admitted to several medical schools including several in the top 20. Are you an AZ resident?
I actually do live in Indiana, but I have some family out west. However, they do not live in Arizona so I could not get in-state tuition.
Can you afford Arizona?
If you are premed, you need to keep costs down since med school is very expensive.
Also, the receiving school does not have to accept all of your units.
I agree with @coolguy40. Being unhappy at your current school does not mean that transferring to another school will transfer away those feelings.
Transfer students have to try to establish new relationships and become accustomed with the lay of the land, which may or may not happen.
That is standard for freshman level research opportunities. Some schools have a little freedom for an upperclassman honors project on a topic of choice, but most undergraduate research is “hopping on” to a professor’s existing research program.
Have you ever been to Tucson?? It is going to be VERY different from Indiana.
As others have mentioned, your costs will be minimized by staying at IU and this will be important when you are considering paying for medical school. You don’t say whether you are commuting from home or living on campus. If you are commuting and that is causing problems, ask about moving onto campus. Commuting can make it tough on your studying and college social life.
As for research, you will find the same situation at just about every major research university. You will start by volunteering in a lab and possibly assisting a graduate student on their project. As you gain more experience, you may be able to have your own project. Expecting to walk into a situation where you are handed your own project is quite unrealistic.