Vanderbilt Transfers: BEWARE

Transfer Students
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<p>Hello everyone. I lurked on this site a few years ago when I was first applying to schools, but never made an account. I'm now a junior Vanderbilt student (class of 2012) and I decided to take the plunge and share my experience as a Vanderbilt transfer. I already posted this in the Vanderbilt forum, but I realized most transfers check this forum more anyway. So here's a copy of the post:</p>

<p>I am making this thread to warn potential Vanderbilt transfers about the experience I've had at Vanderbilt as a transfer student. I hope this helps those of you on the fence between Vanderbilt and other schools in making your decision. I don't want anyone to go through what I have for the past two years.</p>

<p>First, many students seem to resent you. Transfer students are seen as lower caliber students who found a back door to get into the school. Anytime the fact that I'm a transfer comes up, the attitude of the person I'm talking to changes completely. If it doesn't come up, and they assume I'm a freshman admit, eventually it comes up talking about other students. (Yeah, he made a 60 on the test...what do you expect, he's a transfer!). I honestly feel like I'm second rate all the time - and I'm not the type to let thinks bother me. It just really hurts.</p>

<p>Second, it seems even professors play into the stereotype. I was in a class once that divided us up into teams for a group project. In the criteria for making the teams, she wanted to make sure "no team was made up of all transfer students, so as not to disadvantage one team compared to the others." I couldn't believe when she said that...some in the class snickered, and she split us into groups based on information from a card we filled out at the beginning of the year, one of the questions being "Are you a transfer student?"</p>

<p>Finally, I've had a hard time making friends. Vanderbilt seems to be very clique-ish, and they seem to form freshman year. As such, it took me a long time to find a good group of friends. I have a few close friends now, but I still sometimes feel like I'm in high school with the cliques, and I regret not being a freshman admit. I just feel like a second class citizen as a transfer.</p>

<p>Vanderbilt is a great school, and I will be proud when I graduate next year with my degree, but I just want everyone to hear my experience. Please don't bash me for this post - it will just prove my point even more. One of my best friends here at Vandy is a transfer, and her experience has been the same as mine. I turned down a number of good schools to come here, and I really do regret it. Just some advice to transfers out there who haven't made a decision. Either way, I wish you luck. If you do come here, make sure you have a tough skin - you'll need it.</p>

<p>-Amber</p>

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<p>Why did you want to transfer in the first place?</p>

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<p>were you usually popular in HS ? If not i dont think that its the schools problem…also, you should try getting into some varsity or IM sports if you can</p>

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<p>Why would you even have to explain yourself to other students? I am from NC, certainly I know what you are talking about, it’s a South thing, that’s why I am not in the South, thank God.</p>

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<p>have you found this seems to be the case with a lot of transfers. I mean theres 200 of them. i feel like most have had amazing experiences</p>

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<p>Lima - I went to a local state school my first year to save money with the goal of transferring to a top school after one year.</p>

<p>Mcfuggie - Yes, I had many friends in HS and I’ve always been pretty popular. I’m a fun, down to earth girl who is easy to get along with. It’s just how Vanderbilt students are. Please don’t try to blame me for how they treat transfers at Vanderbilt.</p>

<p>Multitasker - I don’t know if it’s a southern thing or not. It could be part of it - my friend who transferred to Duke loves it. But Duke transfer is more competitive so maybe they aren’t seen as “backdoor admits” there…</p>

<p>NYU - Yeah, I’ve had a lot of other transfer students complain about this sort of thing. It’s pretty prevalent.</p>

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<p>I think every person has a different experience. I know of other Vandy transfers who had very very good experiences.</p>

<p>I know of a transfer to a completely different top 20 school - who did not like the experience at all. But I don’t think that can be generalized to a “this school is bad for transfers” conclusion.</p>

<p>Sometimes a school just is not a fit. Sometimes one person has a bad experience. </p>

<p>Doesn’t negate the OP’s experience; but doesn’t mean others would have the same.</p>

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<p>Of course I can, and I have - but it still doesn’t feel good when they assume you’re not a transfer and bash transfers in front of you. Even worse- I shouldn’t have to hide my true self at college! I have every right to be here as the other students!</p>

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<p>While not to the extent as HorseDoc, and never with Profs, D2 has had a similar experience at the selective private that she transferred to. Kids are interested in your academic ‘history’, so they ask questions. And while not all, many believe that transfers are kids who weren’t qualified as fr admits and were lucky enough to be accepted after doing well for a year or two of college. They usually calmed down when they learned that D2 was accepted as a fr but decided to take a full ride elsewhere. However, their attitude towards transfers helped her separate the wheat from the chaff ;).</p>

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<p>I have heard of this issue before, as written by Multitasker:

I knew someone who considered living in Charleston. Everything was lovely: the weather, the architecture, the new job. But, the people were very clicky and my friend never felt accepted.</p>

<p>HorseDoc: did you ever consider other schools? I suspect this feeling “out of sorts” can happen whenever you’re a transfer, but maybe it was more pronounced in certain schools. I know Vanderbilt is really into sororities/frats. Were those determined in freshman year, so when you joined in as a sophomore, you were already “out”?</p>

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<p>Man, this sounds bad HorseDoc. Those that look down on transfers are obnoxious. </p>

<p>I’m worried about when I transfer (hopefully I do, haven’t heard back from any schools yet) because I’m not the greatest social butterfly. I mean, I’m not completely shy, I’m just a bit reserved. I’m kind of hoping of meeting up with a few transfers that go to the same school and make a clique of our own =D</p>

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<p>Thanks for posting about this. My parents have been pressuring me to apply/attend Vanderbilt since it’s only an hour away from them, but after seeing this, it’s definitely off my list. If they keep mentioning it, I’ll show them this:)</p>

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<p>@HorseDoc: Just out of curiosity, are you involved in Greek Life?</p>

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<p>Allisone - no, I’m not, but it’s not coming from only greek-involved students. I have a few friends in frats/sororities, but I don’t think I should have to join one to fit in. It’s not my thing.</p>

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<p>One person’s opinion is going to determine whether or not you even apply to a school? :rolleyes:</p>

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<p>I don’t want to discourage anyone from applying! I’m sorry, I just want everyone to know what I’ve been through.</p>

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<p>^^^DarkIce, why are you answering as HorseDoc?</p>

<p>Perhaps because you (and HorseDoc) are actually a Cornell student?</p>

<p><a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/1134316-congratulations-seniors.html[/url]”>http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/1134316-congratulations-seniors.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

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<p>^I don’t want to go in the first place because of a compilation of factors (including **************.com). This was just a little cherry on the I-Don’t-Want-to-Go sundae.</p>

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<p>^^^What I’m implying is that this ‘cherry’ may be a ■■■■■ that actually attends Cornell and for some reason doesn’t like/is trying to steer people away from Vandy.</p>

<p>Not trying to change anybody’s mind, I just don’t like misrepresentation on this forum.</p>

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<p>Don’t you think someone would have more of a life than that entomom? </p>

<p>Maybe I’m giving her too much credit though…</p>