<p>If I attend Carnegie Mellon and then transfer after freshman year to Yale, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, Dartmouth, Cornell or Columbia, what is looked at?? How about after sophomore year?? (Please be specific...AP's from high school, EC's from college, etc.)</p>
<p>Reasons...</p>
<p>that is what I am currently doing (curr freshman at cmu trying to just stanford). For this type of transfer high school grades and sat matter alot, perhaps only a little less then freshamn admission. Naturally for junior transfers college grades have a great signifigence. I would suggust getting to know professors and do research, get involved academically but I dont think clubs and sports matter too much. Certinanly not as much as hs.</p>
<p>I assume you are in hs and will start college at cmu next year and you should really not be thinking about this. You will have a really ****ty year if you go in wanting to transfer out. I came in planning to spend all four years and it was only right before the admissions date that I decided I would try to transfer. Hoping to go somewhere else really causes you to focus on the negative of your college situation.</p>
<p>I think what perhaps nspeds is getting at, and what many on this board will say, is that you need a good reason and everyone looks down on "prestige" transfers such as you appear to be. I dont think there is anything wrong with trying to get in ivy league or get into to better recognized school soley for that reason. I think it is just a prefrence of indiviuals. That is not the path I took, i didnt even apply to any ivies though I might have been able to get in, and instead focused on indiviual departments. If you are unhappy and depressed at your current school and are willing to go through the hassle of transfer then do it, but be realistic, dont put to much into it, and by all means dont start at your college looking to escape.</p>
<p>Princeton doesn't take transfers... just thought I'd let you know.</p>
<p>-Eddie-</p>
<p>By the way, _42 has some very good advice. If you go with the mentality of leaving, you will be miserable and it will show in your applications, which is not a good thing. Schools want to know why you want/need to go to their school, not why you want/need to leave yours.</p>
<p>Good luck anyways, hopefully you'll find that CMU has everything you need from a postsecondary institution.</p>
<p>Ok...please understand, I consider CMU with very high esteem. I plan to have a dynamite time when I'm there (truly). But I am the type of person who thinks ahead...sorry if what I said makes anyone shirk!</p>
<p>I ask about this because I want to know if things like clubs in college mean anything to the other schools that I'm considering transferring in to. Please understand that Yale IS my dream school...I can't just pick up my luggage and turn the other way...I still FEEL a connection. I don't know if anyone has read my other posts, but I've been struggling for the past month about what the heck to do -- take a gap year and reapply or attend school next year and try to transfer. I want to go to a place like CMU because a.) its a fantastic institution b.) it offers me the programs (hopefully) that will fulfill my passion c.) if offers me the programs (hopefully) that my 'dream school' will look at and say - "wow...this kid had a passion and he fulfilled it in the finest ways. Impressive."</p>
<p>Thanks for the input. Anyone else?</p>
<p>Your reasons to go to Yale must be something else other than "it is my dream school."</p>
<p>Ok...you're absolutely right. I wasn't specific enough. I call it my 'dream school' because of the fact that Yale has one of the best (if not the best) East Asian Studies Program (which is my intense interest). Also....to be totally honest...it is Yale, and yes, I admire its prestige. More than this, when I visited and talked to the profressors, I felt like I belonged -- these people showed just as much of an interest in me as I did in them. I was quite taken aback (in a good way).</p>
<p>CMU to me would be a fantastic experience, but I also view it as a stepping stone to get to Yale's level. Is there anything wrong with that? I mean, life is about goals and stepping stones. I am proud of my achievements so far. Its time to look ahead once again.</p>
<p>I think that the idealisation of a school, making it the best dream school, that you dont go to and have limited connections to is unhealthy. You are really setting yourself up for dissappointment as Yale might not appear that wonderful if you get in and definately with cmu. </p>
<p>That said, if you spend a year at cmu and arent satisfied you shouldnt try to come up with a 'real' reason. I posted a article about stanford transfers somewhere on this site and several of the students had reasons like "i went to the east coast but found that i never was more at home then when I was on stanford's campus, in the university I had been thinking about and been around since childhood" There is certinly a place for impressions and feelings in transfer reasons.</p>
<p>Yale accepted 27 applicants out of 691. Work on articulating your reasons, apply, but do not rest your life on that decision.</p>
<p>The other negative effect of focusing on transfering now, drum, is that you will find yourself wasting untold hours on this site.</p>
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The other negative effect of focusing on transfering now, drum, is that you will find yourself wasting untold hours on this site.
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<p>My post count will attest to that:D</p>
<p>Suggestions anyone?</p>
<p>why be so hasty? you might like cmu</p>
<p>There are a few things that I wish I would have done (some of which were mentioned above by various posters) to strengthen my application this year. Some may help you and some probably won't.</p>
<p>First, definately make very good relationships with professors, especially the ones you intend to have write your recommendations. Possibly ask them if they know of any research opportunities in the area you are studying as I am sure that would help strengthen your application.</p>
<p>Like nspeds said: REASONS! Unfortunately, I only stressed these heavily in a few of my transfer applications and now I wish I had done so in all. Come up with good reasons why Yale (or the other schools) are the absolute best choice for you, why you need them to pursue you area of study, and why they would want to take you over the hundreds/thousands of other applicants (why your reasons are more important).</p>
<p>Definately, like you already said, try to enjoy every minute at CMU. I made the mistake of going in knowing that I wanted to get out after the first year. Because of this I found it very difficult to be dedicated to making myself stand out at my current school any enjoying any of my time there. Don't make this mistake.</p>
<p>I made two trips to the admissions office of my #1 choice school (Penn/Wharton). Knowing the chances of getting in (they accept about 25 transfers according to the admissions office), I felt that I needed to take every opportunity to further my case. I even went there for the summer to take courses and build relationships with professors and admissions people. Hopefully I got something accomplished. Of course, it is important not to appear obsessed and pesky.</p>
<p>Overall I think you have a good attitude and some good goals. Best of luck with getting into Yale!</p>
<p>EDIT: After reading your below post it sounds like we are coming from similar experiences! It definately makes sense and I completely your understand your reasoning.</p>
<p>No, no, no, hnbui. Please....I'm not trying to give CMU a bad label by any means. In fact, I can tell you right now, should I choose to attend next year instaed of a gap year, I KNOW that I'll have a dynamite year because I've been doing my research on the opportunities available. However, it is important to me that I pursue activities/research/courses that are both meaninful to me AND my desired schools SHOULD I choose to transfer. I want to keep options open. </p>
<p>Four years ago, people advised me to take CP courses because they thought I couldn't handle Honors/AP. I listened to them. Yes...I had a great HS experience, but did I fulfill my FULL academic/creative potential? Nope...sorry. I spent two and half years thinking that CP and honors courses were the most I was capable of because thats what people who I admire told me. The whole time that I had my eyes set on Yale for these four years was a waste, because I was unknowingly pursuing a program that wasn't up to their 'expecations'. I found out this year (senior year), after taking all AP courses, that this is how I thrive the most -- seeking the most challenging and rigorous program offered. I have been taken on an intellectual roller coaster this year and have loved every minute.</p>
<p>Am I bitter? Slightly. Do I regret my decision to take middle-of-the-road classes rather than pushing myself to the furthest limit throughout my HS career? Yes! Do I blame loved ones? No. Do I want to make the same mistake of closing out options? No.</p>
<p>Play the hand that your're dealt because that's all you can do. I know this. But the battle is only beginning....</p>
<p>I'm not angry, just aggrevated. No, I don't want be governed by other schools. But going for the best is who I am. DRIVE is who I am. There is a bigger picture, I know....but that doesn't mean that you shut out options. Do I make any sense?????</p>
<p>Thanks dpinmiami...evidently, we posted at the same time; I wasn't replying to you above....</p>
<p>Where are transferring out of / to?</p>
<p>I'm transferring out of University of Miami (FL). Unfortunately, I got rejected by my top choice last year (UNC-CH). I got in this year (just found out Friday!), but decided to aim for Penn and Wharton - I have made some great friends there and really feel like it is the place I belong.</p>
<p>Anyhow, we've strayed from the point here....sorry.</p>
<p>Does anyone have any ideas on what areas those schools (see first post) are SPECIFICALLY looking at in a transfer applicacation?</p>
<p>Thanks...</p>
<p>Awesome dpinmiami ... congrats to you!!!</p>