@Gumbymom @CADREAMIN Would really appreciate your good advice. My S was rejected from USC (his top choice) and plans to transfer as a sophomore in 2021. Which of the following 4-yr colleges - Babson, Northeastern, BU Questrom or Santa Clara Leavey would give him the best shot at transferring to USC? He is an international student.
Don’t go into undergrad looking to transfer up. My sister in law did this and was miserable her first two years. When she gave up the hope of transferring to an ivy, she had a very good time at her NESCAC. The schools on the list above are all excellent and should be appreciated in their own right.
Thank you @RelicAndType - sound advice. We are indeed fortunate to have great schools to choose from but interested to know if transfers are easier between in-state private colleges or if it really makes little difference.
Agree I would start by attending the school he is most likely to be happy staying at in the event the transfer doesn’t play out (which can happen for all kinds of reasons). What is his major? If he doesn’t know, is he science or liberal arts leaning? Or Business since Babson is in the mix? That major may influence a choice…
On a more superficial level, the move would be easier from SCU and they are solid in their majors in an employable market, but it may be good or interesting to experience the east and west coasts if this plays out - what does he want to do?
Really appreciate your insights and thoughtful response @CADREAMIN. He applied for Economics at USC and Finance/Business at the others.
To your original question - being another instate private won’t make a difference, except the move itself would be easier. Transferring into Econ/Dornsife is a pretty clean transfer at USC. Those are all great choices but also very different schools from location, atmostphere and sizes of school. I would tend to go with the one he is most interested in attending. He really shouldn’t have a problem transferring from any of them. The only one I don’t know much about their business program is Northeastern. Not implying bad in any way, I just don’t know about their bus/finance program. I do know SCU well if you have questions about the school itself.
But again, if he can attend one that he would still be happy graduating from, that is a great way to go. There are so many things that can happen (that aren’t on the radar at all) that first year that can change ones mind about transferring or even life events that prevent them from transferring…
Thank you @CADREAMIN. Good to know that a transfer from any of these schools should not pose a problem. You and @RelicAndType are passing on good advice about picking a school he would be happy graduating from. Totally agree that anything can happen but by the same token, don’t want to quite close the door on USC just yet either - just trying to keep the option open.
Also agree with your point that these are all quite different schools. Northeastern’s co-op program seemed like a great way to get some real experience - even discovering what you don’t want to do rather than what you do want to do can be a great learning experience; but we are less sure about the large size of the school (same concern with BU) and possibly more transient cohorts at Northeastern due to the co-op structure. So we are leaning more towards Babson at this juncture but would love to hear your thoughts about SCU and the Leavey School of Business in particular. We know it’s in a great location and has a good network in the Valley but just not sure how their graduates fair in competition for jobs with so many other graduates from the more “prestigious” schools nearby. Also, looking further down the road, would you agree that the west coast would be better if you see yourself working in tech whereas the east coast would probably offer more opportunities in banking?