Worth transferring from Columbia to Harvard?

Transfer Students
1

To begin with, I am fully aware that I am in a very fortunate spot in life and I would emphasize that I am truly grateful for being where I am now.

I’m finishing up my first semester of college at Columbia and ended up doing very well despite going for a rather heavy course load. I matriculated at Columbia because it was my third choice and I was not admitted in the end to Harvard or Yale, my other top choices. I entered Columbia believing that I will stay here and have fun and grow as a person and a scholar. I thought that going in salty and ready to transfer without giving Columbia a shot was simply foolish.

My parents initially pushed for the idea of transfer. However, seeing a few of my high school friends who also were not admitted to their top choices get ready for transfer applications, I began wondering if that was a valid option for me. My performance this past semester madder me consider it too (around 4.25 GPA since Columbia considers an A+ a 4.3; otherwise may just be a 4.0 if A and A+ are the same). And also a host of extracurricular stuff.

But my real question is: is it worth the (what I assume to be) rough transition and the odd friend making process? Is it worth losing the connections for medical research I have made throughout high school (also was in New York)? In the end I would be losing this for prestige and a few other intangibles.

For instance, I am planning to go into medicine. I know that top medical institutions like Harvard are notorious for admitting a great amount of their own undergrad students. Or help in future job prospects. Intangibles like these would be what makes the transfer worth the costs.

I mean I do have my gripes with Columbia. I don’t really like the Core and prefer the more flexible general requirements of Harvard or Yale. Also not too impressed by NYC since I’ve been here since high school. But who wouldn’t have gripes with their college their first semester.

What do you guys think? Thanks!

2

Hmm, you may as well apply with your spectacular grades. However, I would seriously think about whether or not you can make friends easily when transferring; I can tell you from experience, as a transfer, that it can be very hard to make friends.
“I know that top medical institutions like Harvard are notorious for admitting a great amount of their own undergrad students.”
Does Columbia not do the same? I am very unaware of the medical school admissions process, but if Columbia practices this as well, it may behoove you to stay. The big advantages to attending Yale or Harvard over Columbia, IMO, would be the possible number of connections you would get at H or Y (though C most likely leads to many as well), or the major being more popular at the former schools. However, I’m not sure how much better you can get than Columbia; it may be a lateral move even if you are admitted.