When should I transfer?

Hey everybody!

I’m a current freshman at the University of Maryland, College Park, but I’m looking to transfer to Georgetown. I’m not totally sure how the transfer application process works and I’m wondering what my timeline should be.

Are my chances higher if I apply for fall 2023 (after freshman year) or should I wait until fall 2024 (after sophomore year)?

Notes:
-High school GPA was 3.97 UW and 4.85 W.
-I’m in the UMD honors college and will earn my citation in spring 2024.
-My current major isn’t available at Georgetown and I’m worried I won’t have many transferable credits so I may have to graduate late if I wait until after sophomore year.

Advice is so appreciated.

Thanks!

Why would you transfer to a college that doesn’t have your major, and why do you want to transfer after only two months at Maryland?

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Maryland was never my path. I’m giving it a genuine shot, I promise, but I also would like to be prepared for it not working out. I don’t want to be behind the curve!

How will you pay?

What is your current major and what is the proposed Georgetown major? For sure you will be behind the curve if you transfer schools AND change majors. That’s likely to add an extra year of tuition…

Current is communication, would be a sociology major and some sort of minor at Georgetown. I’ve been getting Gen Eds out of the way so far.

In general, transferring isn’t a good idea, except for specific reasons like:

  • current college doesn’t offer your major
  • cost
  • location

In your case you’re going in the opposite direction for #1 and 2, and location doesn’t change much. Plus you’ve been at your school less than 2 months - too soon to decide it doesn’t fit you.

Why do you really want to go to Georgetown?

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Maryland has sociology…

What am I missing? Don’t major in communications if you want sociology!!!

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so, you are at UMd b/c it was your safety and you want another go at the brass ring? Why Georgetown in particular? Their sociology program is ranked similarly to UMd. Are you in the fortunate position that your parents will pay for college and grad school out of pocket with no qualms>

Respectfully - That was not the question that was asked. I would assume the poster has given that sufficient thought before asking us to comment.

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If replies were limited to only the specific question asked CC would be a much smaller site!

Assuming that any given poster has given ‘sufficient’ thought to all other aspects of this sort of decision before asking for comments is a very, very big assumption.

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Once again, respectfully, the only replies I’ve received have been essentially calling me naïve/stupid without any understanding of my situation. I had a pretty simple question and was just looking for some advice.

100% not calling you either naïve or stupid!

But: your question is not actually simple (if it was, you wouldn’t have needed to ask!)

If the core questions is: are my odds of success with a transfer application better when applying after 1 term (ie, this year), or 3 (ie, next year) then the first practical question is: have you applied to Georgetown previously? If you applied as a senior and got rejected, you would be re-applying with effectively the same application, and hoping for a different result.

If this would be your first application, then the next question is: do you have a compelling reason for the transfer? You don’t have to give one to us, but the folks at GU are going to want one.

You have added a complicating factor: you want to study sociology at GU, but are not studying that at UMd, even though it has a perfectly good soc department. So, that raises a question (why?), in addition to the one you ask (is it better to transfer sooner?).

And, because 1) soc pathways typically require grad school; 2) you have raised the question of time to finishing your UG degree, 3) transfers typically don’t get the same level of financial support and 4) the difference between the cost of GU and UMd is meaningful, the question of financing the transfer is relevant in making the decision of when / where to transfer. More specifically, depending on your budget, 2 years at in-state UMd + 2 years at GU might make more sense than 1 + 3, thus potentially being a variable in when you should transfer.

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My advice:

You’ll want to enter as a sophomore. That way you’ll have three years at Georgetown - if it’s where you really want to be, why not maximize your time there?

Also as mentioned, the longer you wait the larger the gap of transferable credits vs. not grows.

Best of luck. BTW, I transferred to Georgetown as a Sophomore.

I don’t think you are stupid. But you have asked a complicated question and seem to want a simple answer without providing enough detail for us to help. Agree that if you have already applied to Georgetown, applying now won’t get the job done.

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So per the Gtown website, you need at least 12 credit hours but not more than 2 years.

They note typically a B+ is needed to be considered.

You’ll need a college profs recommendation - so can you get that having just started? Are you getting to know any? And an SAT score.

The last stats published (2019) show a 9% acceptance rate for transfers.

I think the best answer to your question is to contact admissions (202) 687-3600 and ask to speak to a transfer counselor.

Transferring is tricky - and it would be best (IMHO) to talk directly to the source rather than hope folks here know the nuances of the particular institution.

Good luck.

School has been In session for a little over a month and you are considering transferring already? Have you invested ANY time in making UMD CP a wonderful experience, or is your focus on getting out of UMD only? I know you say you are doing both…but really?

Re:transferring

Did you apply to Georgetown as a high school senior, and not get accepted?

If you apply to transfer to start at the beginning of your sophomore college year, your high school record will be what is used to determine acceptance or not…because simply put….you won’t have a college record to submit.

Do you have an SAT or ACT score? From the GT website:

  1. Standardized Tests

All applicants are required to take the SAT or the ACT. Both tests are acceptable, and on neither test will a Writing component be utilized in admissions decisions. All tests should be taken by January of the senior year in order to allow time for the results to reach Georgetown by early February. We continue to recommend that students who have A.P. (Advanced Placement) scores submit them to supplement their admissions file.

The University requires that all scores from standardized tests be submitted directly from the testing agency; please indicate Georgetown’s code number when requesting score reports (SAT code 5244; ACT code 0668).

It is important to note that, while objective test results provide important information about candidates, the Committee on Admissions is far more concerned with school record, academic program, and rank in class than with test scores. There are no cut-off scores.

Many students apply to transfer as a sophomore. Your HS stats look strong which is often one factor considered when deciding whether to transfer as an incoming sophomore or junior. Most freshman transfers won’t have taken many major specific classes yet and focusing on gen Ed requirements is a good strategy to maximize possible transfer credits.

Assuming finances and possibility of additional time to graduate are not issues, you know transferring to Georgetown is extremely competitive so if attending GTown is your goal assemble the strongest application you can and apply. Is GTown the only school you’re considering or are you interested in leaving UMD and will apply to a range of schools?