<p>Hi all,
I graduated HS in 2006, and did two semesters at Oakland University (a nearby regional school) before transferring to Parsons the New School for Design in NYC. I stayed at Parsons for two semesters, then came back home. I took a semester off, and then started back up at Oakland University again for Winter 09'. </p>
<p>Until I came back to Michigan, I was a fine arts student - that had been my goal too throughout highschool. I officially changed my major to Linguistics at the beginning of the Winter 09' - definately not a random change, I've always been interested in the subject. </p>
<p>Now here's the situation:
When I returned to MI, I became interested in the University of Michigan, and I did a lot of visiting with admissions officers and recruiters and the like. They got me in contact with an academic advisor in the School of LS&A (as I was going to transfer as a Linguistics major rather than a fine arts), who really had great faith in me. I met with him several times during the fall and early winter, and he helped me write what he seemed wholeheartedly to think were great essays. I distinctly remember him saying "I wouldn't be doing all this to help if I didn't think you were an excellant candidate". When I finally submitted my application, he personally went to his friend on the admission board and put in many good words for me. Also, him and I went over my GPA and test scores, and while they were a bit lower than U-M's usual standards, he said I'd be okay, and it's easier to get in as a transfer anyway. Basically I was assured I'd get in.</p>
<p>About three weeks later, I get the thin envelope - me and U-M apparently are not an "appropriate match". The first thing I did was email the advisor asking what the hell happened, he said he'd look into it, and never got back to me (which felt really bizarre). Emailed a lady in admissions who'd handled the app, who told me "due to your grades and the transferability of your credit, it would be very hard for you to complete your degree at UM". Then I emailed back saying basically "since I did a major change, would it help my case to take more transferrable classes and then reapply?". She told me that while they don't like to discourage people from applying, if I applied later the decision would probably be the same. Well that was basically my worst nightmare materialized, and my heart was torn to pieces.</p>
<p>I've now made arrangements to go to Eastern Michigan University to finish my degree.<br>
But I keep being torn between whether I should reapply to U-M. What the hell happened? Has anyone ever had something like this happen to them? What should I do? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. :(</p>
<p>Oh! Sorry, couldn’t edit the original post but I forgot to include this:
Since I had done a portion of my education out of state, I was classified as an out of state applicant. I got the materials to declare my residency again for admission purposes, but didn’t think it was super-important. I know U-M gives a lot of preference to in-state students.</p>
<p>It may have made a difference to apply as an in-state candidate. It may not. Your pal in the admissions office may be able to confirm that. He may not. He’s probably mortified that after nearly promising you admission, he had to accept that you weren’t.</p>
<p>You can go to EMU, take the first year or so worth of courses in the new major field, and attempt a transfer to U of M. On the other hand, you’ve moved around quite a bit. You may like just staying put until you finish your undergraduate degree!</p>
<p>^lol, my thoughts exactly on the switching around. the nice thing about eastern michigan and u-mich is that they’re both about 10 minutes apart, so physically getting all my stuff over wouldn’t be such a crazy headache.</p>
<p>and you’re right - i bet the poor guy felt really bad. </p>
<p>given that i was so focused on art and design in high school, i really put things like math on the back burner. i’m considering sort of a blend between computer science and linguistics, and so i know i’ll have to start up where i left off and work my way up through calculus 1, at the very least. it’ll be hard but i’m confident i can do it - and i think if i do that in a year’s time, that’s really going to show them that i’m a committed student. in the next year, i think i could begin working as an assistant to a professor, getting used to the research environment. i feel like i got written off as kind of a stereotypical art school kid by the admissions council.</p>
<p>just noticed this got moved, thanks mods.
somehow i missed the ‘transfer students’ forum</p>
<p>there are a definate list of pros and cons for staying at eastern once i transfer. and truly, i don’t mind staying there to finish my degree. i’m just terrified of not being able to get into a top university for graduate school.</p>
<p>i spoke with the graduate assitant for the linguistics dept here at OU, and he said that in his opinion, EMU actually had the stronger linguistics department. but he also said that, if i’m looking to get out of the mid-level school circuit for grad school, having a better recognized name would help - making me wonder if i should just go to michigan state?</p>
<p>Grad school admissions is based on your undergraduate GPA, the GPA in courses that are prerequisite for the graduate program, your GRE scores, your letters of recommendation, and any related research and publications. People get into top graduate programs from no-name-U every single year. Who you do your graduate work with (especially at the Ph.D. level) is much more important than the university name. If EMU has the stronger linguistics department, that is where you want to be, not Michigan State. The professors at EMU who make that department so powerful will be the folks writing your letters of recommendation to their professional cronies when you start looking for the grad school of your dreams.</p>
<p>Since your goal is grad school, you should investigate the research and publications of the faculty members at the universities that you are considering. Which branches of linguistics are represented at EMU? Are those the branches that you are interested in? Or, do you see yourself focusing on something else? If your interests aren’t that well represented, can you get a solid background at EMU that will prepare you to pursue advanced studies in your areas of interest at the graduate level elsewhere?</p>
<p>thanks, happymomof1, that made me feel a lot better. </p>
<p>my dad would probably turn grey overnight if he knew i was planning on transferring again.</p>
<p>also, eastern is good too from the cost standpoint. after my little art school adventure, i don’t have a heckuva lot to spend on tuition.
plus a whole bunch of my friends live out in either a2 or ypsi, it’ll be fun to be a bike ride’s distance away from them. i was NOT too keen on living in east lansing around a bunch of buffalo wild wings-stuffed football frat boys.</p>
<p>emu it is.</p>
<p>:)</p>