<p>I have two college options right now: Kalamazoo College & Michigan State University. I am looking to go to either of those institutions for one year and then transfer out to a better school. Assuming I can perform well my freshman year at either of those two colleges, which would be a better choice for me to attend?</p>
<p>I'd like to transfer to University of Michigan or any college on that level or better.</p>
<p>I have a 2300 SAT (1570 CR + Math) and a 34 ACT and a 3.8 weighted high school GPA.</p>
<p>Should I go to Kzoo or MSU? Or should I apply to a Scottish Ivy or something like that?</p>
<p>MSU and Kalamazoo could scarcely be more different, one a huge state school with a moderately selective admissions policy and the usual run of freshman level courses taught mostly by TAs, the other a highly selective, academically intensive small LAC. If you absolutely believe you will be transferring after your first year I suspect you would be better off at MSU, where you will both save a lot of money and be able, in all likelihood, to achieve better grades. You should also not leave the credit transfer question unanswered -- ask the schools you are considering transferring to how they react to quarter based credits.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if you go to Kalamazoo you might quickly decide you need to adjust your thinking about what constitutes a "better" school. My son chose Kalamazoo over Wisconsin, among other schools. We think it's a very wise choice.</p>
<p>Would the reputation of MSU hinder my transfer possibilities compared to KZoo?</p>
<p>Also, take into consideration that I'm probably not going to enjoy a party school like MSU and I would be fine equally not enjoying a stay at KZoo.</p>
<p>I can't answer the first question although my guess is that it's more important how you do than where you are.</p>
<p>As for the second comment, if you really don't think you'll enjoy your first year no matter where you go, the most important thing you can do right now is take a deep breath and not worry about it for a few weeks. I know it's very disappointing to have been rejected from your top choice but trust me, you could have an excellent college experience -- even if it ends up being just one year -- at either MSU or Kalamazoo. It's really up to you, and it's just a matter of attitude. MSU has everything under the sun to study, and Kalamazoo will challenge and stimulate you intellectually far beyond your high school experience. Either place offers the great opportunity of meeting new people and making great friends. Make some lemonade out of this lemon.</p>
<p>For a school like University of Michigan, I wouldn't worry at ALL about which school's reputation would "hinder". Both would not. Why? Because it's the stats that really count. </p>
<p>I got into University of Michigan from Western Michigan University, a University whose reputation is below both MSU and K-College. And my stats, quite honestly, weren't that amazing. </p>
<p>Find out which one you like better, and go there. </p>
<p>If I had a choice, I'd probably choose MSU because it is cheaper to go. There's a lot more things to do at MSU, and it's just overall more interesting than K-College imo.</p>
<p>Depends on which. Your stats, are well within reach of higher schools (honestly makes me wonder how you got rejected). For higher schools, like Ivy's, I'd stick with K-College (if money's not a factor), and get as high of a GPA there as I could get (3.8+), and I'd say you have a fair shot at the top 10, assuming everything else is good (ECs, Essays, ect)</p>
<p>yes, and plenty of people transfer into top schools from less recognized colleges. I'd actually go to MSU and pull off a 4.0 for a year so you'll save money. It shouldn't make any difference whether you're applying from Kalamazoo or MSU as Kzoo is not very prestigious.</p>
<p>Kzoo is very presigious...its not like Williams or Amherst, but its definately a good school, the best private school in Michigan. I would go to Kzoo over State in a heartbeat, as I think that Kzoo is better in the liberal arts than U of M is (from experience). But if you are going to transfer no matter what, then I guess go to State. It will save you tons of money, and if you only want to go to UMich (not any other "prestigious" schools) I know that you can transfer from State. I wonder y you got rejected in teh frist place too...</p>
<p>Ok Kalamazoo is the best private school in Michigan but that's really not saying a lot. It is certainly better than MSU, but not worth the $$$ in my opinion as it's not a top LAC. Ranking wise, Kzoo is #57 among LACs; MSU is #70 among national universities: the difference is not drastic, whichever way you look at it, and I don't think the adcoms at Harvard or wherever the OP applies would care much. Either way, the OP will be going to a mediocre college and applying to transfer to top schools, so he may as well save money at MSU.</p>
<p>I'm amazed with stats like that how you didn't get accepted to better schools, I agree with the consensus that no matter which you go to if you keep a high GPA UMich will be a safety for you.</p>
<p>Wow, where to start. First of all, OP, you gave us your weighted GPA of 3.8 and no information about the strength of your high school schedule or the date that your U-M file was complete and ready for review (big factor with rolling). U-M only uses unweighted grades from sophomore/junior years (sometimes asks for 1st semester senior), considers rigor of curriculum and upward trend, the high school attended, etc. and then recomputes using a standard formula to obtain the Michigan GPA. Further, we have no idea how your essays, EC's, recs stacked up to the other applicants in this admissions cycle. So, for others to say that U-M will be a safety for you as a transfer is misleading. It will depend on the college within U-M to which you apply, the other transfer applicants you will be competing against and, of course, the strength of your college resume. Transfers undergo a holistic app review as do freshman applicants so it won't be just about your college GPA. Also, since you indicate that you'll be applying as a sophomore transfer, your high school record still will be given a considerable amount of weight. Since transfer apps are due Feb/March (depending on the U-M college), your track record as a college student will be minimal after just one semester. U-M already has denied admission based on your high school record so, ideally, a junior transfer with a strong college performance would put you in a much better position.</p>
<p>FYI...my H. and I are Michigan alums and our S. is a freshman at Kalamazoo College. He's been having an excellent experience so far. As his parents, we also have been very impressed with the quality of the education he's been receiving. Comparing it to our own U-M undergrad experiences, it's as good or better. I found brand_182's comments particularly ignorant to the point of offensive, especially going so far as calling your college choices "mediocre" and "not very prestigious." I do have to wonder where his/her "expertise" has been obtained beyond USNWR rankings given the Texas location. </p>
<p>The difference in cost between the two colleges is another unknown and may not be significant since K College is very generous with merit scholarships and I assume you were awarded one. Should we also assume that you're an in-state student for MSU tuition rate purposes? Given that a huge state U and a small, private LAC are different in just about every way, if you haven't visited both, or even done an overnight, by all means do so before making your decision. I'm curious as to why you didn't apply to a safety school that you'd actually be happy to attend. Going to one of those schools as a new freshman with the narrow mindset of simply working toward a transfer doesn't sound like a great way to begin your college experience. </p>
<p>You're welcome to PM me for additional information/insights about Kalamazoo and U-M. I won't be much help with regard to MSU, but there are plenty of alums/current students on the CC boards. BTW, U-M's website provides detailed information about transfer credits, including specific courses at particular institutions and the conversion of quarter units to semester units.</p>
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Transfers undergo a holistic app review as do freshman applicants so it won't be just about your college GPA. Also, since you indicate that you'll be applying as a sophomore transfer, your high school record still will be given a considerable amount of weight. Since transfer apps are due Feb/March (depending on the U-M college), your track record as a college student will be minimal after just one semester. U-M already has denied admission based on your high school record so, ideally, a junior transfer with a strong college performance would put you in a much better position.
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<p>While that is true, there are people with lower GPAs in high school and got a higher one in college and got in. I had a discussion with you about this during Oct time, and while it was suggested that I apply after my second year, I did this year and got in. Of course being a junior would put him in a better position, but I think as a sophomore, if he obtained a higher than a 3.8 GPA, he has a really good chance. </p>
<p>The thing is, with his SAT scores / ACT scores, I think we might be able to assume that his unweighted GPA can't be THAT low. While I guess since we don't know that much information about him, calling U Mich a safety isn't exactly a good idea either. </p>
<p>But yeah, I don't really like which schools the OP chose. Seriously, those are probably the two most different schools in Michigan. MSU, a huge party school, or K-College, a small LAC...</p>
<p>GoBlueAlumMom - You are right. I have never been to Kzoo, nor will I ever go there. I doubt many have been to every college in the nation, yet they have no problem stating their opinion on a school which is based on information acquired. I have not called Kalamazoo a bad school, but if you think it is a prestigious college (to the point that it is leagues ahead of MSU and merits a considerable difference in price) you are the one who is mistaken. I understand it is difficult to hear someone express their opinion that Kzoo is not a top LAC, especially as your son goes there. It is disappointing that you are not willing to look past that fact and realize that Kalamazoo and MSU are not prestigious schools to the extent that top 20 schools will give one or the other the benefit of the doubt in the app process - it's the truth. </p>
<p>When it comes to transferring to schools like UMich and those of higher prestige as the OP is considering, I am willing to bet that whether or not he comes from Kzoo or MSU does not make a big difference. Either way, he will be coming from a mediocre school by comparison; the only instance in which the school you are coming from matters to a great extent is when you are transferring from one top school to another (i.e. one top 20 uni or LAC to another). </p>
<p>Of course, there is a difference between prestige and quality of education. Just b/c a school is not highly ranked or regarded obviously does not mean it is not an excellent school. Perhaps my use of the word "mediocre" was not clearly applied: I was referring to the prestige of the two, not their quality. I have never said Kalamazoo is a bad college; judging from the avg. stats of incoming students, it seems like a great place, but an adcom is not going to see the name "kalamazoo" on the OP's app and be wowed, any more than he would if he saw MSU on the app. Of course, this is my opinion, but my opinion has been formed by observing the results on the CC forums.</p>
<p>As I said before, what's the COA difference in price? Are we talking in-state tuition...merit scholarships? I also didn't say one school was better than the other, but that they were very different places which should be considered carefully. After all, it appears the OP will be spending at least a year or two at one of these schools. Determining fit for the best possible college experience, if only temporary, would be smarter than worrying about what future adcoms may/may not think. And, I found your comments harsh for the OP's sake, not mine. These are the OP's college choices and acceptances. I couldn't care less about prestige or what a teenager on CC thinks about my son's school, or even my own alma mater for that matter. </p>
<p>The OP was denied admission by U-M based on the high school record, and not waitlisted from what I interpreted from the post. OP now wants to transfer to an even "better school" with just one college semester under his/her belt. Rather than offer up a CC-influenced opinion about prestige, or lack thereof, why not acquire some transfer % statistics to the "top 20" schools, or even schools more selective than U-M, and give the OP an idea of what that's all about?</p>
<p>I am sorry if my comments come across as harsh, but I don't see how calling a school "mediocre" with regards to prestige is insulting. It is simply something to help the OP assess the view that adcoms may have: choosing one or the other is not going to give him a leg up or hold him back in the transfer process simply due to the school's name. I also agree that you (OP) should go to the school where you'll be happy: I would personally choose Kzoo only if the price is similar b/c:</p>
<p>smaller class sizes
better school
easier to get good recommendations</p>
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why not acquire some transfer % statistics to the "top 20" schools, or even schools more selective than U-M, and give the OP an idea of what that's all about?
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<p>That would be very helpful, but I have never come across such data.</p>
<p>Okay, sorry I didn't give more info, my UW GPA is aroudn a 3.6 and my UM UW is around a 3.5. My rec was from a UM alum who loves me and I'm confident I had one of the better essays in the app pool. I applied in mid Nov (pretty late).</p>